Problem:when upgrading/updating apps (programs) I must uninstall first

[Sammy888]

This happened a while ago after I ran a trial registry cleaner (I know, my bad) or after disabling the Win 10 upgrade notification. Every program is affected with the exception of MS Windows Updates, only third party apps.

I imagine when I upgrade to Win 10, this issue might be still present.

It's a bit of a nuisance to have to uninstall and then run the updated version of the app. For example, I had to uninstall Skype and then run the latest.

Is there a way to fix this without having to reinstall Windows 7?

 

[Ranger4]

If you able to open Control Panel, select System, then click on System Protection listed in the menu on the LH side panel. When that opens, click on System Restore. Hopefully you will have a previous Restore point before this disaster that you can roll back to.

Post back & let us know if you were successful.

 

[G Force]

If the trial registry editor had gone deep enough to cleanse your Windows registry like HKCU or HKLM, the System Restore might fail. Perhaps attempt to disable your anti-virus and retry Ranger4's idea.

If that does not work either, try booting into Safe Mode then open System Restore in safe mode (with an Administrator group based account) and attempt another restore.

 

[Sammy888]

Unfortunately, the restore points have been removed since then. I think I first noticed this issue early 2015.

If system restore was the only option, looks like a fresh reinstall is needed (two years overdue).