[Warning] Don't install "PC-Doctor 5"

Message

Talon88 · #1 Post by **Talon88** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:10 am

:::

[Warning] Don't install "PC-Doctor 5"

After install "PC-Doctor 5", Many "uninstall" at
Win's "Add & Remove" will lost. Both IBM & other
Program's Uninstall. Look like it's mess up the
reg key of Windows.

I've tried both "System Update" & Software Installer"
have same problem. So be carefull!

Luckily I did the R&R backup yesterday.
So my system is back to normal....!

Also, "Windows Restore" Can't remove the
mess up.....! beware!

:::

arni · #2 Post by **arni** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 11:24 am

Talon88 wrote: I've tried both "System Update" & Software Installer"
have same problem. So be carefull!

No way. I've just made the update today with System Update and all went fine.

I think you had some other troubles with your system.

DavidNZ · #3 Post by **DavidNZ** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 12:20 pm

Actually, I've got exactly the same issue, having just had a look at my "add/remove programs" list.

Now that's interesting...

*update*: I've also noticed that Software Installer doesn't report all of the drivers/utilities currently installed on my system.

*further update*: and it's become apparent that the list of programs in 'add/remove' is far from complete.

For what it's worth, my system is not hugely modified. It's pretty much stock with Office and a few others (SPSS, Illustrator, Photoshop), etc.

christopher_wolf · #4 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 2:19 pm

I updated to PC-Doctor 5 for Windows and have no problems to report. Neither did any of the tests fail of their own volition.
It does install some drivers in the system32 area that let it pick through more information directly from the OS, that is the only sticky part I could imagine during an uninstall.

If you think it changes the Registry, take a Registry snapshot, with either RFA or SM6, and then do a compare before and after to see what changed.

DavidNZ · #5 Post by **DavidNZ** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 2:25 pm

Hmmm...trying to think what I've installed since PC-D 5. I think it's been IE7 (final; never had the beta), FF2 and the Vista Upgrade Check program, or whatever it's called.

Oh well, everything that is currently installed is stuff I need, so it's not critical for me to have the 'remove' buttons.

Am due for an OS re-install in March, when I'll probably either upgrade to Vista or, seriously, get a new Core 2 Duo Macbook or X60s. I'm on the fence on that one

dpatriarche · #6 Post by **dpatriarche** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 3:43 pm

I also saw the same problem with my "Add/Remove" list being corrupted, after installing PC Doctor 5 using Software Installer yesterday evening.

The symptom is that almost all Thinkpad utilities are replaced in the list with names like "mCore" (short names starting with 'm'). And after a reboot Software Installer thought that all those utilities were not installed, and so offered to install them. I foolishly took it up on its offer, hoping it would normalize things, and SI proceeded to mess up my system (all network interfaces became non-functional - drivers present and enabled, but Windows doesn't see them). In the end I resorted to R&R to drop back to my last backup from a week ago. Thank goodness for R&R and backups!

Edit: I should add that IE7 was installed last week after it was released.

Regards,
Doug

Talon88 · #7 Post by **Talon88** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 4:44 pm

:::

arni, You said your "Add & Remove" are OK?
are you sure, please check if there're any programs's
unstall are missing? Also, have you got IE7 install?

Thanks....!

:::

arni wrote:
Talon88 wrote: I've tried both "System Update" & Software Installer"
have same problem. So be carefull!
No way. I've just made the update today with System Update and all went fine.

I think you had some other troubles with your system.

christopher_wolf · #8 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:22 pm

This MSKB article just might help you out.

http://www.support.microsoft.com/kb/266668

#9 Post by **jdhurst** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:57 pm

This is one of the most worrisome threads in a long time. It is roughly divided in half between people *with* problems (big ones) and people *without* problems. At this point, I will not be updating PC Doctor for a while. I have backups of everything, but not R&R, so restoring would be a long, tedious affair.

I will add this: PC Doctor on my T41 is what is was at purchase in 2003. The copyright is dated 2003, but there is no version information that I can see. To that, I have updated most every other driver on the machine, I am now using IE 7 Production, and after updating Cain and some other stuff this past week, I ran Registry First Aid on both machines. The only thing now I have not done is update PC Doctor, and I have no problems with Add/Remove Programs.
.. JD Hurst

christopher_wolf · #10 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:12 pm

Well, now I think I spoke too soon....

Apparently, several of the users in the lab have now had this problem on their Thinkpads. Which probably means that I might just well have to try and find a fix for it other than a R&R backup re-image.

Just to note, I uninstalled the previous PC-Doctor before installing this one. That might have avoided it. I also ran Reg Scan&Cleans with RFA and CCleaner before and after as well.

Talon88 · #11 Post by **Talon88** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:54 pm

:::

Follow Up....

Since I have Full working Recover Backup by R&R,
I can try as many times I like.

This time, I make it work! All I do is....
Uninstall "PC-Doctor" at "Win Add & Remove App."
Then reboot the system. After restart, I run
"System Update 2" & pick "PC-Doctor 5" & let it
install & finish & Reboot.

