Cannot access help and support center in xp pro

[faith1936]

When I click on "help and support," I get a msg saying
that Windows cannot find helpctr.exe. I did an advanced
search, and all that I found were pf files. I don't
know what these do.

As far as I can tell, the help and support service in
enabled.

Since I don't know when the helpctr.exe file (or
shortcut) went missing, restore didn't help fix the
problems.

I'd appreciate any help or advice.

Thanks, Faith

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Expand a new copy. Start/run msconfig, click on "expand file" (general tab)

File to expand: helpctr.exe
From: X:\I386
To: %windir%\PCHealth\Helpctr\binaries

Where X is whatever letter is assigned your CD drive (you need your WinXP CD
for this), change it accordingly. If your system was preinstalled, you may
find this instead on the hard drive under C:\Windows\I386. If so, change the
"from" line accordingly. Reboot when finished.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Windows
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"faith1936" > wrote in message
...
> When I click on "help and support," I get a msg saying
> that Windows cannot find helpctr.exe. I did an advanced
> search, and all that I found were pf files. I don't
> know what these do.
>
> As far as I can tell, the help and support service in
> enabled.
>
> Since I don't know when the helpctr.exe file (or
> shortcut) went missing, restore didn't help fix the
> problems.
>
> I'd appreciate any help or advice.
>
> Thanks, Faith

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Faith,

It's not a problem, and I will copy my response for others here:

It's generally best to keep the responses on the message boards. That way
two things happen: 1) Others can read the responses, and perhaps find the
answer they need without having to ask a question and 2) All responses are
subject to review by others, so any misinformation is caught.

Start/run cmd, type in "path" and hit <enter>. Is there a section that reads
"C:\Windows" and C:\Windows\system32"?

Also, open Windows Explorer to this folder:
C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries
The files helpctr.exe and msconfig.exe both should be here. Click
tools/folder options/view tab and make sure you have the setting so you can
see hidden and protected system files.

Also, have you updated your antivirus software and run a full system scan
lately?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Windows
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"faith1936" > wrote in message
...
> Oooops! I just sent a private msg to you, Rick, and then discoverd that
this board does offer a "reply" option. I'm sorry if a violated a rule of
board etiquette.
>
> I think that I panicked when I discovered that I couldn't run msconfig
either! This is a new problem. When I tried to run it, I got the same
sort of msg as I did when I tried to open Help and Support. In the case of
msconfig, "Windows cannot
> find 'msconfig.' This is the first time that it's happened. I don't
know what's going on.
>
> Can you help me?
>
> Thanks, Faith Windsor
> ----- Rick "Nutcase" Rogers wrote: -----
>
> Hi,
>
> Expand a new copy. Start/run msconfig, click on "expand file"
(general tab)
>
> File to expand: helpctr.exe
> From: X:\I386
> To: %windir%\PCHealth\Helpctr\binaries
>
> Where X is whatever letter is assigned your CD drive (you need your
WinXP CD
> for this), change it accordingly. If your system was preinstalled,
you may
> find this instead on the hard drive under C:\Windows\I386. If so,
change the
> "from" line accordingly. Reboot when finished.
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Windows
> Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
> www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>
> "faith1936" > wrote in message
> ...
> > When I click on "help and support," I get a msg saying
> > that Windows cannot find helpctr.exe. I did an advanced
> > search, and all that I found were pf files. I don't
> > know what these do.
> >> As far as I can tell, the help and support service in
> > enabled.
> >> Since I don't know when the helpctr.exe file (or
> > shortcut) went missing, restore didn't help fix the
> > problems.
> >> I'd appreciate any help or advice.
> >> Thanks, Faith
>
>
>