Windows 10: Some uninstalled programs leaving behind dummy app entry in start menu

I've tried everything to get rid of these things. I've reindexed, checked the start menu folders in program data and appdata, I've hunted all left over registry files and it's still there. They look like this:

Processing img q057leeqs9661...

I cannot right click them, and clicking open does nothing. I have several of these, and not every program I uninstall leaves them behind. I think its stemming from a compatibility issue with older uninstallers. I can't find anything else to try at this point.

forgot to mention, I have also tried reinstalling the program and uninstalling again and uninstalling with revo.

submitted by /u/TheTeaPanda
[link] [comments]

:)

 

Entries in the Start Menu can't be removed

Hi there,

I have two entries in my Start Menu that can't be removed. Both the programs have been uninstalled from my computer, but their entries are still there.

I tried:

1. Going to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs to remove them there, but they aren't listed there either.
2. Clicking on the entries in the Start Menu. Nothing happens.
3. Right clicking and selecting "Uninstall", nothing happens.
4. Right clicking, going to "More" and selecting "Run as administrator". Nothing happens.
5. Right clicking, going to "More" and selecting "App Settings". Opens and list of apps, and of course, it doesn't list these entries, as they've been uninstalled.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

 

Uninstall leaving componenets behind

Most programs when installed, will:

1. Put the uninstaller in C:\Windows\Installers (hidden) or the actual uninst.exe in the installed program folder.
2. Put an entry in the registry ===> List all entries when you use "Programs and Features" to uninstall a program.
3. Put an entry in Allapps. Depending on how you select to install the program, either for current user or for all users.
   - %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs===> all users
   - %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs ===> current user

Since your D: drive crashed. The uninst.exe is no longer existed causing the uninstaller to break.You now have orphan entries in the registry and in the Installers folder.
In order to fix this problem, you'd have to re-install the program again then uninstall.
Or just open the folders in step 3 above and delete the entries for those missing programs from All Apps.

FYI, It is advisable to install the third party programs in C: as most programs are quite small (10MB ~ 200MB) except programs such as Photoshop, Adobe Reader Pro, Video editing program(s), they might take from 700MB~1.5GB.
I have lots of programs installed and if manage properly, My C: drive only takes up ~31GB.

 

Files missing from "Start Menu" "All Programs"

RE: WINDOWS 7 ULTIMATE 32bit, Files missing from "Start Menu" "All Programs" list.

I have several "start menu" programs missing in my "all programs" list. One of the missing entries is the "accessories" folder and all related files.

As far as I can tell all of the missing files are on the system and they can be found by using the "start menu search" facility. This problem is occurring with other users but I can not find a solution which works to get things back the way they were after installing the OS.

I am seeing the missing apps and other items at this location in iexplore.exe %allusersprofile%\Start Menu\Programs .

Everything I have tried to get these items back into my "start menu" "all programs" list has been met with failure except creating a shortcut. A shortcut is not the real fix as it leaves two entries in the folder.

When I right click on the highlighted "all Programs" box, in the start menu, a small options list pops up, if "open all users" is selected a new window pops up. Inside that window I can click on the programs folder where I can see the missing entries that should appear on my "all programs" list plus those which I presently see on my "all programs" list together in a single directory listing.

How can I get the above directory list of programs back into the "start menu" "all programs" area so I do not have to go through this extra window and select the programs folder to locate what I wish to run?

I also noticed my accessories folder has a lock on it while I am in the primary user administrator account. If you know how to get rid of the lock it would be helpful however I can find that information when I get a chance to look up the answer?

I noticed some hidden (first tier) folders on the C: drive which I made visible while leaving protection on the OS folders. I can now see these folders in an iexplore.exe directory listing. This did not fix the problem in the "all programs" file selection list and I do not remember if this folder was hidden when the OS was installed.

When I opened up the system to allow a login directly into the Administrator account everything shows up the same as it did when the OS installed along with all other programs installed afterward.

After some progress I am still here *Bang Head :banghead: and slowly getting closer to an answer. Can anyone help me get there a little faster?