Can't find help.ctr.exe

[robgraham]

When I click on Help & Support I get a message saying that Windows can't
find helpctr.exe. But if I search for it I can, and in more than one place.
How do I re-link Help & Support with this file?

Rob Graham

[Pegasus [MVP]]

"robgraham" > wrote in message
...
> When I click on Help & Support I get a message saying that Windows can't
> find helpctr.exe. But if I search for it I can, and in more than one
> place. How do I re-link Help & Support with this file?
>
> Rob Graham

The file is supposed to be here:
C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\helpctr.exe

It is linked here in the registry:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FC7D9E02-3F9E-11d3-93C0-00C04F72DAF7}\InprocServer32
(Default): C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe

If the file is in the correct location and if the registry link is correct
but Help still does not work then you can create your own Help shortcut and
place it into c:\Documents and Settings\All Users:
Target = C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\helpctr.exe
Start in = C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\

You should also think about the mechanism that disturbed the Help facility.
You might have some malware or a virus on your machine.

[db[_3_]]

double check your services
via admin tools and ensure
that help and support svc
is enabled.

--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @Hotmail.com
- nntp Postologist
~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>

"robgraham" > wrote in message
...
> When I click on Help & Support I get a message saying that Windows can't
> find helpctr.exe. But if I search for it I can, and in more than one
> place. How do I re-link Help & Support with this file?
>
> Rob Graham
>

[Johnw]

robgraham has brought this to us :
> When I click on Help & Support I get a message saying that Windows can't find
> helpctr.exe. But if I search for it I can, and in more than one place. How do
> I re-link Help & Support with this file?

Question: Why doesn't Help and Support work?
http://www.ee.ucla.edu/~shervin/win/help.htm

[robgraham]

"robgraham" > wrote in message
...
> When I click on Help & Support I get a message saying that Windows can't
> find helpctr.exe. But if I search for it I can, and in more than one
> place. How do I re-link Help & Support with this file?
>
> Rob Graham
>

The file is in the correct location and the registry link is correct But
there is no reference to it in services. How do you run the routines as
suggested by JohnW?

Rob

[Pegasus [MVP]]

"robgraham" > wrote in message
...
>
> "robgraham" > wrote in message
> ...
>> When I click on Help & Support I get a message saying that Windows can't
>> find helpctr.exe. But if I search for it I can, and in more than one
>> place. How do I re-link Help & Support with this file?
>>
>> Rob Graham
>>
>
> The file is in the correct location and the registry link is correct But
> there is no reference to it in services. How do you run the routines as
> suggested by JohnW?
>
> Rob

Did you try the numerous tips mentioned in the link that JohnW quoted? If
yes, what exactly happened?

[robgraham]

v' v' strange. When I open them on my laptop (which is not the problem
machine) I'm invited to save or run the prog. However, when I open them my
desktop, I don't get this invite. I simply get a load of lines such as

'fixwinxphelp.vbs - Repairs the damage done by Toni Arts EasyCleaner
'© Doug Knox - Modified 3/25/02 to account for XP over 2000 upgrades
'Based on information provided by Bill James (http://www.billsway.com)

On Error Resume Next

'Declare variables
Dim WSHShell, MyBox, p, p1, p2, p3, p4, q1, q2, q3, q4, t
Dim jobfunc

'Set the Windows Script Host Shell and assign values to variables
Set WSHShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

p1 =
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib\{FC7D9 E00-3F9E-11D3-93C0-00C04F72DAF7}\1.0\0\win32\"
p2 =
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib\{FC7D9 E00-3F9E-11D3-93C0-00C04F72DAF7}\1.0\HELPDIR\"
p3 =
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib\{FC7D9 000-3F9E-11D3-93C0-00C04F72DAF7}\1.0\0\win32\"
p4 =
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib\{FC7D9 000-3F9E-11D3-93C0-00C04F72DAF7}\1.0\HELPDIR\"

Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set q = fso.GetSpecialFolder(0)

q1 = q & "\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe\1"
q2 = q & "\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe\"
q3 = q & "\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe\2"
q4 = q & "\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe\"

