[Solved] Mystery: If an advanced user or Alwil team could give me a hand

General Topics
1

My Add/Remove applet disappeared from Control Panel.
I’ve tried a System Restore to 5 days ago, no luck.
I’ve tried an overinstallation of Windows, no luck.
Updating this Windows installation, no luck.
I’ve tried to get back an Acronis backup image, no luck (what makes me think the problem is there for a long time, more than 45 days. I did not notice because I’ve used to use a link for it in my toolbar).

Well, the TweakUI shows Appwiz.cpl there.
The file Appwiz.cpl is on the default folder (C:\Windows\System32) as it should be.
The Windows Group Directive (snap-in) isn’t configure, what means, show all icons.
I can start the Add/Remove program by the link, but I can’t get it back to Control Panel.
Any suggestions ::slight_smile:

Thanks for any help.

2

:slight_smile: Hi Tech :

  I found a situation somewhat similar to yours on the Aumha.net Forums
  where a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional named Bill Castner 
  suggested several possibilities; see :
  http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=27882  .
3

Tech,
The problem could also be due to a missing or corrupt
Setupx.dll file
More info:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/195064

4 
Spiritsongs, many thanks...
I've tried:

@echo off
cls
regsvr32 /i /s urlmon.dll
regsvr32 /i /s Shdocvw.dll
regsvr32 /s Actxprxy.dll
regsvr32 /s Oleaut32.dll
regsvr32 /s Browseui.dll
regsvr32 /i /s Shell32.dll
regsvr32 /s scrrun.dll
regsvr32 /s msxml.dll
regsvr32 /i /s mshtml.dll
regsvr32 /s jscript.dll
regsvr32 /s vbscript.dll


No luck...

start /wait regsvr32 /i urlmon.dll
start /wait regsvr32 /i Shdocvw.dll
start /wait regsvr32 Actxprxy.dll
start /wait regsvr32 Oleaut32.dll
start /wait regsvr32 Browseui.dll
start /wait regsvr32 /i Shell32.dll
start /wait regsvr32 scrrun.dll
start /wait regsvr32 msxml.dll
start /wait regsvr32 /i mshtml.dll
start /wait regsvr32 jscript.dll
start /wait regsvr32 vbscript.dll


No luck...

Click Start, Run and type Regedit.exe
Navigate to the following branches one by one:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Uninstall
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Uninstall

Delete the NoAddRemovePrograms value if present in the above locations.

Then, navigate to following locations:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Delete the NoControlPanel value (if found) in the above locations.
Close Regedit.exe


None of these keys are there...

Dial-a-Fix: http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix


No success.

SFC /Scannow


Failed to solve...
5

Thanks Bob. I couldn’t find a solution and a relationship with Windows XP. Seems to be only 95/98 related.

6

i found this at kellys-korner http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm Control Panel Applets

This tweak does not prevent the control panel applets from running, they just do not show up in control panel any more.

Start/Run/gpedit.msc. User Configuration/Administrative Templates Folder/Control Panel Folder. Select Show only specified Control Panel Applets (right pane) properties. Select the enable button/click the Show button.

A new window will pop up that will display control panel objects that are OK to show. Items not on this list will not be displayed in control panel when this feature is enabled. Here are the Windows XP Pro Control Panel applets:

System Properties = sysdm.cpl
Network Connections = ncpa.cpl
ODBC Administrator = odbccp32.cpl
Display Properties = desk.cpl
Add or remove programs = appwiz.cpl
Internet Properties = Inetcpl.cpl
Game Controllers = joy.cpl
Phone and modem Options = telephon.cpl
Time and Date Properties = timedate.cpl
Region and Language Options = intl.cpl
Power Options = powercfg.cpl
Mouse Properties = main.cpl
Accessibility Options = access.cpl
Add Hardware Wizard = hdwwiz.cpl
Sound and Audio Devices = mmsys.cpl
User Accounts = nusrmgr.cpl
Speech Properties = sapi.cpl

Control Panel - Display

This setting specifies the visual style of the Control Panel. Allowing you to either force the use of the new XP style, classic style or allow the user to select the preferred style. Go to Start/Run/Regedit and navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value, called ‘ForceClassicControlPanel’ and edit the value according to the settings (0 = force new, 1 = force classic). Exit your registry, you may need to restart or log out of Windows for the change to take effect.

Control Panel - Icons Missing

Click Start, Run and enter REGEDIT

Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\don’t load

Look in the right pane and you’ll see the Control Panel Icons that have been disabled. You can either right click on the “don’t load” subkey and select Delete to restore all disabled icons, or you can right click on each of the items in the right pane and select Delete to selectively restore them. Scroll up to Control Panel Applets for a listing of what each one is.

The change will be seen the next time you open Control Panel.

:slight_smile:

7

Lurkingatu2, thank you very much. I’m not in that computer right now, so I can’t test.
I think I’ve tried to manage that gpedit.msc configurations, but, maybe, I forgot the one you’re referring to. I’ll post later. Again, many thanks for the effort.
I do think this is something related to registry, as system files seem to be ok. I’ll boot on the Administrator account - not an account with admin rights like I used to use - to see what I get.

8

Honestly i wouldn’t bother much with all this. Just kick the Windows CD into drive, boot with it and use Repair command. All settings and personalizations will remain while problem will in 95% cases be fixed properly.
Time to perform: ~45 minutes
Success rate: ~95%

Why bother with anything else? :wink:

9

I’ve done. It does not solve… It’s not that obvious.

10

Lurkingatu2, I’ve follow all the instructions and get nothing.
I have already set them (tried before) on #1 reply. No success…
It’s a challenge to discover how to get Windows back without reformating…

But it gave me an idea…
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\don’t load
Has a bad key… appwiz.cpl
Bingo!!!
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/751/1908407applaus6zz.gif

Lurkingatu, thanks again for making me to think.
By the way, the link you’ve gave is a very good troubleshooting guide
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/507/cool9xa.gif