Windows 7: Programs Missing From Control Panel Programs List

Is there any way to bring back programs that have disappeared from the programs list in the control panel?

One day I realized most of my programs had disappeared from the list (roughly 10 or so remaining from the usual 50-60). This occurred after I had downloaded something. I ran Norton, Advanced System Care, Malwarebytes & CCleaner. As I recall one of them mentioned a virus in the registry. After checking google I looked under the following registry entry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall, and true enough the same programs that had disappeared did not appear here.

When it happened (a few months ago) I tried system restores as far back as possible to no avail. I've now realized its a hassle trying to uninstall programs not on the list (programs don't appear on Revo uninstaller or such programs either), so is there a way I can fix this (without any reinstalling of windows)



Im not 100% sure the virus caused this, but im guessing this is what happened. Any help would be appreciated! Also Im not so computer-savvy and first post on these (or any) forums

Cheers
Shak

Welcome to the Seven Forums, shak.

You mean that the installed programs are not appearing in Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features. Try to reinstall one of the missing programs without uninstalling it and tell us if it reappears in the Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features list.

I strongly recommend that you also run sfc in the elevated mode. Read at SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker.

Hey thanks for the prompt reply

Yes I am referring to Control Panel/Programs/Programs & Features. Yes subsequent programs that I install since the problem appear normally in the control panel

I will try this scan thing and see what happens

No findings on the scan. "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations". Any other ideas?

If sfc has not found anything wrong then your system files are likely to be OK. Which A-V Program are you using. As you suspected a virus you must have carried out a comprehensive scan. What was the result?

I also suggest that you run the free version of MalwareBytes Antimalware (mbam). If that also doesn't detect anything then most likely all is well with your computer.

I have Norton Internet Security. As i mentioned already, I had run Norton, mbam and Advanced System Care at the time this problem occurred. Looking back at the logs this was the virus that was detected C:\Windows\system32\ati2sgav.exe and removed (which may or may not have been the cause of my problem)

There are no problems with my computer aside from the issue that it is difficult for me to uninstall or just know what programs I have installed

hey, is the problem solved..?? i am facing exactly the same problem since yesterday. i have also started a new thread. lets see if anything turns up.

nope sorry never got solved. just living with it atm. quite disappointed with the help i got on here

@ shak ... locate your version of C:\Windows\system32\ati2sgav.exe
Upload it to Jotti's malware scan and have it scanned.

Verify where it is located on your hard drive, as this will ensure it is not spyware or adware simply placed elsewhere on your computer, and using the same name ati2sgav.exe in an attempt to fool you.... it could be corrupt (if you use utorrent.com) or a "Virtumonde" file. Either way, it needs to be fixed.

sorry not sure i get what you mean. that file was deleted when i did my malware scan. this is what the log said at the time:

Registry Values Detected: 1
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run|ati2sgav (Trojan.Agent) -> Data: "C:\Windows\system32\ati2sgav.exe" -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.