Rob"Pegasus [MVP]" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> "robgraham" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "robgraham" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> When I click on Help & Support I get a message saying that Windows can't
>>> find helpctr.exe. But if I search for it I can, and in more than one
>>> place. How do I re-link Help & Support with this file?
>>>
>>> Rob Graham
>>>
>>
>> The file is in the correct location and the registry link is correct But
>> there is no reference to it in services. How do you run the routines as
>> suggested by JohnW?
>>
>> Rob
>
> Did you try the numerous tips mentioned in the link that JohnW quoted? If
> yes, what exactly happened?
>

[Pegasus [MVP]]

It seems your desktop has an incorrect association set for .vbs files so
that they now open with notepad.exe. You can get around the problem by using
this command from the Command Prompt:

cscript.exe "c:\fixwinxphelp.vbs"

You may have to replace c:\ with the actual location of the script on your
machine.

"robgraham" > wrote in message
...
> v' v' strange. When I open them on my laptop (which is not the problem
> machine) I'm invited to save or run the prog. However, when I open them my
> desktop, I don't get this invite. I simply get a load of lines such as
>
> 'fixwinxphelp.vbs - Repairs the damage done by Toni Arts EasyCleaner
> '© Doug Knox - Modified 3/25/02 to account for XP over 2000 upgrades
> 'Based on information provided by Bill James (http://www.billsway.com)
>
> On Error Resume Next
>
> 'Declare variables
> Dim WSHShell, MyBox, p, p1, p2, p3, p4, q1, q2, q3, q4, t
> Dim jobfunc
>
> 'Set the Windows Script Host Shell and assign values to variables
> Set WSHShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
>
> p1 =
> "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib\{FC7D9 E00-3F9E-11D3-93C0-00C04F72DAF7}\1.0\0\win32\"
> p2 =
> "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib\{FC7D9 E00-3F9E-11D3-93C0-00C04F72DAF7}\1.0\HELPDIR\"
> p3 =
> "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib\{FC7D9 000-3F9E-11D3-93C0-00C04F72DAF7}\1.0\0\win32\"
> p4 =
> "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib\{FC7D9 000-3F9E-11D3-93C0-00C04F72DAF7}\1.0\HELPDIR\"
>
> Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
> Set q = fso.GetSpecialFolder(0)
>
> q1 = q & "\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe\1"
> q2 = q & "\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe\"
> q3 = q & "\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe\2"
> q4 = q & "\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe\"
>
> Rob"Pegasus [MVP]" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>>
>> "robgraham" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> "robgraham" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> When I click on Help & Support I get a message saying that Windows
>>>> can't find helpctr.exe. But if I search for it I can, and in more than
>>>> one place. How do I re-link Help & Support with this file?
>>>>
>>>> Rob Graham
>>>>
>>>
>>> The file is in the correct location and the registry link is correct But
>>> there is no reference to it in services. How do you run the routines as
>>> suggested by JohnW?
>>>
>>> Rob
>>
>> Did you try the numerous tips mentioned in the link that JohnW quoted? If
>> yes, what exactly happened?
>>
>
>

[robgraham]

I checked the association first and .vbs files were set to open with Windows
Based Script Host rather than notepad. So I presume that is correct even
though it doesn't work.

I tried the cscript.exe "c:\fixwinxphelp.vbs" from command prompt. I had to
bring the file from my other machine because the desktop machine could not
find it. I thought
I would copy the file into System32 file and use cscript.exe
"c:\fixwinxphelp.vbs" from there but it still couldn't find it so I used it
direct from the memory stick and it found it and then said it had cleared
the problem of Help and Support not being linked. But when I tried to open
Help & Support I found it still hadn't.


