Windows Vista Forums

SP1: Microsoft-supplied reg file hosed Help and Support

  1. #1


    TomYoung Guest

    SP1: Microsoft-supplied reg file hosed Help and Support

    Hi:



    I didn't like the result of SP1 removing the "Search" command on the
    start menu, so I emailed Microsoft. They sent me two reg files -
    "Search" and "RestoreHelpandSupport" - and told me that importing the
    Search reg file would restore the Search command to the Start menu,
    while the RestoreHelpandSupport reg file would undo the effects of the
    Search reg file.

    I ran the Search reg file and didn't like the results: Search was
    there as a command but Help and Support wasn't, and if I typed "Help"
    in the "Start Search" box on the Start menu "Help and Support" was the
    first program listed but clicking on it brought up the Search program,
    not the Help and Support program.

    So, I ran the RestoreHelpandSupport reg file and now the Help and
    Support command is back on the Start menu, but clicking on the command
    does exactly nothing. Right clicking on the Help and Support command
    on the Start menu only brings up the title "Help and Support."
    Resting the mouse cursor on the Help and Support command brings up the
    tool tips ("Find help topics, tutorials...") and the icon at the top
    of the Start menu changes to the Question mark. But I can't get into
    "Help and Support." It's as if most of the attributes of the Help and
    Support command *were* restored, just not a pointer to the program
    itself.

    The folks at Microsoft haven't responded to requests for help, so...
    anybody knows what's going on here, and how to fix this issue?

    TIA

    Tom Young

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    Jon Guest

    Re: Microsoft-supplied reg file hosed Help and Support

    If you right-click the 2 .reg files, choose edit and paste their contents
    into this thread, then someone may be able to advise further.

    --
    Jon


    "TomYoung" <tgyoung@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:cf1bdd5c-d7cf-4745-b51a-436265a0e6ee@xxxxxx

    > Hi:
    >
    > I didn't like the result of SP1 removing the "Search" command on the
    > start menu, so I emailed Microsoft. They sent me two reg files -
    > "Search" and "RestoreHelpandSupport" - and told me that importing the
    > Search reg file would restore the Search command to the Start menu,
    > while the RestoreHelpandSupport reg file would undo the effects of the
    > Search reg file.
    >
    > I ran the Search reg file and didn't like the results: Search was
    > there as a command but Help and Support wasn't, and if I typed "Help"
    > in the "Start Search" box on the Start menu "Help and Support" was the
    > first program listed but clicking on it brought up the Search program,
    > not the Help and Support program.
    >
    > So, I ran the RestoreHelpandSupport reg file and now the Help and
    > Support command is back on the Start menu, but clicking on the command
    > does exactly nothing. Right clicking on the Help and Support command
    > on the Start menu only brings up the title "Help and Support."
    > Resting the mouse cursor on the Help and Support command brings up the
    > tool tips ("Find help topics, tutorials...") and the icon at the top
    > of the Start menu changes to the Question mark. But I can't get into
    > "Help and Support." It's as if most of the attributes of the Help and
    > Support command *were* restored, just not a pointer to the program
    > itself.
    >
    > The folks at Microsoft haven't responded to requests for help, so...
    > anybody knows what's going on here, and how to fix this issue?
    >
    > TIA
    >
    > Tom Young

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    TomYoung Guest

    Re: Microsoft-supplied reg file hosed Help and Support

    Good idea. Here's the contents of the two files:

    Contents of Search reg file
    ------------------------------------------
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}]

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}]
    @="Search..."
    "InfoTip"="@explorer.exe,-7000"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-
    bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\DefaultIcon]
    @=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,
    00,74,00,25,\
    00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,
    00,69,00,6d,00,\
    61,00,67,00,65,00,72,00,65,00,73,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,
    00,31,\
    00,37,00,37,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-
    bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\InProcServer32]
    @=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,
    00,74,00,25,\
    00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,
    00,73,00,68,00,\
    64,00,6f,00,63,00,76,00,77,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,00,00
    "ThreadingModel"="Apartment"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-
    bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\Instance]
    "CLSID"="{3f454f0e-42ae-4d7c-8ea3-328250d6e272}"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-
    bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\Instance\InitPropertyBag]
    "CLSID"="{13709620-C279-11CE-A49E-444553540000}"
    "command"="@shell32.dll,-12708"
    "method"="ShellExecute"
    "Param1"="search:"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\shellex
    \ContextMenuHandlers\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}]

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\shellex
    \MayChangeDefaultMenu]

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-
    bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\ShellFolder]
    "Attributes"=dword:00000000

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer
    \StartMenu\StartPanel\ShowHelp]
    "Text"="Search"



    Contents of RestoreHelpandSupport reg file
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}]
    @="Help and Support"
    "LocalizedString"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,
    00,52,00,\
    6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,65,00,78,00,70,00,6c,00,6f,
    00,72,00,65,00,72,\
    00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,2c,00,2d,00,37,00,30,00,32,00,31,00,00,00
    "InfoTip"="@explorer.exe,-7001"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-
    bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\DefaultIcon]
    @=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,
    00,74,00,25,\
    00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,
    00,69,00,6d,00,\
    61,00,67,00,65,00,72,00,65,00,73,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,
    00,39,\
    00,39,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-
    bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\InProcServer32]
    @=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,
    00,74,00,25,\
    00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,
    00,73,00,68,00,\
    64,00,6f,00,63,00,76,00,77,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,00,00
    "ThreadingModel"="Apartment"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-
    bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\Instance]
    "CLSID"="{3f454f0e-42ae-4d7c-8ea3-328250d6e272}"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-
    bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\Instance\InitPropertyBag]
    "CLSID"="{13709620-C279-11CE-A49E-444553540000}"
    "command"="@shell32.dll,-12709"
    "method"="Help"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-
    bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\shellex]

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\shellex
    \ContextMenuHandlers]

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\shellex
    \ContextMenuHandlers\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}]

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\shellex
    \MayChangeDefaultMenu]

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-
    bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\ShellFolder]
    "Attributes"=dword:00000000

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer
    \StartMenu\StartPanel\ShowHelp]
    "Type"="checkbox"
    "Text"="@shell32.dll,-30489"
    "HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
    "RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\
    \Advanced"
    "ValueName"="Start_ShowHelp"
    "CheckedValue"=dword:00000001
    "UncheckedValue"=dword:00000000
    "DefaultValue"=dword:00000001

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer
    \StartMenu\StartPanel\ShowHelp\Policy]

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer
    \StartMenu\StartPanel\ShowHelp\Policy\NoSMHelp]


    Anybody able to read these and see what's going on?

    Tom Young



    On Apr 24, 7:30 am, "Jon" <Email_Addr...@xxxxxx> wrote:

    > If you right-click the 2 .reg files, choose edit and paste their contents
    > into this thread, then someone may be able to advise further.
    >
    > --
    > Jon
    >
    > "TomYoung" <tgyo...@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    >
    > news:cf1bdd5c-d7cf-4745-b51a-436265a0e6ee@xxxxxx
    >

    > > Hi:
    >

    > > I didn't like the result of SP1 removing the "Search" command on the
    > > start menu, so I emailed Microsoft. They sent me two reg files -
    > > "Search" and "RestoreHelpandSupport" - and told me that importing the
    > > Search reg file would restore the Search command to the Start menu,
    > > while the RestoreHelpandSupport reg file would undo the effects of the
    > > Search reg file.
    >

    > > I ran the Search reg file and didn't like the results: Search was
    > > there as a command but Help and Support wasn't, and if I typed "Help"
    > > in the "Start Search" box on the Start menu "Help and Support" was the
    > > first program listed but clicking on it brought up the Search program,
    > > not the Help and Support program.
    >

    > > So, I ran the RestoreHelpandSupport reg file and now the Help and
    > > Support command is back on the Start menu, but clicking on the command
    > > does exactly nothing. Right clicking on the Help and Support command
    > > on the Start menu only brings up the title "Help and Support."
    > > Resting the mouse cursor on the Help and Support command brings up the
    > > tool tips ("Find help topics, tutorials...") and the icon at the top
    > > of the Start menu changes to the Question mark. But I can't get into
    > > "Help and Support." It's as if most of the attributes of the Help and
    > > Support command *were* restored, just not a pointer to the program
    > > itself.
    >

    > > The folks at Microsoft haven't responded to requests for help, so...
    > > anybody knows what's going on here, and how to fix this issue?
    >

    > > TIA
    >

    > > Tom Young

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    Jon Guest

    Re: Microsoft-supplied reg file hosed Help and Support

    Yeah, that's a bit sloppy. The problem is that the first .reg file adds
    registry settings that the restoration one doesn't remove.



    Try adding the following line to the beginning of RestoreHelpandSupport.reg

    [-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}]


    ie after the initial "Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00", so that it
    instead starts


    ;---------------------------------
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00


    [-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}]


    ;---------------------------------


    --
    Jon


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  5. #5


    TomYoung Guest

    Re: Microsoft-supplied reg file hosed Help and Support

    On Apr 24, 8:15 pm, "Jon" <Email_Addr...@xxxxxx> wrote:

    > Yeah, that's a bit sloppy. The problem is that the first .reg file adds
    > registry settings that the restoration one doesn't remove.
    >
    > Try adding the following line to the beginning of RestoreHelpandSupport.reg
    >
    > [-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}]
    >
    > ie after the initial "Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00", so that it
    > instead starts
    >
    > ;---------------------------------
    > Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
    >
    > [-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}]
    >
    > ;---------------------------------
    >
    > --
    > Jon
    Thanks, I'll give it a try. But, just to make sure I've understanding
    what you're saying: that line goes in *front* of everything that's
    there, not as a substitution?

    Tom Young

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  6. #6


    Jon Guest

    Re: Microsoft-supplied reg file hosed Help and Support

    "TomYoung" <tgyoung@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:a9bcf816-c094-4d35-9f33-b93827240d12@xxxxxx

    >> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
    >>
    >> [-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}]

    > Thanks, I'll give it a try. But, just to make sure I've understanding
    > what you're saying: that line goes in *front* of everything that's
    > there, not as a substitution?

    Yes, that's correct. In front of everything except for the line

    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00


    When done, it should start in exactly the same way as the first of those two
    ..reg files, Search.reg - You'll notice that that's how that .reg file
    starts.

    It's essentially to ensure the removal of the value key 'Param1' at

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\Instance\InitPropertyBag


    which is in the first .reg file as


    "Param1"="search:"

    and remains even after running the restoration .reg file, so you could also
    potentially also just remove that manually using regedit.


    --
    Jon




      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  7. #7


    TomYoung Guest

    Re: Microsoft-supplied reg file hosed Help and Support

    On Apr 26, 1:18 pm, "Jon" <Email_Addr...@xxxxxx> wrote:

    > "TomYoung" <tgyo...@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    >
    > news:a9bcf816-c094-4d35-9f33-b93827240d12@xxxxxx
    >

    > >> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
    >

    > >> [-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}]
    > > Thanks, I'll give it a try. But, just to make sure I've understanding
    > > what you're saying: that line goes in *front* of everything that's
    > > there, not as a substitution?
    >
    > Yes, that's correct. In front of everything except for the line
    >
    > Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
    >
    > When done, it should start in exactly the same way as the first of those two
    > .reg files, