PCWorld Forums: Error with Add/Remove Program - PCWorld Forums

I have a machine that is coming up with the following message when trying to open Add/Remove Programs in control panel on a Win Xp Home machine:
An exception ocurred while trying to run "C:WINDOWSSystem32shell32.dll, Control_RunDLL"C:WINDOWSSystem32appwiz.cpl",add or remove programs"
Any help with solving this would be appreciated.

Hi. Had you, at any time, downloaded and installed a program called "AppWiz"? If so, that application may not have been uninstalled completely. As a work around, you can try this free application, Add/Remove Pro. This program will show you all the applications within the standard Add/Remove utility within Windows. Additionally, you will be able to see what applications were not removed properly or completely.

I was told no to the AppWiz install, although there is a file in "C:WINDOWSSystem32appwiz. It is a Control Panel extension.



I did try AddRemove Pro. Nothing like that was found. I did find a Anti Virus that needs to be uninstalled, but there is a X next to it in AddRemove Pro, so it will not uninstall it.

Well, according to this site, you have most likely been infected by a virus. I gather this is not your own computer?


- What security applications are installed on this computer?

- When was the last time a scan was run on all hard drives (partitions)?

Thanks. I couldn't find any info on this file. I had a good idea it was a virus. It has an old Norman AntiVirus on it, yes, Norman, not Norton, but it is outdated and needs to be uninstalled, so a newer version of Norman can go on it.

Norman??? Okay, let's see if we can give you some options. The majority of forum members in here rely on what's called the layering technique. In a perfect situation, you can have as many anti-virus and anti-spyware as your heart desires. However, only one of each should protect the computer in realtime. I use several, and I do mean several, applications. To start, download, install, and run each one and post what you find:

SuperAnti-Spyware

Dr. Web Cure-It

Rootkit Revealer
This option will only tell you if your system has Rootkits. If it does, you can use the report that you get and go to this forum so they can read and interrupt the report.




You should most definitely have a firewall in place. Windows Firewall is, upon a consensus, garbage. Zone Alarm Free is very good and trust by many members.



You should also have a main anti-virus application. AVG Anti-Virus is a perfect application to protect the computer in realtime.




The best part of all is that each of these applications are free