All the uninstall list of App. is still at "Win Add & Remove App."
Do a quick test, everythings look good....!

I've also re-check the install readme of PC-Doctor 5,
it doesn't say need to remove the old version before
installing the new version... Sad... Don't know how many
people are affected by the normal update route...

Hope this help.....!

:::

spwhiting@ · #12 Post by **spwhiting@** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 12:15 am

Darn it....worse than a virus..........

I did not remove the earlier version of PC Doctor before installing PC-Doctor on 31 October and had the same trouble with the Add Remove Programs. There are many more programs in the list than previously and these new ones cannot be removed. The computer seems to be much slower than before downloading PC Doctor 5. there was an "UNINSTALL" button associated with PC Doctor 5 and i have done that, but

Talon 88...What is "System Update 2"...where can it be found?

rebop · #13 Post by **rebop** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 12:18 am

Ok, I have this problem. Just posted another thread not having seen this one. Restore points do not work. I have not checked Add / Remove apps, but have problems with numerous things. Check this topic

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 921#214921

Now, I do not want to do a full R&R. I have a base and weekly incrementals now about a week old.

What is the best thing for me to do to get my system back to normal?

REALLY appreciate your advice.

rebop · #14 Post by **rebop** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 1:15 am

Wish I had seen this thread before I started my other. But...

So need to ask:

I know this has broken Add / Remove, Restore Points, the Fingerprint Reader, Software Installer, DLA and something is funky with networks where wireless is tried before wired.

Is there anything else anyone has found broken so I can check that as well?

And has anyone called Lenovo yet?

Thanks.

Ooops, one more. I got a Windows Update tonight and installed it. It keeps trying to continue to isntall agaian and again. Likely also caused by this mess.

spwhiting@ · #15 Post by **spwhiting@** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 1:38 am

Not much interest from IBM Lenovo site on this, especially since my R51 is out of warranty. I told Travis of Atlanta of the PC DOC 5 problems but all he did was give me a case number 10W8MRB...

I'm having the same problems- I do not want to go into the registry and consider that Lenovo should send a patch to fix this. I made a backup right after I installed PC DOC 5 so that will not help using R+R. Does anyone know if and how I can exclude the PC DOC -5 from being restored?

Software Installer now finds about fifty programs to install that I know are good ones. ADD/REMOVE seems to be the major problem but now Software Installer does not recognize the drivers I know are there.

Anyone have any other suggestions?

Talon88 · #16 Post by **Talon88** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:01 am

:::

ThinkVantage System Update 2
Download & install here:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... VSU-UPDATE

:::

spwhiting@ wrote: Talon 88...What is "System Update 2"...where can it be found?

Talon88 · #17 Post by **Talon88** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:12 am

:::

The best way to do, since you have an last week backup,
Do a Full Recovery (erase the HDD) by choosing the point at
your weekly incrementals. Don't worry, the system will back to
last Week! Then Do like my post: "Follow Up...." at this same
thread. Hope this help.....!

Talon88 wrote: Follow Up....

Since I have Full working Recover Backup by R&R,
I can try as many times I like.

This time, I make it work! All I do is....
Uninstall "PC-Doctor" at "Win Add & Remove App."
Then reboot the system. After restart, I run
"System Update 2" & pick "PC-Doctor 5" & let it
install & finish & Reboot.

All the uninstall list of App. is still at "Win Add & Remove App."
Do a quick test, everythings look good....!

:::

rebop wrote: Now, I do not want to do a full R&R. I have a base and weekly incrementals now about a week old.

What is the best thing for me to do to get my system back to normal?

REALLY appreciate your advice.

DavidNZ · #18 Post by **DavidNZ** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:21 am

OK, as near as I can figure, it's a problem with the ARPCache.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Management\ARPCache\

As near as I can tell, all of the applications listed in my ARPCache are no longer populated by add/remove programs.

For example, I can see Audicity currently in the ARPcache, but it does not show up in add/remove programs. When I look at Audacity's entry in ARPcache, the registry entries are as follows:

Value 0
Name: SlowInfoCache
Type: REG_BINARY

Value 1
Name: Changed
Type: REG_DWORD
Data: 0x0

I'm wondering whether there's something missing. In other words, is there normally a 'remove' name value for most applications in ARPcache?

christopher_wolf · #19 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:29 am

I noticed that as well going through the registry changes. I tried clearing them out, but it didn't make much of a difference to the systems I tried it on. To resolve, however, the slight corruption in the Add/Remove Programs CPL, the techniques from the MSKB article, linked awhile back, appeared to work.

DavidNZ · #20 Post by **DavidNZ** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:48 am

I had a look at Q266668 link you posted - appears it is for W2K, though, correct?

How far into the steps did you have to go? I.e., did REGSVR32 APPWIZ.CPL work or did you have to keep going?

GACrabill · #21 Post by **GACrabill** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:51 am

This problem is going to cause much more grief than the battery recalls ... therefore this topic should be listed as an "Announcement" at the beginning of every forum ... PLEASE !

