Programs and Features - Remove Uninstall Entry

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

• How to Use Disk Cleanup in Vista
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• How to Restore the Uninstall Confirmation Prompt in Vista Programs and Features
• How to Disable or Enable Programs and Features in Vista

NOTE

This is a free program from Microsoft. The download link for this program is here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

1. 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 > All Programs to run the program. (See screenshot below)



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.

NOTE

This is a free program that can be downloaded here: http://ccleaner.com/

1. Download and install the latest version of the CCleaner program.
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.

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.
3. Click the Continue button for the UAC prompt.
4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
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.

5. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
6. 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.
7. 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.

8. 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 YES to confirm the delete.

9. 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.

10. Close regedit.