Help and Support not working when I click on it????

[aepnotesadmin]

I'm trying to use Remote Assistance from my Windows XP machine, but when I click on Start--Help and support, nothing happens at all. I did a right-click on the pchealth.inf file located in c:\windows\inf folder, and installed it again, then put in my XP pro cd, but that still didn't resolve the issue. Can someone please help me??? I need to get to it to use remote assistance, so that I can connect to someone's Windows XP Home Edition PC, since you can't use Remote Desktop with XP's home edition. THANKS!

 

[gpalmer711]

I know this is not resolving the issue with Help not starting but if you download the free Windows Messenger Software from the MS website then you can start Remote assistance from there.

Greg Palmer

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Any feed back is appreciated.

 

[bcastner]

Greg Palmer can normally be trusted with excellent advice. His above is to be excused as a temporary lapse in his normal sanity.

See this thread, as Help and Support is one of the crankier aspects of XP. linney, and with some help from me, pretty much cover the territory for restoring Help and Support: thread779-609362

 

[bcastner]

gpalmer711,

You know I love you big guy, but intsall MSN messenger?
Sheeesh.

Bill

 

[micker377]

Try google for "fixwinhelp.dll". This is a repair for people who use registry cleaners ("EasyCleaner" by ToniArts). It re-installs the files required to use HELP on WinXP. I use it so often, I put a shortcut on my DeskTop.

 

[bcastner]

micker377,

We are on the same page. The Link I provided above will lead the user to the Doug Knox tool you mentioned as well as using the .inf service (from Kelly Theriot) to rebuild the service.

There are additional tools and links as well. This can be a tough one, and the incrasing popularity of Third-Party browser enhancements, particularly 'download' enhancers, makes this slightly difficult to resolve.

 

[gpalmer711]

Gpalmer711 ----><----- Windows Messenger



Greg Palmer

----------------------------------------
Any feed back is appreciated.

 

[bcastner]

&quot;You know I love you big guy, but intsall MSN messenger?&quot;

Double Sheeesh.

 

[pbxman]

is the help & support service disabled or not running? Is the remote assistance feature checked when you right-click my computer/properties/advanced(i think thats where it is)?

pbxman
Systems Administrator

Please let Tek-Tips members know their posts were helpful.

 

[linney]

I saw this the other day but have not had an excuse to try it.

MJ's Help Diagnostics at

http://helpware.net/downloads/index.htm

This tool checks the correct installation of the help-related files.


What result do you get when you click on the shortcut to Remote Assistance? It should launch a Help and Support type page.

 

[aepnotesadmin]

I will try to use IM to workaround this issue. I tried all of these things listed in the threads for this post, but none resolved my issue. Remote assistance does nothing either when I try to click on it. The help and support service is running on my pc. So my &quot;Help and Support&quot; option does not work, nor does the &quot;Remote Assistance&quot; when I click on both of them. Does anyone have any other ideas? Otherwise, I'm just going to possibly do a re-install, but I don't really have the time to do that!

Actaully using IM won't work either, because I am assuming that IM tries to lauch the remote assistance program, which isn't working either on my PC! I'm running out of ideas!

Thanks

 

[linney]

As with the previous Internet Explorer cumulative patches released with bulletins MS03-004 and MS03-015, later cumulative patches will cause window.showHelp( ) to cease to function if you have not applied the HTML Help update. If you have installed the updated HTML Help control from Knowledge Base article 811630, you will still be able to use HTML Help functionality after applying IE Cumulative patches.



822989 - Links in HTML Help Topics Are Unavailable or No Longer Work

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822989&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

811630 - HTML Help Update to Limit Functionality When It Is Invoked with the window.showHelp( ) Method

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811630&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

 

[aepnotesadmin]

Thanks again, but that hotfix didn't do the trick either!

 

[linney]

If you have worked your way through all the suggestions in Thread779-609362 and not found a solution, it is hard to think of what else to advise.

Are you having any other problems on your machine besides this one?

Are you fully updated with Service Pack 1 and Windows Updates?

Are there any error messages in your Event Viewer?

To check your drivers.

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/5/14.asp

To check conflicting software.

310353 - How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310353&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

316434 - HOW TO: Perform Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316434&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Some general things to try.

A scan of your Registry with a reliable Registry Cleaner may help.

Try Safe Mode (Do you have this problem in Safe Mode?).

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking.

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

If they don't work you could try repairing windows itself by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp