Windows XP with SP 2. I open control panel and double click add/remove programs. Eiker one of 2 things happens:

1) Nothing

2) Add/Remove programs appears with the test "please wiat while the list is being populated..." but nothing is ever displayed.

I have tried rebooting and even did a sys restore to yesterday with no effect.

All of the other control panel apps work fine and the options add new programs, add windoes components, etc. are fine. It is just the change or remove progarsm pane that won't display anything.

Hi and welcome to PCHF, sorry it took a while to get to your post.

Try this; grab your XP cd and put it in the drive. Then go to Start > run and type in sfc /scannow (eactly as it appears) and hit return. This will re-install any corrupt or missing Windows system files.