Windows 8.1 control program Adobe Air uninstall fails with "error occurred, contact administrator"

How do I uninstall Adobe Air from a Windows 8.1 system when the control program uninstall fails with "error occurred, contact administrator" and the install.log file contains:

[2014-12-24:15:27:02] Runtime Installer begin with version 15.0.0.356 on Windows 8 x86

[2014-12-24:15:27:03] Commandline is: -arp:uninstall

[2014-12-24:15:27:03] Installed runtime (15.0.0.356) located at c:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe AIR

[2014-12-24:15:27:16] Relaunching with elevation

[2014-12-24:15:27:16] Launching subprocess with commandline c:\program files (x86)\common files\adobe air\versions\1.0\resources\adobe air updater.exe -eu

[2014-12-24:15:27:16] Runtime Installer begin with version 15.0.0.356 on Windows 8 x86

[2014-12-24:15:27:16] Commandline is: -stdio \\.\pipe\AIR_3244_0 -eu

[2014-12-24:15:27:16] Installed runtime (15.0.0.356) located at c:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe AIR

[2014-12-24:15:27:16] Starting runtime uninstall. Uninstalling runtime version 15.0.0.356

[2014-12-24:15:27:16] Exiting due to error: [ErrorEvent type="error" bubbles=false cancelable=false eventPhase=2 text="Unhandled exception ArgumentError: invalid GUID "null"" errorID=0]

[2014-12-24:15:27:16] Runtime Installer end with exit code 7

[2014-12-24:15:27:32] Runtime Installer end with exit code 7

History:

Had an Adobe Air app that was running fine. Got notification of an update to the app. Downloaded the update and some features of the app no longer worked. Downloaded the most recent Adobe Air (apparently

not successfully installed). App then complained that there was no default program for ".air" files. Tried to uninstall Adobe Air so I could re-install but I get the above error. Can't "install" because I get the error "this revision

already installed". Stuck between a rock and hard place. How to get out?

"Brute uninstall" by running "AdobeAirInstaller.exe -uninstall" from command prompt as administrator results in:

[2014-12-24:15:08:54] Runtime Installer begin with version 15.0.0.356 on Windows 8 x86

[2014-12-24:15:08:54] Commandline is: -uninstall

[2014-12-24:15:08:54] Installed runtime (15.0.0.356) located at c:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe AIR

[2014-12-24:15:08:54] Starting runtime uninstall. Uninstalling runtime version 15.0.0.356

[2014-12-24:15:08:54] Exiting due to error: [ErrorEvent type="error" bubbles=false cancelable=false eventPhase=2 text="Unhandled exception ArgumentError: invalid GUID "null"" errorID=0]

[2014-12-24:15:08:54] Runtime Installer end with exit code 7

Running Microsoft "Fixit" in uninstall mode shows Adobe Air missing from list. Choosing "not listed" results in asking for a product code which I don't have since Adobe Air is free.

I am able to download and install successfully on my old Win XP system.