Option to uninstall apps on Windows 10 is unavailable from the start menu

Moondoggy · Sep 2, 2015

Apparently, I have yet another problem with Windows 10. I noticed today on my laptop that that when I right click on an application from the start menu there are options such as Pin to Start, Pin to Taskbar, Uninstall, Run as Administrator and Open File Location. However, when I right click on an application on my desktop PC, the only option I have available is Pin to Start. Has anyone seen this behavior and have fixed there PC so it shows the other options? If so, let me know how you fixed it.

jcgriff2 · Sep 3, 2015

Does this happen with all apps or just certain ones?

Try Notepad, please.

Can you please give us a few examples of the apps you have tried?

Moondoggy · Sep 3, 2015

jcgriff2 said:
Does this happen with all apps or just certain ones?

Try Notepad, please.

Can you please give us a few examples of the apps you have tried?

Thanks for the reply.

The problem appears to be on all apps found in the Start Menu. For example I have the same version of Quicken and CCleaner installed on my desktop PC and My laptop. On my laptop I can right click on these apps and they show multiple options in the drop down menu including the option to uninstall the app. On my desktop, however, the only option I have is to "Pin to Start". I have checked every application on my desktop PC and the only option available to me is "pin to start".

Note that I have found some additional behavior that is probably related. If I use the search dialog box to search for CMD or Powershell for example and I right click on the found item my desktop PC,"Pin to Start" is the only option listed however, on my laptop, if I do the same, there are multiple options available including "Run as Administrator". Note that this does not prevent me from finding CMD.EXE or Powershell.exe and right clicking there as the option to run as an administrator does appear if you do it in that manner.

This almost looks like some permission issue where I'm being denied access to these options while using that particular Windows 10 interface however it you do things old school such as uninstalling an app thru control panel or drilling down and launching an app in Administrator mode, you don't have any problems. Note also that my account is an administrator and I have the UAC set to grant me the highest level of access on my desktop right now.

Digerati · Sep 4, 2015

I see you found the same thread I found at Tweaking.com but no help there.

Did the Start menu on your PC have these options when you first upgraded to W10?

Moondoggy · Sep 4, 2015

Digerati said:
I see you found the same thread I found at Tweaking.com but no help there.

Did the Start menu on your PC have these options when you first upgraded to W10?

Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately, I cannot answer your question as I didn't even know that that functionality existed in Win 10 until I was trying to uninstall Solitaire that Microsoft put down on my PC when I ungraded. I posted a query on several forums trying to figure out how to do this and someone asked why I simply didn't right click on it in the Start/Apps folder and select Uninstalled. It was then that I noted that I was missing that functionality. The problem with right clicking on the search results was found yesterday when someone told me of a potential fix involving Powershell and said that I needed to right click on Powershell in the search results and select run as administrator and again that option was not available.

Yes, I have this question posted in about 6 places and so far no success on getting a fix. I'm inventorying my system now and downloading the latest versions of my software just in case I will have to nuke the system and reinstall Windows 10.

Digerati · Sep 4, 2015

Yes, I have this question posted in about 6 places and so far no success on getting a fix.

I'll keep looking too. You might try running sfc /scannow (note the space after sfc).

Please remember to go back to each place you posted this problem to keep them updated. Leaving open threads dangling is frowned upon.

Moondoggy · Sep 4, 2015

Digerati said:
Yes, I have this question posted in about 6 places and so far no success on getting a fix.

Click to expand...

I'll keep looking too. You might try running sfc /scannow (note the space after sfc).

Please remember to go back to each place you posted this problem to keep them updated. Leaving open threads dangling is frowned upon.

Thanks.

Oh, and by the way..... I'm a retired computer support specialist and I know the frustration of leaving open thread out on Forums when your trying to find a solution. If I have to nuke my PC and start over Everyone will know it. :smile9:

Moondoggy · Sep 9, 2015

I just wanted to update this post by stating that I never did find a solution to the issues I posted in this thread. As a result I finally gave up and did a reset which removed everything from my HD and reinstalled a fresh copy of Windows 10. After reinstalling all of my apps and restoring my data files, I'm good to go.

Digerati · Sep 10, 2015

Well, sorry you had to go to such extremes but I am glad you were able to get it sorted out and still stay with W10.

Thanks for posting this followup.

BetaLeaf · Sep 15, 2015

Sorry to hear you had to reset your installation of windows. I did some research on your issue using Process Monitor and I believe I have found the offending entry. This is MY CURRENT SETTINGS, which as far as I know, are unchanged from the default.

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Launcher.AllAppsDesktopApplication\Shell\Uninstall]
@="Uninstall"
"AppliesTo"="(System.Link.TargetExtension:=.exe OR System.Link.TargetExtension:=.msc) AND System.AppUserModel.InstalledBy:<>System.AppUserModel.InstalledBy#System"
"ControlPanelName"="Microsoft.ProgramsAndFeatures"
"MuiVerb"="@twinui.dll,-4010"
"MultiSelectModel"="Single"
"SuppressionPolicyEx"="{7F5617D4-F16D-422F-8F85-3B5342F48348}"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Launcher.AllAppsDesktopApplication\Shell\Uninstall\Command]
"DelegateExecute"="{06622D85-6856-4460-8DE1-A81921B41C4B}"

I will also include the log file created with Process Monitor. If you are wondering why my log is so clean, it's because I used an autoit script to quickly capture the steps to reproduce while clearing and activating logging on start and stopping logging on end. I will also include that script, altho you may need to tweak mouseclick coordinates to fit your given situation.

Code:

HotKeySet("{f2}", "_Go"); Stop process monitor log, make sure Process Monitor is active by clicking on it, and press f2 to capture.
While 1
    Sleep(1000)
WEnd
Func _Go()
    Send("^x");clear log
    Send("^e");start log
    Send("{lwin}");open start menu
    Sleep(50);wait for it to open
    MouseClick("right", 68, 748, 1, 5);right click anything that has an uninstall entry, usually any exe file
    MouseClick("left", 106, 821, 1, 5);click the uninstall button
    WinActivate("Process Monitor");Activate process monitor
    MouseClick("left", 40,4, 1, 0);work around incase the above activate does not work. Click anywhere on process monitor so we can focus it.
    Sleep(50);wait for Process Monitor to become active.
    Send("^e");stop log
EndFunc   ;==>_Go

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Option to uninstall apps on Windows 10 is unavailable from the start menu

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Option to uninstall apps on Windows 10 is unavailable from the start menu

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Co-Founder / AdminBSOD Instructor/ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

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ModeratorHardware ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

Contributor

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Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)