XP Pro SP2 - all non-optional updates installed.

Primarily I cannot run Add/Remove programs...Error (see attachment) is "an
exception occurred while trying to run "c:\windows\system32\shell32.dll,
Control_runDLL "c:\windows\system32\appwiz.cpl, Add or Remove programs"

Also the Add Hardware icon has been changed to the default/generic icon and
when double-clicked it does nothing but show an hourglass for a second.

I've tried expanding the cpl file from my XP install cd (I don't have SP2 on
CD)

I've tried replacing the appwiz.cpl with one from a brand new install on
another box (XP pro SP2 and ran updates). I've tried unregistering the cpl
file and reregistering. I've now got 2 Add or Remove icons - one with the
generic/default icon the other has a different icon than previous (see
attachment)

At one point I renamed my appwiz.cpl to appwiz-12-13-7.cpl. and copied or
expanded a new appwiz.cpl. When I tried to run Add/remove I got the same
error only this time the error message referred to appwiz-12-13-7.cpl rather
than appwiz.cpl.

Thanks...Tom

I wouldn't assume the .cpl is responsible, the problem may be in a DLL on
which it depends. This may have been borked by an automatic update.

I would suggest trying a rollback using System Restore.

Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Restore

"Tom" wrote: