Hiding programs in Add/Remove Programs

[zzyzx]

Is there any way to hide certain programs from the Add/Remove Programs dialog in the Control Panel?

I tried deleting the registry entry under the "Uninstall" group, but it only removes the "Change/Remove" button and support info, yet the program name still appears. is there a file that contains the list of programs installed?

[Daeymon]

www.xteq.com download X-setup. It has a function that lets you remove the programs from the add/remove list without deleting or uninstalling them.

[Pakalolo]

Not a fan of MSN Messenger? Don’t want Windows Media Player on your system? If you go to Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel, by default none of Windows XP’s ’built in’ programs are visible. It’s fairly easy to change, though...

Just open the file X:\Windows\inf\sysoc.inf (where X: is the drive letter where Windows XP is installed) in Notepad. You should see a section of the file something like this:

[Components]
NtComponents=ntoc.dll,NtOcSetupProc,,4
WBEM=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,wbemoc.inf,hide,7
Display=desk.cpl,DisplayOcSetupProc,,7
Fax=fxsocm.dll,FaxOcmSetupProc,fxsocm.inf,,7
NetOC=netoc.dll,NetOcSetupProc,netoc.inf,,7
iis=iis.dll,OcEntry,iis.inf,,7
com=comsetup.dll,OcEntry,comnt5.inf,hide,7
dtc=msdtcstp.dll,OcEntry,dtcnt5.inf,hide,7
IndexSrv_System = setupqry.dll,IndexSrv,setupqry.inf,,7
TerminalServer=TsOc.dll, HydraOc, TsOc.inf,hide,2
msmq=msmqocm.dll,MsmqOcm,msmqocm.inf,,6
ims=imsinsnt.dll,OcEntry,ims.inf,,7
fp_extensions=fp40ext.dll,FrontPage4Extensions,fp4 0ext.inf,,7
AutoUpdate=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,au.inf,hide,7
msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7
RootAutoUpdate=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,rootau.inf,,7
IEAccess=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,ieaccess.inf,,7

This is a list of all components installed at the moment. I’ve taken the example of MSN Messenger - the program entry called ’msmsgs’, third-last line. You can see the word ’hide’ highlighted - this is the string which tells Windows not to display the component in the Add/Remove Programs list. Fix this up by simply deleting the word ’hide’ like so:

msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7

To this:

msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7

Now, after restarting, you should be able to see MSN Messenger in the Add/Remove Programs list. If you want to be able to quickly view and remove all components, simply open the sysoc.inf file and do a global find and replace for the word ",hide" and replace it with a single comma

To Hide programs just do the reverse of the steps above: Replace the single comma "," with the ",hide" for instance-

ims=imsinsnt.dll,OcEntry,ims.inf,,7

To this:

ims=imsinsnt.dll,OcEntry,ims.inf,hide,7

Hope that helps...

Pakalolo

[john coats]

why would you want to any way microsft designed that way

[Card388]

I have a program i Want to hide but am not sure how to do it could some one
(hopefully Pakalolo can do it )
Cuz i wanna ply my friend in a game but his mom check the CPU in add/remove so he cant and i wanna hide it for him but i ahve no idea can i send toy uthe link to the gaem adn then someone tell me the code for it?
just the game line i guess then i can put it to his CPU etc and he can paly with me

The Game's name is DOFUS PLZ HELP ME!!

[Miz]

If you don't want to use X-setup that Daeymon linked to, there are two steps to remove entries in Add Or Remove Programs required when running Windows XP.

Remember, if you incorrectly edit the registry you may render your computer unbootable. Take your time and double check before you delete anything.

Go to Start>Run, type "regedit" (without the quotes), click OK.

Step 1: Navigate to the key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products

Under this key you will see a number of 'long numbered' keys. Look inside each one for the string value "ProductName." When you find the one the contains the name of the entry you wish to remove, simply delete the 'long numbered' key you found it in.

Step 2: Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Uninstall, and remove any unwanted keys under "Uninstall."

[Card388]

Umm I did that on the Long numbered part it only shows some of them and it doesnt show the game =\

[Card388]

Sorry for Double post but need to make soemoen see this faster

NVM so i just delete the key and the subkeys In the Uninstall thing and it will hide the program or will it uninstall the program?

Oh and if i do this process how can i delete the program or make it viable in the add/remove later?

[Miz]

It is supposed to just remove the program from the list. It won't uninstall it.

You'll need to back up the keys you're about to delete so you can restore them when you want to uninstall the program. Or check in the program's folder to see if there's an uninstall file. That's what Add Or Remove Programs uses to uninstall and you can execute it directly by double clicking to to uninstall the program.

[DaveC2003]

Refer to the link below, found the answer to solve your problem.

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/arp.htm

A bit old this post ain't it???

DaveC2003

[Card388]

OK then TY man

So how do i put it back just drag the folder back?

[Card388]

am trying to hide the program to get them back ...

[Miz]

To restore registry backups, right click on them, left click Merge.

[Card388]

OK ty Miz

you really are a genius LOL