I have a problem with 2 installation on my computer.
1 is silverlight, the other one is something else.

When I try to remove silverlight it gives me this:



Microsoft released a critical security update for it, but the same error pops up when I do a Microsoft update.

A similar message pops up when I try to remove the other program.

Can you guys help me solve this issue?

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Try the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility from Microsoft.

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Try the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility from Microsoft.

But what exactly does it do? Online it says that it only removes the reference to the program not the actual program. Or something like that.

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Try the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility from Microsoft.

But what exactly does it do? Online it says that it only removes the reference to the program not the actual program. Or something like that.

1) Run the cleanup utility to remove the broken references. Only 'clean up' the two programs you're having problems with.

2) Download the programs again. Save the installers to your hard disk, just in case: don't run them directly from the web.

3) Run the program installation routines. This will put back the information you've just cleaned out of the msi database, but in a usable form this time.

4) If you didn't want the program in the first place, you should now be able to remove it using 'Add/remove programs'. Or you should be able to patch it, if you decide to keep it.

Don't do any housekeeping (emptying temp folders or suchlike) between steps (3) and (4). The problem somestimes starts with a badly-written installer which leaves its msi file (which is needed for uninstallation) in a non-standard or unprotected place.

Try the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility from Microsoft.

But what exactly does it do? Online it says that it only removes the reference to the program not the actual program. Or something like that.

1) Run the cleanup utility to remove the broken references. Only 'clean up' the two programs you're having problems with.

2) Download the programs again. Save the installers to your hard disk, just in case: don't run them directly from the web.

3) Run the program installation routines. This will put back the information you've just cleaned out of the msi database, but in a usable form this time.

4) If you didn't want the program in the first place, you should now be able to remove it using 'Add/remove programs'. Or you should be able to patch it, if you decide to keep it.

Don't do any housekeeping (emptying temp folders or suchlike) between steps (3) and (4). The problem somestimes starts with a badly-written installer which leaves its msi file (which is needed for uninstallation) in a non-standard or unprotected place.

That is all good, but what happens if you do not nave the original installer? That is not a problem for Silverlight, but the other program that is corrupt is some "PatchLink Update Agent" which was not installed by me and I have no installation disks for. I just need to remove it. How would I go about doing that?

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That is all good, but what happens if you do not nave the original installer? That is not a problem for Silverlight, but the other program that is corrupt is some "PatchLink Update Agent" which was not installed by me and I have no installation disks for. I just need to remove it. How would I go about doing that?

I would try to work out where the program files are (if there is a shortcut, follow properties --> find target), make a note of any executable file name, and then just delete the whole folder.

Next, run RegEdit, and search for any instances of the program name, the maker's name, any keywords associated with it etc. etc. For anything you find, make a judgement about whether it's safe and sensible to delete that reference. (You did make a backup of the whole registry before you started, didn't you?). For instance, I normally leave MRU (most recently used) file lists alone, but I would be especially careful to remove Run or RunServices entries.

Also, it depands whether you regard the program as a legitimate one you just happen to have lost the installer for, or malware that got onto the computer without your knowledge or consent. If the latter, use antivirus/spybot/adaware etc.