Windows 7 Programs and Features List is Missing Programs

Question

I upgraded to Windows 7 Home Premium from Vista about 8 months ago.  About a month ago my Programs and Features list stopped displaying most of the programs I had installed on the system including Adobe CS4, Microsoft Office 2007, and several games, both older and recent. 

All of the programs still run mostly normally, but fail to update or patch.  Also, the uninstallers for the programs have not been functioning. 

What's going on here?

Answer 1

Hi MichaelHayashi,

• Did you make any changes on your computer prior to this issue?
• What happens when you try to install any update?
• Which uninstaller you are referring to? Do you get any error message when the uninstaller stops working?

Let’s try these steps & check if it helps.

Method 1

You may run system file checker [SFC] scan on the computer which will replace the missing or corrupt files & check if the issue persists.

a. Type cmd in start search box. Right click on cmd in the Program list and then select the option Run as administrator.

Note: If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type your password, or click Continue.

b. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:

    sfc /scannow

For more information refer this link.

How to use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files on Windows Vista or on Windows 7

Method 2

You may create a new user account with administrative privilege and check if the issue persists.

Create a user account

If you don’t have any issue in the new User Account, access the link below and follow the steps to fix a corrupted user profile:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/Windows7/Fix-a-corrupted-user-profile

Hope the information helps. Please post back and let us know.

Regards

Debleena S

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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Answer 2

Hello Debleena S,

I am facing the similar problem with my Windows 7 Home Premium laptop. Following the steps given, I have got the message after using SFC tool that corrupt files are successfully repaired. There are no such files to fix manually.

But after once again looking into the Program & Features window, I'm not getting the list of all the programs. Is there still anything left after completion of SFC tool to do. Please let me know to resolve the issue at the earliest.

Answer 3

Bump.. I'm having the same problem

Answer 4

Hi Debleena,

I see this is an old post, but its the one closest to my query I could find.

I would like to know, I copied a free to play game from an old HDD to my new PC, the game works as it should, but it does not show as an installed program under control panel\programs&feautures.

This meaning that the game does not actively store data such as my graphics preferences etc.

as I said the game does work without issues, but it would be nice not to have to change all my settings every time I start the game.

Is there a way i can get Windows to recognize the program?

Thank you in advance>