"Pegasus [MVP]" > wrote in message
...
>
> It seems your desktop has an incorrect association set for .vbs files so
> that they now open with notepad.exe. You can get around the problem by
> using this command from the Command Prompt:
>
> cscript.exe "c:\fixwinxphelp.vbs"
>
> You may have to replace c:\ with the actual location of the script on your
> machine.
>
> "robgraham" > wrote in message
> ...
>> v' v' strange. When I open them on my laptop (which is not the problem
>> machine) I'm invited to save or run the prog. However, when I open them
>> my desktop, I don't get this invite. I simply get a load of lines such as
>>
>> 'fixwinxphelp.vbs - Repairs the damage done by Toni Arts EasyCleaner
>> '© Doug Knox - Modified 3/25/02 to account for XP over 2000 upgrades
>> 'Based on information provided by Bill James (http://www.billsway.com)
>>
>> On Error Resume Next
>>
>> 'Declare variables
>> Dim WSHShell, MyBox, p, p1, p2, p3, p4, q1, q2, q3, q4, t
>> Dim jobfunc
>>
>> 'Set the Windows Script Host Shell and assign values to variables
>> Set WSHShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
>>
>> p1 =
>> "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib\{FC7D9 E00-3F9E-11D3-93C0-00C04F72DAF7}\1.0\0\win32\"
>> p2 =
>> "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib\{FC7D9 E00-3F9E-11D3-93C0-00C04F72DAF7}\1.0\HELPDIR\"
>> p3 =
>> "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib\{FC7D9 000-3F9E-11D3-93C0-00C04F72DAF7}\1.0\0\win32\"
>> p4 =
>> "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib\{FC7D9 000-3F9E-11D3-93C0-00C04F72DAF7}\1.0\HELPDIR\"
>>
>> Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
>> Set q = fso.GetSpecialFolder(0)
>>
>> q1 = q & "\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe\1"
>> q2 = q & "\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe\"
>> q3 = q & "\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe\2"
>> q4 = q & "\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe\"
>>
>> Rob"Pegasus [MVP]" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>>
>>> "robgraham" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>>
>>>> "robgraham" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> When I click on Help & Support I get a message saying that Windows
>>>>> can't find helpctr.exe. But if I search for it I can, and in more than
>>>>> one place. How do I re-link Help & Support with this file?
>>>>>
>>>>> Rob Graham
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The file is in the correct location and the registry link is correct
>>>> But there is no reference to it in services. How do you run the
>>>> routines as suggested by JohnW?
>>>>
>>>> Rob
>>>
>>> Did you try the numerous tips mentioned in the link that JohnW quoted?
>>> If yes, what exactly happened?
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

[Pegasus [MVP]]

*** See below.

"robgraham" > wrote in message
...
>I checked the association first and .vbs files were set to open with
>Windows
> Based Script Host rather than notepad. So I presume that is correct even
> though it doesn't work.
>
> I tried the cscript.exe "c:\fixwinxphelp.vbs" from command prompt. I had
> to
> bring the file from my other machine because the desktop machine could not
> find it.
*** Which file?
> I thought I would copy the file
*** Which file?
> into System32 file and use cscript.exe
> "c:\fixwinxphelp.vbs" from there but it still couldn't find it
*** could not find which file?
> it so I used it direct from the memory stick and it found it and then said
> it had cleared the problem of Help and Support not being linked. But when
> I tried to open Help & Support I found it still hadn't.

Here are a number of recipes to repair Windows Help. I picked them
up from other threads but I have not tried them myself:

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/fix_windows_xp_help.htm
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top10faqs.htm
Or re-install Help:
Open the folder c:\windows\inf and right-click the PCHealth.inf file,
then choose "Install". If you have a Service Pack installed, select
c:\windows\i386\ServicePackFiles\PCHealth.inf instead.

For another cause see here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896358
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896054

[Jose]

On Sep 26, 8:00*am, "robgraham" > wrote:
> When I click on Help & Support I get a message saying that Windows can't
> find helpctr.exe. But if I search for it I can, and in more than one place.
> How do I re-link Help & Support with this file?
>
> Rob Graham

Click Start, Run and in the box copy and paste:

%Windir%\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe

Does Help and Support Center open?

[Rob Graham]

***** see below

Pegasus [MVP] wrote:
> *** See below.
>
> "robgraham" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I checked the association first and .vbs files were set to open with
>> Windows
>> Based Script Host rather than notepad. So I presume that is correct even
>> though it doesn't work.
>>
>> I tried the cscript.exe "c:\fixwinxphelp.vbs" from command prompt. I had
>> to
>> bring the file from my other machine because the desktop machine could not
>> find it.
> *** Which file?

c:\fixwinxphelp.vbs

>> I thought I would copy the file
> *** Which file?

c:\fixwinxphelp.vbs

>> into System32 file and use cscript.exe
>> "c:\fixwinxphelp.vbs" from there but it still couldn't find it
> *** could not find which file?

c:\fixwinxphelp.vbs

>> it so I used it direct from the memory stick and it found it and then said
>> it had cleared the problem of Help and Support not being linked. But when
>> I tried to open Help & Support I found it still hadn't.
>
> Here are a number of recipes to repair Windows Help. I picked them
> up from other threads but I have not tried them myself:
>
> http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/fix_windows_xp_help.htm
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top10faqs.htm
> Or re-install Help:
> Open the folder c:\windows\inf and right-click the PCHealth.inf file,
> then choose "Install". If you have a Service Pack installed, select
> c:\windows\i386\ServicePackFiles\PCHealth.inf instead.
>
> For another cause see here:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896358
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896054
>
>

I tried all these options but none worked. One problem is that I have
SP3 and some are for SP1.

I did download winhlp32.exe, though, and strangely, when I clicked on it
to open it up I found that I was taken to My Documents.

I also tried to re-install Help as you described. Now, when I click Help
& Support I get a different message, one that says "Windows cannot open
Help & Support because a system service is not running. To fix this
problem start the service named Help & Support". Seems odd to me!

Rob

[Johnw]

Rob Graham brought next idea :

> I tried all these options but none worked. One problem is that I have SP3 and
> some are for SP1.
>
> I did download winhlp32.exe, though, and strangely, when I clicked on it to
> open it up I found that I was taken to My Documents.
>
> I also tried to re-install Help as you described. Now, when I click Help &
> Support I get a different message, one that says "Windows cannot open Help &
> Support because a system service is not running. To fix this problem start
> the service named Help & Support". Seems odd to me!

To check you have the corresponding service enabled. Go to your Start
Menu / Run. Type in "msconfig" and hit OK. You will get the System
Configuration Utility. Click on the Services tab and make sure the
"Help and Support" service is checked. The next thing to do is make
sure your Start Menu is set to display Help and Support. Open your
Start Menu and right-click on any blank area of the menu and choose
Properties. Then, click on Customize, hit the Advanced tab and then in
the list of start menu items, make sure "Help and Support" is checked.

[Rob Graham]

Johnw wrote:
> Rob Graham brought next idea :
>
>> I tried all these options but none worked. One problem is that I have
>> SP3 and some are for SP1.
>>
>> I did download winhlp32.exe, though, and strangely, when I clicked on
>> it to open it up I found that I was taken to My Documents.
>>
>> I also tried to re-install Help as you described. Now, when I click
>> Help & Support I get a different message, one that says "Windows
>> cannot open Help & Support because a system service is not running. To
>> fix this problem start the service named Help & Support". Seems odd to
>> me!
>
> To check you have the corresponding service enabled. Go to your Start
> Menu / Run. Type in "msconfig" and hit OK. You will get the System
> Configuration Utility. Click on the Services tab and make sure the "Help
> and Support" service is checked.

***Help & Support does not appear in the list of services.

The next thing to do is make sure your
> Start Menu is set to display Help and Support. Open your Start Menu and
> right-click on any blank area of the menu and choose Properties. Then,
> click on Customize, hit the Advanced tab and then in the list of start
> menu items, make sure "Help and Support" is checked.

***Yes, it's checked.
>
>

[Rob Graham]

Jose wrote:
> On Sep 26, 8:00 am, "robgraham" > wrote:
>> When I click on Help & Support I get a message saying that Windows can't
>> find helpctr.exe. But if I search for it I can, and in more than one place.
>> How do I re-link Help & Support with this file?
>>
>> Rob Graham
>
> Click Start, Run and in the box copy and paste:
>
> %Windir%\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe
>
> Does Help and Support Center open?


