Is there a way to auto verify installed programs?

[City Builder]

Hi,
I recently had a hard drive die on me and after finally getting windows 7 to boot up again I'm left with a lot of programs that used to be on my H:\ drive in the Windows Start menu as well as in the Windows 7 Programs & Features program.

Is there any program or Windows function available that would allow me to auto verify that a program or item exists both on the windows start menu as well as physically on the hard disk where it should be (according to the Start menu) and also verify the programs that are listed in my Programs & Features window also physically exist on the hard drive where they should be so that I can clean up all these program listings in both the start menu as well as Programs & Features window.

I also need a program that will properly clean my registry for any programs that have been installed but no longer exist on my hard drive, is there such a program and if so what do people recommend?

While I could certainly google for programs that might work, I'd rather not end up choosing one that might install more malware/spyware on my computer while doing it's work. So, I come here to find out from people that know of these things.

Thanks

 

[richc46]

Although, I cannot answer all of your questions, I can answer the question about your registry. You may not agree, but almost all the senior people at this site would. It is not necessary to clean your registry on a constant basis, if fact it may do more harm then good. Those left over remnants do no or very little damage. If you still want to clean the registry, use Ccleaner.,it is free. It is the most safe registry cleaner. If you untick the first two entries (select which areas to clean)you will be running almost zero risk of problems.
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

 

[City Builder]

Thanks for the info about Ccleaner. I've used that in the past but just couldn't think of the name of it.

It found lots of things in the registry and I did uncheck those first two options when I ran it last night to clean out all the junk that it had found.

Just now I just tried checking the first two options only to see what it would find and I recognized the items that it found was from a program that I uninstalled yesterday so felt they were safe to remove (still made a backup ).

Now if I could just find a program that would allow me to verify what is in the Windows 7 start menu with the associated item on disk and clean them out if not found, then I'd be golden. I really don't want to have to reinstall Windows 7 again so soon after the last install which was less than 2 months ago and now that I've finally gotten the computer working back like it should be. But dang, all those listings in the start menu that were on the HDD that died on me...

 

[richc46]

I am going to give you some additional information. If you download the free Macrium Reflect, you can back up your entire hard drive once a week. If you ever have problems with what is on your Hard Drive currently, you can use the image made in the past and be restored to exactly where you were. You might have been able to use that procedure with your current questions. Too late now, but maybe in the future.
Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

You could try going to the control panel and then go to programs and features. It will show what is on your hard drive and you can delete from that page also.