79 replies to this topic

[Ztruker]

Got them, thanks.

Since you already have ERUNT installed and have a good backup of the registry proceed as follows:

Open regedit again and navigate to the same place: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Do you see AOL Connectivity Services"="? If so, try right clicking on it and deleting it.

If that doesn't work or you can't do it, I want you to install RegSeeker. Once installed, run it.
Click on Clean the registry. Then click the Autoclean button.
Make sure Clean the registry is checked, Passes is set to 2 and Select all Green items is checked, then click GO. Let it complete.

Reboot then check A/R Progs.

I'm off to bed now, but I'll check in tomorrow morning. Hope one of these does the trick.

[ems88]

Unfortunately, neither one worked.

[Ztruker]

Rats, I was hoping one of them would do the trick. Let's take a different approach.

Let's try using Process Monitor to see if it will tell us what is going wrong when you open Add/Remove Progs.

Process Monitor (procmon.exe) by Mark Russinovich and Bryce Cogswell is an advanced monitoring tool for Windows that shows real-time file system, Registry and process/thread activity. It's an excellent tool for understanding what is happening when something doesn't work right. Things like:

• Empty Add or Remove Programs window
• Can't install or Uninstall software
• Excessive hard drive activity

Download the latest Process Monitor here: http://technet.micro...s/bb896645.aspx

Unzip it to C:\Windows\temp, then open a Run window by pressing WinKey+R. Copy and paste the following in the Run box then press the Enter key:

c:\windows\temp\procmon.exe /NoConnect /NoFilter

Open Control Panel and be ready to double click on Add/Remove Programs, then in the Process Monitor window, click on File then Capture Events.
This will start the recording process.

>>> Immediately double click on Add/Remove Programs <<<

Wait 10-15 seconds, then click on File then Capture Events in the Process Monitor window again to stop the collection process.
Once that completes, click on File then Save. Select All Events and PML format. Save it to C:\Windows\temp.
Zip the file and upload it here using the Browse and Upload buttons below the text input area.
Once uploaded, click on Manage Current Attachments and click on the first icon to paste a link to your uploaded file in your post.

I can download the file, unzip it and import it into Process Monitor to examine it and look for problems.

[ems88]

Slight problem-the file is too big to upload...is there any way around this? Also, while I was waiting for it to save, my programs popped up in A/R. But once again, when I clicked out and reopened it, programs were no longer there.

Edited by ems88, 21 August 2009 - 10:41 PM.

[Ztruker]

Send it to me via E-mail. I'll send you a PM with my E-mail address. You saw the same thing before when you killed WMI from Task Manager. Something in WMI is hanging and I'm hoping procmon output will help figure out what it is.

Edited by Ztruker, 22 August 2009 - 10:28 AM.

[Ztruker]

I have the file and have been looking at it, trying to compare it to what I see on my system. I haven't forgotten you, it's just taking a lot longer than I had hoped.

[Ztruker]

Do you have a Windows XP Install CD?

[ems88]

I don't know...am I supposed to have one? I'll go look for it ETA- I can't seem to find it. Can I fix this without the CD?

Edited by ems88, 24 August 2009 - 05:44 PM.

[Ztruker]

I sure hope we can This has something to do with WMI (Windows Management Interface) but I can't find anything (so far) that helps fix. Thanks goodness it's not critical and you can use you computer for normal stuff. Also, if really needed, you can start A/R Progs then kill wmiprvse in Task Manager. I haven't given up, hope you don't.

[ems88]

Actually, I think I found it I found the purple one labeled operating system and a blue one labeled application.

Edited by ems88, 24 August 2009 - 06:31 PM.

[Ztruker]

That is probably a System Recovery CD and not a XP CD, but as a last resort, you can always restore your system to it's factory state (when you first bought it), but let's not go there now. There has to be a way to fix this, I just need to find it.

[Ztruker]

Please update to the latest Java JRE 6 U15 from http://java.com/en/. It will remove the older R13 you currently have.

Once that's installed, click on Start then Run, type services.msc and press Enter.
Scroll down to Java Quick Starter.
Double click on it. Set Startup type to Disabled then click on the Stop button.
Close the Services window.

Try A/R Progs again.

[Ztruker]

What is the make and model number of your computer? I'd like to look at it's Users Guide to see if the Recovery CD you have is a straight XP OS Install CD or not. If so, we can try running System File Checker and if that doesn't help, do a Repair Install (f your CD allows it).

[ems88]

I downloaded Java but A/R programs aren't there. My computer is Dell inspiron E1705.

[Ztruker]

The Users Manual for your laptop is here: http://support.dell....00/en/index.htm

Looks like you have a Dell Restore setup, not a XP Install. This is one possibility if you get frustrated enough, but as things are now, I think it's overkill since you can use Revo Uninstaller or Add/Remove Programs, you just need to kill wmiprvse from Task Manager then the window is populated and you can use it.

Anyway, from the manual:

Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec
NOTICE: Using Dell PC Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any application programs or drivers installed after you received your computer. If possible, back up the data before using PC Restore. Use PC Restore only if System Restore (see Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore) did not resolve your operating system problem.
NOTE: Dell PC Restore by Symantec may not be available in certain countries nor on certain computers.

Use Dell PC Restore by Symantec only as the last method to restore your operating system. PC Restore restores your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer. Any programs or files added since you received your computer—including data files—are permanently deleted from the hard drive. Data files include documents, spreadsheets, e-mail messages, digital photos, music files, and so on. If possible, back up all data before using PC Restore.

To use PC Restore:

1. Turn on the computer.

During the boot process, a blue bar with www.dell.com appears at the top of the screen.

2. Immediately upon seeing the blue bar, press <Ctrl><F11>.

If you do not press <Ctrl><F11> in time, let the computer finish starting, and then restart the computer again.
NOTICE: If you do not want to proceed with PC Restore, click Reboot in the following step.

3. On the next screen that appears, click Restore.

4. On the next screen, click Confirm.

The restore process takes approximately 6–10 minutes to complete.

5. When prompted, click Finish to reboot the computer.

NOTE: Do not manually shut down the computer. Click Finish and let the computer completely reboot.

6. When prompted, click Yes.

The computer restarts. Because the computer is restored to its original operating state, the screens that appear, such as the End User License Agreement, are the same ones that appeared the first time the computer was turned on.

7. Click Next.

The System Restore screen appears and the computer restarts.

8. After the computer restarts, click OK.

You said you have the Operating System CD so you should also be able to boot it as well to do a restore.

I'm still working on this and have asked for some assistance from other folks here. I'll get back to you as soon as I have any ideas.