No. I get "Windows cannot open Help & Support because a system service
is not running. To fix this problem start the service named Help &
Support". But, as you can see in my reply to JohnW above, Help &
Support does not appear in my list of services.

[Johnw]

Rob Graham wrote on 29/09/2009 :

> ***Help & Support does not appear in the list of services.
>
> The next thing to do is make sure your
>> Start Menu is set to display Help and Support. Open your Start Menu and
>> right-click on any blank area of the menu and choose Properties. Then,
>> click on Customize, hit the Advanced tab and then in the list of start menu
>> items, make sure "Help and Support" is checked.
>
> ***Yes, it's checked.

"***Help & Support does not appear in the list of services."
Did you also check here?

1: Start, right click on My Computer & select Manage.

2: Click on the + alongside Services and Applications.

3: Click on Services.

4: Scroll down to Help and Support.

5: Double click on it & make sure Service Status is started. My Startup
type is > Manual

[Rob Graham]

Johnw wrote:
> Rob Graham wrote on 29/09/2009 :
>
>> ***Help & Support does not appear in the list of services.
>>
>> The next thing to do is make sure your
>>> Start Menu is set to display Help and Support. Open your Start Menu
>>> and right-click on any blank area of the menu and choose Properties.
>>> Then, click on Customize, hit the Advanced tab and then in the list
>>> of start menu items, make sure "Help and Support" is checked.
>>
>> ***Yes, it's checked.
>
> "***Help & Support does not appear in the list of services."
> Did you also check here?
>
> 1: Start, right click on My Computer & select Manage.
>
> 2: Click on the + alongside Services and Applications.
>
> 3: Click on Services.
>
> 4: Scroll down to Help and Support.
>
> 5: Double click on it & make sure Service Status is started. My Startup
> type is > Manual
>
>


It's not there either.

[Johnw]

Rob Graham brought next idea :

> It's not there either.

Thanks, I know the question had been asked before, just had to be sure
after all the work you had done.

I googled the question ( I have been googling all along )

Help and Support services missing

http://www.google.com.au/#hl=en&source=hp&q=Help+and+Support+services+missing&btnG=Google+Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=Help+and+Support+services+missing&fp=c5fbc323c9147fb8

Go to this section & try.

Download helpsvc.zip file.

[Johnw]

Rob Graham presented the following explanation :
> Johnw wrote:
>> Rob Graham brought next idea :
>>
>>> I tried all these options but none worked. One problem is that I have SP3
>>> and some are for SP1.
>>>
>>> I did download winhlp32.exe, though, and strangely, when I clicked on it
>>> to open it up I found that I was taken to My Documents.
>>>
>>> I also tried to re-install Help as you described. Now, when I click Help &
>>> Support I get a different message, one that says "Windows cannot open Help
>>> & Support because a system service is not running. To fix this problem
>>> start the service named Help & Support". Seems odd to me!
>>
>> To check you have the corresponding service enabled. Go to your Start Menu
>> / Run. Type in "msconfig" and hit OK. You will get the System Configuration
>> Utility. Click on the Services tab and make sure the "Help and Support"
>> service is checked.
>
> ***Help & Support does not appear in the list of services.
>
> The next thing to do is make sure your
>> Start Menu is set to display Help and Support. Open your Start Menu and
>> right-click on any blank area of the menu and choose Properties. Then,
>> click on Customize, hit the Advanced tab and then in the list of start menu
>> items, make sure "Help and Support" is checked.
>
> ***Yes, it's checked.
>>
>>

Opp's, this link.

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/helpsvc.htm

[Rob Graham]

robgraham wrote:
> When I click on Help & Support I get a message saying that Windows can't
> find helpctr.exe. But if I search for it I can, and in more than one place.
> How do I re-link Help & Support with this file?
>
> Rob Graham
>
>

Thanks for all those who have tried to help me on this issue. H&S is now
working, although I'm not truly sure what did it!

Rob