Control Panels is missing Add or Remove Programs?

Try Start |Run... |appwiz.cpl
If this doesn't bring up the add/remove program check if this file exist:
c:\winnt\system32\appwiz.cpl

If it doesn't exist try running
Start |Run.. |sfc /scannow

Hope this helps.

Did you hide it with a third party program by any chance? or have you got group policies (local policies) that removes that icon?

A third party program is TweakUI133. It does a lot of useful things, that should have been included as a standard in Windows.

If there are group policies installed as suggested by 'st steve' or your registry has been modified you can do the following:

Download TweakUI from this location:
http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/downloads/PowerToys/Networking/NTTweakUI.asp
Extract the files to a directory.
To install it right click 'tweakui.inf' and choose 'Install'. Close the help window.
The icon for TweakUI is in your control panel.
Double-click it.
Choose the Control Panel tab and make sure 'appwiz.cpl' is selected.

Good luck.

Any progress on this eeevbeee ?

Yo NartMc, don't propose an answer if you don't have a clue!!!

eeevbeee you should reject NartMc's Proposed Answer.

Another way around this problem is simply to run the win2k install in repair mode, it seems to work without to much fuss, provided you don't have a whole lot of apps installed on your system. Remember that after the repair you should reinstall all of your service packs and hot fixes.

Intended For
Windows XP only
 
If you upgrade an earlier version of Windows to XP, you may find that several icons are missing from Control Panel. This is caused by a bug in Windows XP where certain registry settings left over from previous versions are misinterpreted. Here's how to fix it:

Run the Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE).
Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Control Panel.
Delete the Don't load key entirely, and close the Registry Editor.
The change should take effect immediately.

He guy's.  I have recently started having the same problem.  However, I have found a work-around for myself while I try to fix this issue.  If you go to START + SETTINS + Taskbar & Start Menu, ADVANCED tab then choose the option to EXPAND CONTROL PANEL, this will show the icon for Add\Remove Programs.  I've still yet to fix the actual problem, but again, this does server as a WORKING work-around.  

Let me know if this helps.  Thanks.

You can also open this applet from the RUN command like so:

START + RUN + type the following:  APWiz.cpl

I found this MSKB, but it's for Win9x clients, not 2K/XP.  It's worth a shot...


http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=195064

You can also open this applet from the RUN command like so:

START + RUN + type the following:  APWiz.cpl

I found this MSKB, but it's for Win9x clients, not 2K/XP.  It's worth a shot...


http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=195064

If there may be the possibility of someone maliciously removing add/remove programs option from Control Panel, or perhaps the administrator hid it, read MS article:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=261241

First, make sure you have administrative rights.  Right click "My Computer" - Manage - Local Users and Groups - Users.  Double click your username (logon name) - "Member Of" tab - and make sure Administrators is in the list.  If it is not, have your administrator give you administrative rights and relog on.  (You can see all possible logons in the Users folder - if denied, have administrator log on).

After having admin rights, go to Start - Run - gpedit.msc
and hit enter.  This will bring up the Group Policy window.

Choose: User Configuration - Administrative Templates - Control Panel - Hide Specified control panel applets - Disabled - Apply.

Choose: User Configuration - Administrative Templates - Control Panel - Show only specified control panel applets - Disabled - Apply.

Good luck!

All,
I am unlocking this question in preparation for cleanup.  I will return in 7 days to finalize this question.  Please leave any recommendations for the final state of this question, I will take all recommendations into consideration.  Failing any feedback, I may decide in 7 days to delete or PAQ this question with no refund.  Thanks.

SpideyMod
Community Support Moderator @Experts Exchange

I am trying this again, contrary to what some rude people think, there was a problem posting in my prior attempts.

For those that are rude and enjoy criticizing other's when they don't have a clue what the problem is, I hope you enjoy yourself being so perfect.

Now I had the same problem and one of the dlls that controls this cpl was corrupt.  Suggest you read this article at Microsoft and reload the dlls and make sure they are all properly registered.  Hope this helps.

Nartmc

Again, I had another problem posted here is where you need to go at Microsoft to check on those dlls

Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 329891