I envision thousands of manhours spent recovering from this problem for hundreds or thousands of Thinkpads.

We need a WARNING to all readers of any of the many Forums here ASAP.

How many days before I get my T40 back to normal ?
How many lost hours of sleep worrying about the task ?

A Microsoft "fix" of this nature would make the national news.
I can see lots of bad press for Lenovo in the near future.

christopher_wolf · #22 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:56 am

Ummmm....Bit much, don't you think?

This isn't *that* bad and certainly not on the level of the battery recall. It will take a little time, but if you don't want to spend your hours, then you can wait until one of us comes up with a operational solution; it doesn't effect the operation of the Thinkpad, per se, but it does hamper user abilities somewhat.

No, I don't foresee hundreds of thousands of Thinkpads (and I am working on other Thinkpads with this problem) being affected by this nor it being bigger than the battery recall....It simply emphasizes a rather important concept that all computer users should heed; make periodic backups before and after important events.

arni · #23 Post by **arni** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 4:46 am

Talon88 wrote: arni, You said your "Add & Remove" are OK?
are you sure, please check if there're any programs's
unstall are missing? Also, have you got IE7 install?

Everything fine here on my T60. Looked thru control panel software and seeing no issues with my install.

Should note that i've installed IE7 after(!) the PC Doctor update.

But after all i'm currently running my system up to date with all hotfixes and updated thinkvantage drivers and apps as are availabe today.

Yesterday installed IE7 final, WMP 11 final and WDS 3.0 final. So long without any issues or glitches.

So long...[/img]

christopher_wolf · #24 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 5:00 am

One thing that I think might work is copying over all the reg keys from the ARPCache into the CurrentVersion\Uninstaller area in the Registry. That should restore it as it was and, importantly, it restors the "Remove" button. Make some backups, try this, and let me know how it goes.

I also made some registry snapshots before and after the PCD5 install on some of the systems and noticed what changed as well. Apparently, the silent install seems to not clean up after itself too well although I suspect that is more of a problem of how the authors of PCD5 packaged it to begin with.

I am a bit tired right now, but from what I have done for a few entries, it apparently did restore the functionality of the Add/Remove Programs CPL.

DavidNZ · #25 Post by **DavidNZ** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:16 am

Hmmm...appreciate the effort, Chris, but I myself might wait for an official fix. A little too nervous mucking about in the registry.

I'm at steady state right now in terms of functionality: everything working fine, PCD5 uninstalled, ARP CPL not functioning correctly.

As I say, if not a fix, a full rebuild in the summer (well, southern hemisphere summer!).

rebop · #26 Post by **rebop** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:57 am

I'm making progress, i.e., Fingerprint reader now works, most other IBM apps. But here is what remains a problem at this point:

ARP has most Remove / Change buttons gone. No Windows Hot Fixes are listed.

DLA can not update as it finds no existing installation

Rescue and Recovery can not be updated as it does not know it is installed.

Have not yet tied to see if Restore Points work again - at least on a go forward. If anyone tests this, please post.

Bob

Nick Y · #27 Post by **Nick Y** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:42 pm

According to S/W installer I have only 8 drivers/ applications installed on my T43; one of which is PC Doctor. As said above, almost all the IBM ones have gone from the list...

Another case, I assume, of Lenovo Q.A. not being up to scratch.

USSS · #28 Post by **USSS** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:19 pm

Before tinkering too much with the Windows Registry, uninstalling/reinstalling software or, worst case, reformatting and reinstalling Windows, consider running System Restore in SAFE MODE, which fixed my problem related to the PC Doctor 5 update.

See: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 131#215131

rebop · #29 Post by **rebop** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:25 pm

I got it.

Sit tight a moment while I type this up. I am in the process, but this is good stuff.

rebop · #30 Post by **rebop** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:31 pm

Ok.

First I went to Rescue and Recovery and selected Windows/system32/config/software and restored that to a downloaded folder, NOT the original location.

Then, I opened regedit, went to HKUSERS, NOT Local Machine, and imported this hive. I went to the Uninstall folder and exported that as old.reg. The unloaded this hive.

I went to the current unsinstall folder (just in case, HKLM\software\microsoft\windows\crrent version\uninstall) and exported that as current.reg

Now with a text editor, I can combine the two as accurate for what is newly installed and what was installed but did not show in Add and Remove, and then import that reg.

I did have to change the paths with search an dreplace to match the current path in the reg text files, so do not overlook that if you go this route.

Where. Maybe another hour and I will be done.

What a drag to have to go through this.

Bob

PS. May not reply to your questions for awhile. Need to finish this and actually get some work done.

[Warning] Don't install "PC-Doctor 5"

[Warning] Don't install "PC-Doctor 5"

Re: [Warning] Don't install "PC-Doctor 5"

Re: [Warning] Don't install "PC-Doctor 5"

Follow Up....

Re: [Warning] Don't install "PC-Doctor 5"

Resolving PC Doctor 5 Update Issues

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