94. How Do I Remove An Orphaned Entry In The Add/Remove Program Window

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When you install an application in Windows XP the software also adds an uninstall option. This is usually stored in the Add/Remove programs section of the Control Panel. When you want to remove the application you simply go to Add/Remove programs, click on the application you want to remove and away it goes. Sometimes, however, although the application disappears, the entry still remains in the Add/Remove list. Here is how you remove it.

Before making any changes to the registry it is recommended that you make a backup copy of your registry either from within the registry Editor (see 62. How do I backup the Registry in Windows XP ) or by using the freeware registry backup utility called ERUNT (available from www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt This is the main German site. Alternatively you can obtain ERUNT from http://www.majorgeeks.com/Erunt_d1267.html ).

1/ Click the Start button.

2/ On the Start menu click Run.

3/ In the Run dialogue box type: regedit and then click OK.

4. The Registry window will now open.

5/ Navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

6/ Now scroll down the list until you see the Display Name of the application you want to remove.

7/ Click on the Display name.

8/ A list should now appear in the Right Hand pane of the registry window.

9/ Look down the list for the option 'uninstallstring'.

10/ Right click on the 'Uninstallstring' option and, from the drop down menu select Delete to delete the entry.

11/ Finally Exit from the registry.