All Installed Programs May Not Be Displayed in the Add/Remove Programs Tool

ID: Q240348

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release version 1
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition

SYMPTOMS

You may notice that all of the programs that are installed on your computer may not be displayed in the Add/Remove Programs tool.


CAUSE

This behavior occurs if a program's DisplayName or uninstall key name is longer than 63 characters.


RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

To resolve this issue:

  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.


  2. Locate the following registry key:


    3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
  3. Click the folder of the program that has more than 63 characters in the title, right-click DisplayName, and then click Modify.


  4. In the Value data box, type a name with less than 63 characters, and then click OK.


  5. If the program's uninstall key name is longer than 63 characters, shorten it also. For example, the following key name is too long:


    6. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234
  6. Quit Registry Editor.


Additional query words:

Keywords : kbenv win98 win98se
Version : WINDOWS:95; winnt:4.0
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: September 22, 1999
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