Add/Remove Programs Icon or Tabs Missing

ID: Q195064

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to add or remove a component in Windows 95/98, you may experience one of the following symptoms:


CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the Appwiz.cpl or Setupx.dll file is missing or damaged.


RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.


  2. If the Add/Remove Programs icon is missing, type "appwiz.cpl" (without quotation marks) in the Named box, and then click Find Now.

    If the Windows Setup and Startup Disk tabs are missing, type "setupx.dll" (without quotation marks) in the Named box, and then click Find Now.


  3. In the list of found files, right-click the Appwiz.cpl or Setupx.dll file, click Rename, type a new name for the file (such as Appwiz.xxx or Setupx.xxx), and then press ENTER.


  4. Quit the Find tool.


  5. Extract a new copy of the Appwiz.cpl or Setupx.dll file from your original Windows 95/98 disks or CD-ROM to the <drive>:\<windows>\system folder, where <drive> is the drive on which Windows 95/98 is installed, and <windows> is the folder in which Windows 95/98 is installed.

    If you are using Windows 95, you can extract the Appwiz.cpl or Setupx.dll file from the following locations:

    Appwiz.cpl File:
    - The Win95_10.cab cabinet file on the Windows 95 CD-ROM.
    - The Win95_11.cab cabinet file on the original Windows 95 DMF disks.
    - The Win95_17.cab cabinet file on the original Windows 95 non-DMF disks.
    - The Win95_16.cab cabinet file on the Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2 CD-ROM.

    Setupx.dll File:
    - The Precopy1.cab cabinet file on the Windows 95 CD-ROM.
    - The Precopy2.cab cabinet file on the original Windows 95 DMF disks.
    - The Precopy2.cab cabinet file on the original Windows 95 non-DMF disks.
    - The Precopy2.cab cabinet file on the Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2 CD-ROM.

    For information about using the Extract tool, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    ARTICLE-ID: Q129605
    TITLE : How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files

    If you are using Windows 98, you can extract the Appwiz.cpl or Setupx.dll file using the System File Checker tool. For more information about using the System File Checker tool, please see "System File Checker Tool" section of the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    ARTICLE-ID: Q129605
    TITLE : How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files


  6. Restart your computer.


Additional query words: sysdm.cpl main.cpl 


Keywords          : kbui win95 win98 
Version           : WINDOWS:95
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: July 27, 1999