I am running Windows XP Pro and recently installed a new hard drive and reloaded the OS. When I try to access the "add or remove programs " in the control panel I get the following error message. "Value creation failed at line 45".

How do I fix this?

Thanks for any advice.

Run a file check on the O/S.

If you have an XP CD:
Click START, RUN, type in:

sfc /purgecache

(This ensures that system files are copied from your Windows installation media, and files which may be infected with malware, or are corrupted, are not copied from your drive. Some of the files which are restored/replaced may need MS Updates applied. If sfc replaces any such files, you will have to reinstall updates for those files. (If you have Automatic Updates active, this will happen automatically.))

Then type in:

sfc /scannow

Have your XP CD handy.


If you do not have an XP CD:
Click START, RUN, type in:

sfc /scannow

Dan, I left out one very important bit of information in my post. What I meant to say was that I could not access the "add or remove programs" in the control panel. All of the other icons in the control panel seem to function properly. I do not have the CD so I tried the sfc /scannow. It asked me for the CD. Is there a way to find out what files are missing or corrupt?

Are you using any kind of theme other then the default Windows XP theme? Have you messed with uxtheme.dll? If so, change the theme back or restore uxtheme.dll, see if that fixes the problem.

I am using the default XP theme. I have not messed with the UXtheme.dll.

Originally Posted by dhwms

I do not have the CD so I tried the sfc /scannow. It asked me for the CD. Is there a way to find out what files are missing or corrupt?

Yes there is a way - In this case it is quite acceptable to borrow a Windows XP Pro OS CD from a friend to run sfc /scannow.

I am running Windows XP Pro and recently installed a new hard drive and reloaded the OS.

How did you reload your OS without a registered copy of Windows XP Pro (in your case) if you don't own the OS CD?

Regarding your Windows Update settings referred to by Dan Penny, please read this link with advice regarding having Windows Updates turned off.

To obtain your Windows Updates each two (in case there are non critical updates) or four weeks manually, go to:
Windows Updates after the second Tuesday in the month to get your most recent updates Click on Custom after the page loads, so you can be in control of what is installed on your system.

The above quote is taken from here step#3 I have been obtaining my WU for a long time in the above way so I am in control of what is installed on my systems.

Keep us posted,

kind regards,

Sorry for all of the confusion. The CD is at my office and I am trying to fix the problem at home. I will try using the CD to see if that will fix the problem. You posted a link that discussed windows updates. Do you think something about the updates are causing the problem?

Basically I was giving you sound information about how you may like to consider optioning your Windows Updates.

Of course when you get your Windows OS CD and the mentioned computer together with your OS installed, always check Windows Updates are up to date after the new loading of Wndows XP Pro in your instance.

I hope success is achieved and do let us know if you need more assistance.

kind regards,

What I meant to say was that I could not access the "add or remove programs" in the control panel. All of the other icons in the control panel seem to function properly. I do not have the CD so I tried the sfc /scannow. It asked me for the CD. Is there a way to find out what files are missing or corrupt?

sfc should fix this. Try starting is Safe Mode then re-running the sfc with the otion of NOT HAVING an XP CD.

Dan, you told him to do a sfc /purgecache. Once you do that, you need the CD to run sfc, right?

Maybe dhwms can borrow one from a friend to use just to run sfc???