Software Installer is causing Add/Remove Program problem!!!

[ThinkPadT42User]

I try to keep my thnkpad T42 updated with latest release of softwares from Lenovo site.

I use software installer on regular basis. I don't exactly remember when, but last time I scanned for new updates, it showed that I need the IBM DLA update (what? I have deleted IBM DLA many months ago before Roxio Easy Media Creator 7 installation. Why now???.

Fine, so be it. So, I download this and install it, and guess what? It says I don't have the correct version! (duh~ I have deleted this almost a year ago!).

Now, problem gets worse. Then I have noticed that add/remove program is not working properly. The add/remove button is missing

Almost all (over 90%) of programs already installed on my laptop PC are this way (for example MS Office, etc.).

Naturally, after struggling for many hours, I have decided to format my HD to factory setting with my recovery CD. To my suprise, when I tried to use SW Installer again, it only lists about 8 update items and when I do install them (including IBM DLA, which keep showing on the list of updates and when I try to update it, it says I already have the updated version installed.. ) the add/remove button problem still persists.

I have found several articles in the form (about how PC Doctor5 causes this problem, etc.) but exactly did not say how to fix this. But I don't think it is the problem on my case. Come to think of it, i don't even remember seeing PC Doctor on the update list.

Help~~~~~~~~~~

[GomJabbar]

See if you have PC Doctor installed and what version it is. If it is version 5 then I would almost bet you got hit with the PC Doctor 5 update snafu. I happened to me.

Here is what worked for me and a number of others. Boot up into Windows SAFE MODE and use Windows System Restore to restore to a point before the problem manifested itself. Note that for me, the PC Doctor 5 install did not show up in System Restore, but I knew basically when it was installed, so I restored to a point before the PC Doctor 5 update install.

Even if PC Doctor 5 isn't the culprit in your case, Windows System Restore should get you squared away again. You will have to reinstall any software added since the restore point date that you choose. All created or modified documents should remain. If there are several versions of your documents, then System Restore renames them with numbers appending.

Alternatively you can restore any backup you might have made with Rescue and Recovery or any other backup software.

Press F8 at the beginning of the boot sequence to get to SAFE MODE. Go to Start > Help and Support to get to System Restore.

[sprior]

Is there any complete description of this PC Doctor 5 update snafu? I also did a system update in mid December and something related to that update seems to have trashed the uninstall information out of my registry (I was NOT amused). I took it as an opportunity to buy that 7200RPM 100G drive I've been lusting after and do a complete reinstall, but I'd really like to know more about what actually happened so it doesn't happen again. Did Lenovo fix the problem some it won't happen again? Is PC Doctor ver 5 still lurking out there as an available update?

[Lazarus]

...Now, problem gets worse. Then I have noticed that add/remove program is not working properly. The add/remove button is missing ...

I think your registry is corrupted.
When you removed those SW packages you either didn't follow standard un-install procedures or something got messed up afterwards.
My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Registry Entries.Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\uninstall\
Within there are links to un-install script files and if you just deleted those directories manually, the registry reports back that it can't find the associated script files no more and you're out of luck with the un-install process.
But any install program which checks the registry for those entries thinks you still got those programs installed on your system.
Its a "catch 22" situtation and you need a registry repair program to fix it (lest you're good enough to do it manually via "regedit" - dangerous!).

[GomJabbar]

Is there any complete description of this PC Doctor 5 update snafu? I also did a system update in mid December and something related to that update seems to have trashed the uninstall information out of my registry (I was NOT amused). I took it as an opportunity to buy that 7200RPM 100G drive I've been lusting after and do a complete reinstall, but I'd really like to know more about what actually happened so it doesn't happen again. Did Lenovo fix the problem some it won't happen again? Is PC Doctor ver 5 still lurking out there as an available update?

See the following two threads.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=36006

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=32675