Vista clean install - add/remove programs empty on fresh install

[katz]

Fresh install/Vista 32 bit on 5 yr. old dell. Used factory disk. Near end of install, system wanted to run checkdisk & found some errors that were corrected. Now, upon fresh install, the add/remove programs list is empty.

Anyone see this before?

I'm thinking of doing the re-install again, but if anyone here has any otehr suggestions, please post.

Thanks!

 

[Xander]

One quick test I'd try would be to reinstall something that you know is already installed and see if it shows up back on the list. If it doesn't, you know you've got some corruption at play.

If Chkdsk found (logical) errors, did you check the disk for bad sectors? SMART?

 

[phaZed]

the chkdsk is concerning, but what happened is it probably borked the OEM installation.. which is not necessarily a bad thing

 

[katz]

I re-installed the OS and same thing, nothing in add/remove. Second install went without a hitch, normal install. This is a new/sealed Dell disk, never before used.

services.msc looks good, msconfig looks good, 35 processes running at startup.
Dev. manager looks good, except for one unknown device. Windows shows as being activated.

Everything seems to be functioning normally.

Not sure what to think here. Do I proceed with updates?

 

[phaZed]

I would... like eHousecalls said.. make sure other things are showing up in the Add/Remove when you install them.

 

[markcuk11]

Try this
1. Click Start, click Run, and then type CMD.
2. At the prompt, type REGSVR32 APPWIZ.CPL

Have you tried to install anything to see if it shows up?

 

[katz]

Try this
1. Click Start, click Run, and then type CMD.
2. At the prompt, type REGSVR32 APPWIZ.CPL

Have you tried to install anything to see if it shows up?

Did that -

Received following error message -

The module "APPWIZ.CPL" was loaded but the entry-point DllRegisterServer was not found. Make sure that "APPWIZ.CPL" is a valid DLL or OCX file and then try again.

Also, I did install several pgms. as a test and yes, they do show up. (CCleaner/Trojan Remover/Malwarebytes, etc.)

What do you make of it?

 

[katz]

So far I've done all Windows updates including SP2. have MSSE AV installed, Works 8.5. Only (3) entries in the add/remove. CCleaner/M-warebytes/Spybot.

Only aboout 3 or 4 things showing up in msconfig, so I am unable to turn things off in there for faster boot time, although I can do that in services.msc.

Anyone have any more ideas on this?

 

[NBCS]

the chkdsk is concerning, but what happened is it probably borked the OEM installation.. which is not necessarily a bad thing

No kidding. I'd love a way to prevent all that bloat from getting installed by default.

 

[katz]

Did all updates, everything is back the way the client had it as far as programs installed.

All of the "extra" programs I installed show up in add/remove, but nothing MSoft related is showing up, i.e. SP3, .Net install, all that stuff that gets installed through Windows update.

It ran great on my bench, client has been using it for a few days now, no reported problems. Don't know what to make of it, but everything seems okay.