Remove an Application from Control Panel?

Question

Any Windows tool available to remove an application from Control Panel's "Add or Delete Programs"? For example I have an application listed in the Control Panel. I know I can remove it from disk and there is no need to clean it from reg or any other places. However, the app is still in the Control Panel's "Add or Delete Programs" list.

I think that there is Windows reg setting for this. Not sure what tool is available to remove it? The reason I ask this question is that I want to do it in an automation way instead of manual way.

The Windows is XP platform.

Answer 1

I would recommend using Ccleaner both to remove programs and to clear them from the registry. It comes with a registry error finder (and fixer) so it should be able to handle it.

Answer 2

RevoUninstaller will scan your registry/hard drive for left behind keys and files

Answer 3

Microsoft has a Knowledge Base article about this problem. It requires modification of the registry.

You can also use a tool for this, like Add/Remove Manager:

Answer 4

All items displayed in "Add or remove programs" are stored in the registry. Take a look at the following key:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Each key (folder) has a number of values that relate to how it is displayed in the Control Panel applet. Remove it from here, and it won't show up on the list.

When looking through the keys, look for the UninstallString value. It should point to a location on the drive, not MsiExec.exe. From what I've seen, the ones that point to Msiexec are redundant and don't always need to be removed. It depends on the software in question.