Published by

**Brink** · 21 Aug 2007

How to Remove a Uninstall Entry in Programs and Features for Vista and Windows 7

Information

In Programs and Features there is a list of programs on your computer that have a uninstall program for it. If the program uninstall entry is invalid or you simply want to remove it from the list, then this will show you how to remove the uninstall entry using your choice of three methods.

Note

The first two options use a 3rd party program, and the third method is through the registry. Just pick the method that you are most comfortable doing.

EXAMPLE: Program and Features
NOTE: Open the Control Panel (Classic View in Vista) or (Icons View Windows 7) and click on the Programs and Features icon.

OPTION ONE

Using the Program "Windows Install Cleanup"

1. If you have not already, download and install the Windows Install Cleanup program.
NOTE: If you get the Error "800A0046 - Permission Denied" when installing this program, then right click on the setup file msicuu2.exe and click Run as Administrator to install it.

2. Click on the Windows Install Cleanup shortcut icon in the Start Menu and All Programs location to run the program. (See screenshot below)

Name: WICU_Shortcut.jpg
Views: 109506
Size: 2.0 KB

3. Select a entry and click the Remove button to remove it from the Programs and Features uninstall list. (See screenshot below step 4)

4. Click on Exit when done.

OPTION TWO

Using the Program "CCleaner"

1. If you have not already, download and install the latest version of the CCleaner.

2. Click on the CCleaner shortcut icon either on your desktop or in the Start Menu to run the program. (see screenshot below)

3. Click on the Tools button on the left. (see screenshot below step 5)

4. Select the uninstall entry and click the Delete Entry button to remove it from the Programs and Features uninstall list.

5. Click on the X in the upper right corner to close CCleaner when done.

OPTION THREE

Manually Using Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.

3. If prompted by UAC, click on the Continue (Vista) or Yes (Windows 7).

4. To do in 32 Bit and 64 Bit Windows

A) In regedit, go to: (See top screenshot below step 11)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

5. To do Only in 64 Bit Windows

A) In regedit, go to: (See bottom screenshot below step 11)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Warning

To be safe you should make a Back Up of this key, just in case you delete something you did not want to.

In the left pane, right click on Uninstall and click Export.
In the Export Registry File dialog box, click Desktop in the Save in box and type Uninstall Backup in the File name box, then click Save.
To Undo Changes you made to this Uninstall key and restore it back to as it is now, right click on Uninstall Backup.reg and click Merge. Click Run, Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

6. Click on Continue (UAC-Vista) or Yes (UAC-Windows 7), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

7. In the left pane, each subkey, folder with {long number} or program name, under Uninstall represents a program that appears in the Programs and Features uninstall list.

8. Click on a subkey, folder with {long number} or program name, under Uninstall to determine which program that key represents.
NOTE: In the right pane of the subkey:
DisplayName = Shows the name listed in Programs and Features.
UninstallString = Shows the full path of the program that is used to uninstall the program.

9. To Remove the Uninstall Entry

A) Right click on the subkey, folder with {long number} or program name in the left pane, for the program you want to remove from the uninstall list and click Delete.

B) Click on YES to confirm the delete.

10. Open Programs and Features and confirm that the uninstall entry is gone, then you can delete the Uninstall Backup.reg (on desktop) file if you like.
NOTE: See the Example at the top of this tutorial.

11. Close regedit.
NOTE: The top screenshot is for the 32 bit Vista and 64 bit Vista, and the bottom screenshot is for only the 64 bit Vista.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**punktdawg** · 05 Jan 2008

Awesome tutorial, very helpful. Never used CCleaner before reading this, while CCleaner was unable to delete the entry I was trying to remove I found a work around. I had an entry named "Search" which was being very difficult. Obviously too many entires in registry named "search" to do a registry search, and the entry wasn't in the default key. Windows Install Cleanup saw the key but was unsuccessful in removing it. I used CCleaner to rename it to "findmenow"(which was successful) then searched the registry for "findmenow". Done in 2 minutes what was taking me hours looking through different entries in the registry. Excellent recommendation on CCleaner. Much appreciated.

**Brink** · 05 Jan 2008

Hi Punktdawg,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

I'm glad you like and found this tutorial helpful. Thank you for sharing your workaround for solving your problem. Some of these programs can be messy when it comes to uninstalling them due to shotty programming.

Shawn

**arboleya1074** · 29 May 2008

Thanks for the great tutorial, I was unable to do Method 1 nor 2, becouse of the difgital signs (certificates) -I can't install any program with "unknown certificate" (another headache)-, but Using the Registry was a great help indeed.
Thank you so much.

**Brink** · 29 May 2008

You're welcome Arboleya, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

**unbreakable** · 10 Oct 2008

I have Vista ultimate 32 bit SP1 and there is no such path in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

perhaps something has changed with sp1?

**Brink** · 10 Oct 2008

Hello Unbreakable, and welcome to Vista Forums.

No, nothing has changed. I have simply forgot to include the 32 bit Vista location.

It is included now.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Thank you,
Shawn

**giksy** · 16 Nov 2008

very helpful! thx for all the efort and all the forum!

**Brink** · 16 Nov 2008

You're welcome Giksy, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

**andylord** · 08 Feb 2010

Hi All,

I cant seem to remove a software even after the suggestions made above. My OS is Vista Home Premium 32bit.The uninstaller for the software was probably corrupt and now whenever I start my laptop the installer runs and tries to install the program and then after 5 mints or so fails and prompts to cancel the installation ( as it could not find the required information ). Its becoming quite irritating now and none of the tricks seem to work. I tried re-installing but it didn't work.Further, the folder for the software is still intact in the C/ drive but with only one or two sub folders. Deleting them does not work, running all kinds of registry cleaners does not work either. Am I left with the only option to FORMAT?? Please help.

Similar Threads
Tutorial	Tutorial Starter	Category	Comments	Last Post
How to remove Invalid entry from Programs and Features...?	oc9ine	Vista General	2	26 Jul 2009
need to uninstall program not listed in Programs and Features	hilmcleod	Vista hardware & devices	3	03 Feb 2008
Cannot uninstall any application thru Programs and Features of Vis	Rani	Vista installation & setup	5	19 Jan 2008
no uninstall option in programs and features	lucinda	Vista General	17	29 Aug 2007
No Uninstall entry in "Add/Remove programs"	antoniomba	Vista installation & setup	1	03 Apr 2007

Published by

Tutorial Tools

Applies to

Re: Programs and Features - Remove Uninstall Entry

Re: Programs and Features - Remove Uninstall Entry

Re: Programs and Features - Remove Uninstall Entry

Re: Programs and Features - Remove Uninstall Entry

Re: Programs and Features - Remove Uninstall Entry

Re: Programs and Features - Remove Uninstall Entry

Re: Programs and Features - Remove Uninstall Entry

Re: Programs and Features - Remove Uninstall Entry

Re: Programs and Features - Remove Uninstall Entry

Posting Permissions