My add and remove programs list never comes up. I'm running Dell windows XP dimemsion E5102 people need an answerI do too

Add/Remove Programs does not populate - Start>Run>regsvr32 appwiz.cpl [enter] Per MVP Ramesh, one of the most common causes for Add/Remove Programs being blank is that a recent install/uninstall routine may have wiped out the contents of the entire "Uninstall" registry key here: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall Each sub-key stores the Display Name, UninstallString information for a program that you installed. Open Regedit.exe and navigate to the above key. Check if the "Uninstall" key is empty (contains no sub-keys). In that case, your best best is to rollback the system state using System Restore. If you are saying that Add/Remove Programs doesn't even open , then please start with the basics: The First Question Of Troubleshooting: If the problem is new, what changed between the time things worked and the time they didn't? The Second Question of Windows Troubleshooting: what is the malware/virus status of the machine? If you think it is clean, what programs (and versions) did you use to determine this? Be sure the computer is clean: http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware Post back with answers/results if you need more help.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

My problem with add remove started after I installed the Microsoft Security Essentials program. As you suggested I restored my system to a previous day. This solved the add remove problem, but the Security Essentials disappeared. How should I install this program such a way that it does not kill the add remove feature?

I haven't seen that happen but the helpers in the MS Security Essentials forum would be the ones to ask. I would suggest that you make sure the computer is free of malware first per the link I already gave you. Microsoft Security Essentials forums - http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/mse MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!