Add or Remove Windows Components

**EricG** · 01-18-2008, 03:36 AM

Hi

I cannot make sense of the limited information in my Windows XP Home Edition Help Files with regard to how one adds or removes windows components.

When I open the facility through Control Panel>Add and Remove Programmes I see a number of items; some are checked and some aren't; some have file sizes against them and some don't. More importantly, the checked items do not correspond to the items I have installed, which is very confusing. Also, if I try to add or remove an item, I don't get the option to either add or remove it; it just does it. Consequently, I have inadvertently removed something I need and had to reinstall it.

Can anyone tell me how this facility is supposed to work or point me to a
simple and understandable explanation of the procedure.

mike2020learnin · 01-18-2008, 06:07 PM

hello,

when you go into the add & remove programs you will notice on the left side of the window a colum that has other options in it

you will want to select the add & remove windows componets

now what are you trying to install or remove ?

Mike

**EricG** · 01-19-2008, 03:41 AM

Hi

I uninstalled the games under Accessories and Utilities by checking that item only and also checked games in the details panel. I unchecked all other items thinking that it would only remove the games but to my surprise it also removed IE, OE and WMP. In doing this it didn't ask whether I wanted to remove items nor listed the items; it just did it.

I then checked the items it had removed that I did want (IE, OE and WMP) and they were then added, but again without notification of whether it was adding or removing items and without showing what items would be affected.

So; my problem is, how does one know when it is adding or removing items and which items are being affected?

At least when using the add or remove programmes I get a message asking whether I am sure I want to remove the application! Why doesn't the Windows add or remove components facility do likewise I wonder?

mike2020learnin · 01-19-2008, 06:16 AM

hello ,

the reson for not letting you know is because normally you are a more advanced user that uses these fuctions that knows what they are doing !!!

are you needing to reinstall anything that you uninstalled ?

MIke

**speedster123** · 01-19-2008, 06:25 AM

pretty straight forward-
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307894

more advanced-
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/222444

**EricG** · 01-20-2008, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike2020learnin

hello ,

the reson for not letting you know is because normally you are a more advanced user that uses these fuctions that knows what they are doing !!!

are you needing to reinstall anything that you uninstalled ?

MIke

I don't think one needs to be an advanced user to want to use this facility - it ought not to be any more difiicult to do than the add or remove programme function.

Anyway, the links provided by speedster123 havew answered the question. Thanks speedster.

01-18-2008, 03:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
EricG I helped the forums. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cumbria, England, UK Posts: 193 OS: Windows XP Home Edition My System	Add or Remove Windows Components Hi I cannot make sense of the limited information in my Windows XP Home Edition Help Files with regard to how one adds or removes windows components. When I open the facility through Control Panel>Add and Remove Programmes I see a number of items; some are checked and some aren't; some have file sizes against them and some don't. More importantly, the checked items do not correspond to the items I have installed, which is very confusing. Also, if I try to add or remove an item, I don't get the option to either add or remove it; it just does it. Consequently, I have inadvertently removed something I need and had to reinstall it. Can anyone tell me how this facility is supposed to work or point me to a simple and understandable explanation of the procedure. __________________ Eric G

01-18-2008, 06:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
mike2020learnin Tech, Microsoft Support Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Michigan , I donated so can you Posts: 2,787 OS: Windows XP Home & Pro. Sp3 / both compleatly updated My System	Re: Add or Remove Windows Components hello, when you go into the add & remove programs you will notice on the left side of the window a colum that has other options in it you will want to select the add & remove windows componets now what are you trying to install or remove ? Mike __________________ Mike How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000

01-19-2008, 03:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
EricG I helped the forums. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cumbria, England, UK Posts: 193 OS: Windows XP Home Edition My System	Re: Add or Remove Windows Components Hi I uninstalled the games under Accessories and Utilities by checking that item only and also checked games in the details panel. I unchecked all other items thinking that it would only remove the games but to my surprise it also removed IE, OE and WMP. In doing this it didn't ask whether I wanted to remove items nor listed the items; it just did it. I then checked the items it had removed that I did want (IE, OE and WMP) and they were then added, but again without notification of whether it was adding or removing items and without showing what items would be affected. So; my problem is, how does one know when it is adding or removing items and which items are being affected? At least when using the add or remove programmes I get a message asking whether I am sure I want to remove the application! Why doesn't the Windows add or remove components facility do likewise I wonder? __________________ Eric G

01-19-2008, 06:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
mike2020learnin Tech, Microsoft Support Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Michigan , I donated so can you Posts: 2,787 OS: Windows XP Home & Pro. Sp3 / both compleatly updated My System	Re: Add or Remove Windows Components hello , the reson for not letting you know is because normally you are a more advanced user that uses these fuctions that knows what they are doing !!! are you needing to reinstall anything that you uninstalled ? MIke __________________ Mike How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000

01-19-2008, 06:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York Posts: 4,000 OS: xp pro My System	Re: Add or Remove Windows Components pretty straight forward- http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307894 more advanced- http://support.microsoft.com/kb/222444 __________________ Last edited by speedster123 : 01-19-2008 at 06:31 AM.