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From: Ron Patterson on 14 Jan 2010 17:48 Sorry again but I am a computer illiterate. I will need detailed instructions. Do I insert my Windows XP Pro SP2 CD? Then what? When the CD opens how do I "Use this path: C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386". Do I type something in? Where? Then what? Ron "John John - MVP" <audetweld(a)nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message news:e3L17UVlKHA.5568(a)TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > Use this path: C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386 > > John > > Ron Patterson wrote: >> Attn. John John >> My error and apologies John. I have located the >> C:\Windows\inf\pchealth.inf file. When I right click on it and left >> click on Install I get a dialogue box the says "The file dataspec.xmf on >> Windows XP Pro SP3 is needed. Type the path where the file is located >> and then click OK" "Copy files from - C:\Windows\inf\i386" >> I only have a CD for Windows XP Pro SP 2 and have no idea how to >> follow these instructions on how to copy a file from it. >> Ron >> >> >> >> >> "Ron Patterson" <a.baba(a)mindspring.com> wrote in message >> news:acmdnWTt5fpR9NLWnZ2dnUVZ_jKdnZ2d(a)earthlink.com... >>> Attention: John John >>> the file C:\Windows\inf\pchealth.inf is not on my computer. Maybe this >>> is the problem. I have a Windows XP SP2 CD but do not know how to >>> locate and install just one file from it. or ?? >>> >>> >>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld(a)nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message >>> news:OOKtwUUlKHA.5128(a)TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >>>> To reinstall the Help and Support Center right click on the >>>> C:\Windows\inf\pchealth.inf file and select Install, you may be asked >>>> for your Windows XP CD to do the repairs. >>>> >>>> John >>>> >>>> Ron Patterson wrote: >>>>> #1 I am shocked and angry that some poser would instruct me to mess >>>>> with my >>>>> registry. >>>>> >>>>> #2 - I have found the registry key and it is the same as yours and the >>>>> default data under the HELPCTR.EXE subkey is the same value as yours: >>>>> >>>>> C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe >>>>> >>>>> then I ran this command string as instructed. Nothing appeared to >>>>> happen. >>>>> I rebooted. Th problem remains.unchanged. >>>>> >>>>> Thanks for trying. Any other ideas please. >>>>> >>>>> Ron >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> "VanguardLH" <V(a)nguard.LH> wrote in message >>>>> news:himdiu$bpf$1(a)news.albasani.net... >>>>>> Ron Patterson wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> When I go to Start and click on "Help and Support" - nothing >>>>>>> happens. >>>>>>> How >>>>>>> can I activate this feature without reinstalling Windows XP? >>>>>> The path to the executable is not specified in the PATH environment >>>>>> variable. The path to many executables are recorded in the registry. >>>>>> The >>>>>> file is found there. >>>>>> >>>>>> I know of the following registry key: >>>>>> >>>>>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App >>>>>> Paths >>>>>> >>>>>> I'd have to go Googling around or searching MS knowledgebase to see >>>>>> if >>>>>> other >>>>>> keys specified additional registry-defined paths to executables. >>>>>> Under >>>>>> the >>>>>> above registry key, I have 89 entries (i.e., path definitions to find >>>>>> executable files). For you, what is the default data item's value >>>>>> under >>>>>> the >>>>>> HELPCTR.EXE subkey? For my Windows XP Pro SP-3, the value is: >>>>>> >>>>>> C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe >>>>>> >>>>>> If you run that above command string (or whatever value is specified >>>>>> on >>>>>> your >>>>>> host) at a command prompt (e.g., Start -> Run), does the "Help and >>>>>> Support" >>>>>> application load and display? >>>>> >>
From: John John - MVP on 14 Jan 2010 19:11 Never mind the XP SP2 CD, it wants an SP3 file, the SP3 files should be in the C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386 folder. In the box where it says "Copy files from:" make sure that it points to the C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386 folder, if it doesn't click on the Browse button and navigate to the C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386 folder then click on "Open". John Ron Patterson wrote: > Sorry again but I am a computer illiterate. I will need detailed > instructions. Do I insert my Windows XP Pro SP2 CD? > Then what? When the CD opens how do I "Use this path: > C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386". Do I type something in? Where? Then > what? > > Ron > > > > > "John John - MVP" <audetweld(a)nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message > news:e3L17UVlKHA.5568(a)TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >> Use this path: C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386 >> >> John >> >> Ron Patterson wrote: >>> Attn. John John >>> My error and apologies John. I have located the >>> C:\Windows\inf\pchealth.inf file. When I right click on it and left >>> click on Install I get a dialogue box the says "The file dataspec.xmf on >>> Windows XP Pro SP3 is needed. Type the path where the file is located >>> and then click OK" "Copy files from - C:\Windows\inf\i386" >>> I only have a CD for Windows XP Pro SP 2 and have no idea how to >>> follow these instructions on how to copy a file from it. >>> Ron >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> "Ron Patterson" <a.baba(a)mindspring.com> wrote in message >>> news:acmdnWTt5fpR9NLWnZ2dnUVZ_jKdnZ2d(a)earthlink.com... >>>> Attention: John John >>>> the file C:\Windows\inf\pchealth.inf is not on my computer. Maybe this >>>> is the problem. I have a Windows XP SP2 CD but do not know how to >>>> locate and install just one file from it. or ?? >>>> >>>> >>>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld(a)nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message >>>> news:OOKtwUUlKHA.5128(a)TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >>>>> To reinstall the Help and Support Center right click on the >>>>> C:\Windows\inf\pchealth.inf file and select Install, you may be asked >>>>> for your Windows XP CD to do the repairs. >>>>> >>>>> John >>>>> >>>>> Ron Patterson wrote: >>>>>> #1 I am shocked and angry that some poser would instruct me to mess >>>>>> with my >>>>>> registry. >>>>>> >>>>>> #2 - I have found the registry key and it is the same as yours and the >>>>>> default data under the HELPCTR.EXE subkey is the same value as yours: >>>>>> >>>>>> C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe >>>>>> >>>>>> then I ran this command string as instructed. Nothing appeared to >>>>>> happen. >>>>>> I rebooted. Th problem remains.unchanged. >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks for trying. Any other ideas please. >>>>>> >>>>>> Ron >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> "VanguardLH" <V(a)nguard.LH> wrote in message >>>>>> news:himdiu$bpf$1(a)news.albasani.net... >>>>>>> Ron Patterson wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> When I go to Start and click on "Help and Support" - nothing >>>>>>>> happens. >>>>>>>> How >>>>>>>> can I activate this feature without reinstalling Windows XP? >>>>>>> The path to the executable is not specified in the PATH environment >>>>>>> variable. The path to many executables are recorded in the registry. >>>>>>> The >>>>>>> file is found there. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I know of the following registry key: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App >>>>>>> Paths >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I'd have to go Googling around or searching MS knowledgebase to see >>>>>>> if >>>>>>> other >>>>>>> keys specified additional registry-defined paths to executables. >>>>>>> Under >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> above registry key, I have 89 entries (i.e., path definitions to find >>>>>>> executable files). For you, what is the default data item's value >>>>>>> under >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> HELPCTR.EXE subkey? For my Windows XP Pro SP-3, the value is: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe >>>>>>> >>>>>>> If you run that above command string (or whatever value is specified >>>>>>> on >>>>>>> your >>>>>>> host) at a command prompt (e.g., Start -> Run), does the "Help and >>>>>>> Support" >>>>>>> application load and display? >
From: VanguardLH on 14 Jan 2010 20:29 Ron Patterson wrote: > #1 I am shocked and angry that some poser would instruct me to mess with my > registry. Yeah, God forbid that you actually need to configure your operating system. Yeah, God forbid that you, malware, or applications don't screw up your OS install that you have to then fix. The registry is a huge config file. I provided just one possible starting point: of finding the executable file by its registry-defined path. There are LOTS of registry keys used to control the behavior of this application, so many that I didn't bother to even list them. > #2 - I have found the registry key and it is the same as yours and the > default data under the HELPCTR.EXE subkey is the same value as yours: > > C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe > > then I ran this command string as instructed. Nothing appeared to happen. > I rebooted. Th problem remains.unchanged. Leave Task Manager loaded and showing its Processes tab (sorted and scrolled so you can see anything that shows up starting with "h"). Then run the command. Do you see HELPCTR.exe show up? Does it appear and then disappear? You might have to shorten the poll interval if the process is quickly loading and then unloading. Yet tried rebooting Windows into its safe mode and then trying to run the help app? Have you yet tried scanning your host for malware? If so, using what anti- virus/malware applications? Some malware doesn't want the user getting help on running some commands that can help eradicate the pest.
From: RobF on 15 Jan 2010 10:58 "John John - MVP" <audetweld(a)nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message news:e3L17UVlKHA.5568(a)TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... | Use this path: C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386 What happens when you right click ...inf\pchealth and left click install? What does the installation do? TIA, -- RobF
From: John John - MVP on 15 Jan 2010 12:06
RobF wrote: > "John John - MVP" <audetweld(a)nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message > news:e3L17UVlKHA.5568(a)TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > | Use this path: C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386 > > > What happens when you right click ...inf\pchealth and left click install? > What does the installation do? TIA, It performs the actions/instructions in the .inf file. Click on "Open" and you will see. John |