Hi,

I have WIN-XP Pro SP2

My windows Help & Support is no longer working - click and nothing happens, same with Help in IE6 and OE6.

Help in MS Office is OK.

I can't say when this happened since I only use Help once every 2-3 months on average.

Any idea how to get it back?

opalhort

Go to Start >> Run and type in: helpctr -regserver

Then you should be able to just enter in the Run box helpctr and it should start, or start as usual. Some registry cleaners will 'break' Help & Support also and here is a fix: Fix XP Help

To reinstall Help and Support:

Go to C:\Windows\inf\pchealth.inf. Right-click and choose install. Have your XP CD available.

Note: The folder is hidden by default. Go to Start >> Run and type in: control folders. View: Show hidden files and folders and uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".

Go to Start >> Run and type in: helpctr -regserver

Then you should be able to just enter in the Run box helpctr and it should start, or start as usual. Some registry cleaners will 'break' Help & Support also and here is a fix: Fix XP Help

To reinstall Help and Support:

Go to C:\Windows\inf\pchealth.inf. Right-click and choose install. Have your XP CD available.

Note: The folder is hidden by default. Go to Start >> Run and type in: control folders. View: Show hidden files and folders and uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".

Thanks tywais for your fast answer,

option1 and 2 don't work (Fix XP Help says registry is correct).

will try last option later today.

opalhort

One other possibility is that the 'service' is just not running.

In the run dialog box type in "services.msc" (without the double quotes)

In the window that opens up scroll down until you see "help and support" then check the status to see if it is active. If it says disabled double click on help and support listing and from the dialog box that pops up select automatic for the startup type and then click on apply.click on the start button on the same dialog box to start help and support then click on ok.See if help and support comes up when you try to start it. If this doesn't help then the following articles might be of help

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888018/en-us

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/873158/en-us

One other possibility is that the 'service' is just not running.

In the run dialog box type in "services.msc" (without the double quotes)

In the window that opens up scroll down until you see "help and support" then check the status to see if it is active. If it says disabled double click on help and support listing and from the dialog box that pops up select automatic for the startup type and then click on apply.click on the start button on the same dialog box to start help and support then click on ok.See if help and support comes up when you try to start it. If this doesn't help then the following articles might be of help

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888018/en-us

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/873158/en-us

Thanks but no luck

the option with install using CD: file "dataspec.xml" can't be found. I found it on the HD then file helpctr.exe can't be copied; get message insert CD and specify drive; did this and file can't be found. A manual search for the two files on the CD did not find them (probably they are in a cab file).

Service is running and registry key is correct and I don't get any error message. Just click on Help and - nothing happens.

very strange indeed.

again, thanks for all your help.

opalhort

One other possibility is that the 'service' is just not running.

In the run dialog box type in "services.msc" (without the double quotes)

In the window that opens up scroll down until you see "help and support" then check the status to see if it is active. If it says disabled double click on help and support listing and from the dialog box that pops up select automatic for the startup type and then click on apply.click on the start button on the same dialog box to start help and support then click on ok.See if help and support comes up when you try to start it. If this doesn't help then the following articles might be of help

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888018/en-us

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/873158/en-us

Thanks but no luck

the option with install using CD: file "dataspec.xml" can't be found. I found it on the HD then file helpctr.exe can't be copied; get message insert CD and specify drive; did this and file can't be found. A manual search for the two files on the CD did not find them (probably they are in a cab file).

Service is running and registry key is correct and I don't get any error message. Just click on Help and - nothing happens.

very strange indeed.

again, thanks for all your help.

opalhort

Hi opalhort,

try a "clean" repair of windows. Take the CD you installed windows from, but from that CD and just hit enter at the 1. screen with Repair option, than should came the EULA screen where you should hit F8 following the next screen with Repair option which you should use.

this will re-install Windows without loosing data or drivers or software.