Help not functioning for any MS products 2

[Garly]

I have a laptop computer running XP Pro. Help is not working for any MS products. Does anyone have a fix for this?

 

[linney]

Try these.

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

windows xp Help and Support do not work
thread779-758314

 

[Garly]

I tried your suggestions, but to no avail. The problem seems to extend to other products as well. For example, the scan button in Norton Anti-virus doesn't work. The computer comes up clean on an anti-virus scan through the net.

 

[bcastner]

Is this a different language version that US English?

 

[linney]

A few more details from you may help track this down. Saying Help doesn't work doesn't give people much to go on.
When did the problem first become apparent and what may have been done to cause it? Are there any exact error messages? What have you done to try and fix this?

Here are a few other guesses to try in the meanwhile.

This tool checks the correct installation of the help-related files.
MJ's Help Diagnostics at -

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

Run each of the following from start/run: Press OK after each entry.

regsvr32 Shdocvw.dll
regsvr32 Shell32.dll
regsvr32 Oleaut32.dll
regsvr32 Actxprxy.dll
regsvr32 Mshtml.dll
regsvr32 Urlmon.dll



Visit Windows Update site.

Have a look in the Event Viewer for any Errors.

Some other general things to try.

See if System Restore will get you back to a restore point before your problem with Explorer.

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

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

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

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

 

[Garly]

This is an English version of XP.
The problem persists in Safe Mode.

Here are the results from MJ's Help Diagnostic.

HTML Help 1.x Workshop Components

*** HH Workshop not found or not installed correctly. Try reinstalling.


eHelp RoboHelp DLL - HHActiveX.dll

*** HHActiveX.dll is not registered or not installed!
*** You can register your HHActiveX.dll using the "Register a DLL" button.
*** HHActiveX.dll could be installed anywhere on your PC.


MS Help 2 Run-time Components

*** MS Help 2 NOT installed on this PC



Any further assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Gary

 

[bcastner]

. Start, Run type in: helpctr -regserver

. The Help and Support center needs access to the internet. Make sure your firewall is not blocking it.

. In IE, Tools, Internet Options, Advanced, disable the use of third-party tools.

. A note from Kelly Theriot:

1. Insert the Windows XP installation CD into your CD-ROM.
2. Browse to your CD-ROM and change the folder to \I386
3. Copy the following files into a temporary folder on your hard disk:

Winhlp32.cn_
Winhlp32.ex_
Winhlp32.hl_

4. Click Start->Run, type CMD and then press Enter.
5. Change to the temporary folder where you stored the Winhlp32 files.
6. Type the following commands:

EXPAND WINHLP32.CN_ WINHLP32.CNT
EXPAND WINHLP32.EX_ WINHLP32.EXE
EXPAND WINHLP32.HL_ WINHLP32.HLP

7. Copy Winhlp32.exe to your \%SYSTEMROOT%\ folder.
8. Copy the Winhlp32.cnt, and Winhlp32.hlp to the \%SYSTEMROOT%\Help\folder.
9. Typically this folder is C:\Windows.
10. Delete the contents of your temporary folder.

Checkpoint: Help and Support Won't Expand

Go to Start/Run/Regedit and navigate to this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment. In the right pane, verify that the windir value is REG_EXPAND_SZ and not a REG_SZ type. If not, change it.

linney has several excellent ideas on this topic. See: thread779-758314

from which the above is quoted in part. My advice above is largely from Doug Knox and Kelly Theriot, and the approach makes a lot of sense to me. But it is far from perfect, so please advise again as to your progress. Be sure to read linney's approach to this issue, which complements the one I suggest above.

 

[Garly]

Thank you for all of your suggestions. Unfortunately, we still had problem. We just decided to reinstall XP Pro and all the applications. This fixed the problem.