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Troubleshooting

Each section below names a symptom, its usual cause and the solution. If your problem is not listed, see the FAQ or contact O&O support.

Program start​

O&O AppBuster does not start, or Windows asks for an administrator​

Cause: O&O AppBuster requires administrator rights. Everything it does — uninstalling apps, deleting registry entries and files, creating a system restore point — needs elevated rights, so the program asks once at startup.

Solution: Confirm the User Account Control (UAC) prompt with Yes. On a managed work PC without administrator rights, the program cannot start; contact your administrator.

➡️ System requirements

A download offered toolbars or other extras​

Cause: O&O AppBuster is distributed without any additional software. A package that offers extras was repackaged by a third party.

Solution: Delete that package and download O&O AppBuster from the O&O AppBuster product page. Let O&O support know where you found the bundled version.

➡️ Freeware

The app list​

The scan takes a long time​

Cause: The scan enumerates the Windows package system and several registry locations. On a PC with many desktop programs this takes longer. Sizes on disk are calculated in the background afterwards.

Solution: Wait for the counter above the list to be replaced by the Smart View chips. The Storage values may keep changing for a few seconds after that; this is normal.

➡️ The app list

The list is shorter than expected​

Cause: One of the View menu options hides apps — usually Show Microsoft apps or Show system and framework apps switched off, or Show installable Windows apps not switched on.

Solution: Click Show all in the notice above the list, or switch the option back on in the View menu.

➡️ The app list

Some apps cannot be selected for removal​

Cause: They are system apps or framework apps. Windows and other programs depend on them, so O&O AppBuster shows them for information only, with the status Unremovable.

Solution: There is nothing to do; these apps are not meant to be removed. To get them out of the way, switch off View → Show system and framework apps.

➡️ System and framework apps

The Orphaned, Defect or Updates available chip is missing​

Cause: A Smart View chip appears only when its category contains at least one app. Updates available additionally requires the update feature to be switched on and the Windows Package Manager to be present.

Solution: No action needed for Orphaned and Defect — nothing was found. For Updates available, see the update feature is not available.

➡️ Smart Views

App removal​

An app was skipped: a file is in use​

Cause: One of the app's files is locked by a running program.

Solution: The result dialog offers three options:

  1. Close these programs and remove — O&O AppBuster ends the blocking programs and retries. Save unsaved work in those programs first.
  2. Remove on next restart — Windows deletes the files during the next boot. Restart the PC afterwards to finish the removal.
  3. Skip this app — leave the app alone for now; Retry skipped tries it again later.

➡️ Remove apps

An app was skipped with the reason "Couldn't be removed"​

Cause: Windows itself protects the app.

Solution: The app cannot be removed with O&O AppBuster. If Windows offers an uninstall option for it, use the Windows mechanism and create a system restore point first.

➡️ Remove apps

Another window opens during a removal and asks questions​

Cause: A desktop app is being removed. Desktop apps are always removed by their own uninstaller, which may show its own dialogs.

Solution: Answer the uninstaller's dialogs. O&O AppBuster waits until it has finished. Several desktop apps are processed one after another.

➡️ Desktop apps

The removal scope cannot be chosen​

Cause: The selection contains desktop apps. The removal scope applies to Windows apps only; desktop apps have no concept of per-user removal.

Solution: None needed. The scope you choose applies to the Windows apps in the selection; desktop apps are removed by their own uninstaller.

➡️ Remove apps

More apps are selected than expected​

Cause: A selection survives a change of Smart View. Apps selected in another view are still selected.

Solution: Before you confirm, check the number in the action bar. If it is higher than expected, click Reset selection and select again.

➡️ Smart Views

A removed app came back after a Windows update​

Cause: Feature updates to Windows reinstall apps that Windows considers part of the standard installation.

Solution: Start O&O AppBuster after a larger Windows update and open the Newly discovered Smart View. Everything that reappeared is listed there and can be removed again.

➡️ Newly discovered apps

A program refuses to reinstall although it was uninstalled​

Cause: A ghost Windows Installer registration was left behind, so Windows believes the software is still installed.

Solution: Open the Orphaned Smart View, check the entry's properties and remove the registration. Then run the setup file again.

➡️ Orphaned apps

Windows cannot uninstall, repair or update a program​

Cause: The program was installed by the Windows Installer, and its cached installer package is missing — typically deleted by a cleanup tool.

Solution: O&O AppBuster lists such programs in the Defect Smart View. To get rid of the program, remove it there. To keep it, reinstall it over the top from the manufacturer's current setup file, which writes a fresh cached package.

➡️ Defect apps

App installation​

A Windows app cannot be installed​

Cause: O&O AppBuster reports an error for the app and continues with the rest of the selection. The usual causes are:

  • the package is no longer on the PC, for example after a removal with the Entire PC — including files scope,
  • a policy on a managed PC blocks app installation,
  • the package is damaged.

Solution: Install the app from the Microsoft Store instead. Everything Windows ships as a Store app is available there.

➡️ Install apps

A desktop app cannot be reinstalled from O&O AppBuster​

Cause: O&O AppBuster installs Windows apps only. Once a desktop app has been uninstalled, its files are gone.

Solution: Install the program again from its own setup file.

➡️ Desktop apps

System restore point​

O&O AppBuster reports that System Protection is switched off​

Cause: Windows can only create restore points if System Protection is enabled for the system drive. On many PCs, especially ones set up by a manufacturer, it is switched off.

Solution: Open Control Panel → System and Security → System → System Protection, select Configure… for drive C: and switch protection on. Then create the restore point again.

➡️ System restore point

The restore point cannot be created​

Cause: One of the following:

  • Free disk space — Windows reserves a share of the drive for restore points. If nothing is left, no point can be created.
  • The service — the Volume Shadow Copy / System Restore service is not running.
  • Frequency — Windows limits how often restore points are created; a second point moments after the first may be skipped silently.
  • Rights — administrator rights are required. O&O AppBuster runs elevated, so this is rarely the cause.

Solution: Check the points above in that order, then try again with Actions → Create a system restore point.

➡️ System restore point

Updates​

The update feature is not available​

Cause: The update check needs the Windows Package Manager (winget), which is part of the App Installer package from the Microsoft Store. If it is missing, the setting is disabled and says so.

Solution: Install App Installer from the Microsoft Store, then switch on File → Settings → Winget Updates → Search for updates with Winget and restart O&O AppBuster.

➡️ Updates

An individual update failed​

Cause: Updates are carried out by the Windows Package Manager, not by O&O AppBuster. An update fails when the app is running, when the publisher's download is temporarily unavailable, or when the app is not in the winget catalogue under the name Windows recorded for it.

Solution: Close the app and try again. If the update keeps failing, update the app in the way its publisher provides.

➡️ Updates

An app never shows an available update​

Cause: Windows apps from the Microsoft Store are updated by the Store itself, and apps without a winget entry — portable programs, in-house tools — cannot be updated this way.

Solution: Update Store apps through the Microsoft Store and other programs through their own update mechanism.

➡️ Updates

Other​

The product window keeps appearing when the program closes​

Cause: The O&O Tools for Windows window opens automatically when O&O AppBuster closes unless you have switched that off.

Solution: Select Do not show this message again in the window. It can still be opened from Help → Explore more O&O products....

➡️ Support and more from O&O

Support asks for a log file​

Cause: Logging is switched off by default because it is only needed for technical analysis.

Solution: Switch on File → Settings → Advanced → Writing the application log, restart O&O AppBuster, reproduce the problem and send %LocalAppData%\OO Software\OO AppBuster\OOAppBuster.log. Switch logging off again afterwards.

➡️ Settings

The settings need to be reset​

Cause: O&O AppBuster keeps everything you configure in one file in your user profile.

Solution: Close the program and delete %LocalAppData%\OO Software\OO AppBuster\OOAppBuster.cfg. O&O AppBuster starts with its defaults the next time.

➡️ Settings