How to delete dead entries in "Add/Remove Programs"

[paopao]

After I manually delete an installed program, it left and dead entry in the "Add/Remove Programs" list. You can no longer uninstall that program anymore since the "installation log" is gone. How can I remove this dead entry from the list?

It's not a big issue, but just very annoying to me.

 

[paopao]

I forgot to mention my OS: W2K

 

[AndyHui]

You can remove it using TweakUI.

 

[paopao]

Could you post a link I can DL it?

 

[AndyHui]

Use the link at the bottom of this FAQ.

 

[paopao]

Andy, sorry to bother you one more time. I have the file downloaded, and extracted to 4 files. I double clicked on the file "tweakui.cpl", and I got a message that it will install into control panel. After that, I can't see and new item in the the control panel. Am I missing antything? What's the installation procedure?

Thanks!

 

[paopao]

OK, I have installed the Tweak UI! How exactly can I remove the program from the list of "Add/Remove Programs"? The help is very unclear. Do I do it within TweakUI, if so which tab? Or use the original "Add/Remove Programs"? If so, how?

 

[stingbandel]

what I usually do is reinstall the program and when it's done uninstall it.



I never had problem doing that. I have TweakUI but never use the method that Andy said though.




Darno

 

[Abzstrak]

its generally a VERY BAD idea to delete a program without uninstalling it... the programs leave alot of stuff behind some times, including tons of reg entries and orphaned dll, etc....

The best way is to re-install the app then uninstall it properly. The second best way is to look on the manufacturers website for manual removal instructions (not alot provide this). The other way is to search through the registry for entries having to do with that app and uninstall them (make sure they are not shared entires) and then search through all ini files and delete the proper entries.

tweakui can remove it from the add/remove programs listing, but nothing more. I've been on linux a while, from what I remember of tweakui I think U right click on the inf they provide and click on install.

good luck

 

[AndyHui]

Go to the Add/Remove Tab under TweakUI (I assume that you have installed it correctly now by right-clicking on the inf file and selecting install).

Simply select the entry that you want to remove, and hit the Remove button. This ONLY removes the entry from Add/Remove.

 

[AKA]

Ive always removed it from the registry. If this is the kind of answer you are looking for you can locate it by doing a search in registry of exact name located in the add/remove programs and select "Match whole string only"

Or just go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Each entry including ones that dont show up in add/remove programs will be in here. Just delete the folder responding to it.