Success Re: Help and Support Center Problem

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

Well hello again. I have solved my problem and, as promised, will describe what worked and what didn't. Keep in mind that just because something did not work for me doesn't mean that it won't work for someone else.

My problem in brief: In the Help and Support Center, the Help viewer (that's the right hand pane) had these symptoms: 1) the font changed to Times New Roman, 2) links no longer worked, 3) the H & S graphics did not appear and 4) certain lines and phrases were replaced by XOX.

Here's what did not fix the problem:

1. Re-installing Help and Support
(see http://windowsxp.mvps.org/rebuildhelp.htm)
This actually made things worse, since now H & S thinks I'm not connected to the internet.

2. Re-installing Help and Support - alternate method, using pchealth.inf
(see http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_h.htm)

3. Re-enabling the HTML Help ActiveX control (hhctrl.ocx).
(see http://windowsxp.mvps.org/helpctrindex.htm)
The control was not disabled in the first place.

4. Re-registering the HTML Help ActiveX control (hhctrl.ocx).
Source (same as above): http://windowsxp.mvps.org/helpctrindex.htm

5. See if the Active Scripting option is disabled for the My Computer Zone.
(see http://www.winxptutor.com/helpctrscripting.htm)
Active Scripting was already enabled for the My Computer Zone.

6. Delete hh.dat and re-create (by accessing any .chm file.)

And here is what finally solved my problem:

Move TIF somewhere else; let XP log you out; log back in; move TIF back to where it was originally; let XP log you out; and log back in. Voila! Why this works I have no idea. It just works.

I'm still left with the minor annoyance that H & S doesn't think I'm connected to the internet. The home page says "When you are connected to the Internet, this area will display links to timely help and support information...etc." That's no big deal, really, because I can still connect to the MSKB and Windows Update through H & S. In fact there are two MSKB articles that describe this problem, but both refer to DSL connections and I have cable.

For now, I'm happy I have the Help and Support Center back. Thanks for reading. Hopefully this will help someone else.

Ted Zieglar



"Ted Zieglar" <teddyz@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:OZ%23XY8HXFHA.3760@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thanks, Rich. The instructions on Kelly's web site for reinstalling H & S
are the same ones that appear in Ramesh's web site, which is what I used to
reinstall H & S.

By further trawling the newsgroups I found a few more possible solutions to
try, beyond the three that I mentioned in my original post. People have
found success with several techniques, including the ones I already tried.
I'll post back with what ultimately worked - and didn't - for me.
--
Ted Zieglar
"You can do it if you try."

"Rich Barry" <rbarryNot@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:IVNie.1770$h86.1234@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ted, check at Kelly's http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm
Select H and scroll to Help and Support not working.
"Ted Zieglar" <teddyz@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:u9MtWA7WFHA.584@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> I've read about this problem on the internet, and now it's affecting > me:
> The
> right hand pane of my SP 2 Help and Support Center displays in Times > New
> Roman, links don't work and portions of text are replaced by XOX.
>
> I've tried System File Checker, replacing hh.dat and reinstalling H & > S,
> but
> no improvement. In fact, reinstalling added a new problem: Now H & S
> doesn't
> think I'm connected to the internet. (I am, with a cable modem.) I
checked
> my firewall (Zone Alarm) and gave H & S a free pass to the internet, > but
> still no fix.
>
> I would be grateful if someone could suggest a possible solution that
I've
> overlooked.
>
> -- > Ted Zieglar
> "You can do it if you try."
>
>
>





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