Windows Help not working

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I installed a bunch of security updates from Microsoft, and now I get errors when navigating around in Windows Help. For instance, here’s one:

An error has ocurred in the script on this page.

Line: 592
Char: 9
Error: Object doesn’t support this property or method
Code: 0
URL; ms-its:C:WINNTHelpHowTo.chm::/app_disk_logical.htm

I am running Win2K SP4 with all the latest patches installed. I am running IE5.5 SP1 with several patches.

Is there a way to find out what patch I installed broke Windows Help and uninstall it?

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Bill-

It doesn’t appear that Help and Support is broken at all, but rather follow CBD’s tip to turn off script debugging which is the source of the errors while you’re using Help and Support. That info can only be used anyway by the web designer/developer of a website or page. Should Help and Support ever be broken though, here is where a fix is:

Fixing Help and Support when it is broken XP/2K:[/u]

Restore winhlp32.exe (line 57)

You can also:

1) Run SFC to replace corrupted .dlls or other files. See Post 338223: SFC First 3 Links
2) Reinstall it: Go to C:Windowsinfpchealth.inf and you’ll be pulling it from the CD. To see the hidden folder: Start>run>type “control folders”>View: Show hidden files and folders.
3) Make sure it’s running in services. Start>run>services.msc. From there scroll down to Help and Support and make sure the service is set to Automatic and is Started.

SMBP

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The item “Restore winhlp32.exe (line 57)” refers to Windows XP. I am running Win2K SP4.

The other items you mention also refer to Win XP.

Do you have any advice for IE 5.5 under Win2K SP4?

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Bill–

I appreciated that; I’m well aware the site is called XP. While updates/hotfixes and SPs are version specific, there is proably not one of these tweaks that won’t work for 2K. As Mark (WyllyWylly) wrote very clearly in a post not long ago, (I’ll try to find his post). for all practical significant purposes, Win 2K and Win XP are essentially the same OS. Differences are minor for the most part, although I know System Restore and msconfig (unless 3rd party added in its case) are not part of Win 2K. People apply these and many other regedits for Win2K that tweak or fix to Win 2K from this site all the time. I see it in newsgroups. They should work on 2KSP4. Also you can view the regedits in notepad or whatever you have designated as your editor in IE>Options, by simply rightclicking on the file and selecting edit. You can export each registry key in a second. I’m sure specific 2K only sites exist, but with respect to most of the major regedits and VB scripts tweak/fix sites have, they usually list them as applying to 2K and XP.

As to IE5.5/IE6 specifically, I like Sandi Handmier’s IE MVP Site.

Good luck,

SMBP

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My problem appears to be fixed. I installed IE 6 and then installed all the critical updates for it. Now Windows Help works like it used to. Thanks for the advice.

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My problem appears to be fixed. I installed IE 6 and then installed all the critical updates for it. Now Windows Help works like it used to. Thanks for the advice.

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Bill–

I appreciated that; I’m well aware the site is called XP. While updates/hotfixes and SPs are version specific, there is proably not one of these tweaks that won’t work for 2K. As Mark (WyllyWylly) wrote very clearly in a post not long ago, (I’ll try to find his post). for all practical significant purposes, Win 2K and Win XP are essentially the same OS. Differences are minor for the most part, although I know System Restore and msconfig (unless 3rd party added in its case) are not part of Win 2K. People apply these and many other regedits for Win2K that tweak or fix to Win 2K from this site all the time. I see it in newsgroups. They should work on 2KSP4. Also you can view the regedits in notepad or whatever you have designated as your editor in IE>Options, by simply rightclicking on the file and selecting edit. You can export each registry key in a second. I’m sure specific 2K only sites exist, but with respect to most of the major regedits and VB scripts tweak/fix sites have, they usually list them as applying to 2K and XP.

As to IE5.5/IE6 specifically, I like Sandi Handmier’s IE MVP Site.

Good luck,

SMBP

Reply | Quote

The item “Restore winhlp32.exe (line 57)” refers to Windows XP. I am running Win2K SP4.

The other items you mention also refer to Win XP.

Do you have any advice for IE 5.5 under Win2K SP4?

Reply | Quote

Bill-

It doesn’t appear that Help and Support is broken at all, but rather follow CBD’s tip to turn off script debugging which is the source of the errors while you’re using Help and Support. That info can only be used anyway by the web designer/developer of a website or page. Should Help and Support ever be broken though, here is where a fix is:

Fixing Help and Support when it is broken XP/2K:[/u]

Restore winhlp32.exe (line 57)

You can also:

1) Run SFC to replace corrupted .dlls or other files. See Post 338223: SFC First 3 Links
2) Reinstall it: Go to C:Windowsinfpchealth.inf and you’ll be pulling it from the CD. To see the hidden folder: Start>run>type “control folders”>View: Show hidden files and folders.
3) Make sure it’s running in services. Start>run>services.msc. From there scroll down to Help and Support and make sure the service is set to Automatic and is Started.

SMBP

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Both of those things are already set as you suggest.

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Both of those things are already set as you suggest.

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