add remove programs list missing programs and updates

In case this is helpful, today I noticed that Uninstall Information folder
and WindowsUpdate folder are both empty. Also the uninstall folder in the
registry only contains 3 subfolder or keys...not sure what they are called.

"ReCom" wrote:

> while attempting to resolve a problem with Movie Maker, I decided to get rid of some
> unused programs using the add or remove utility. As soon as I removed what I
> believe was Yahoo Messenger, add remove closed and my laptop restarted. When
> I went back into add remove I immediately noticed a large number of programs
> including most of all the windows updates were all missing from the list.
> When I try to use one of the now unlisted programs uninstall programs it no
> longer works either. Before I did the program removing excercise, I updated
> latest version of DirectX without setting a restore point, didn't notice
> those instructions until now, so I apparently can't go back. Any help would
> be greatly appreciate because I am quite sure this is going to come back to
> bite me in the a$$.
>
> Thanks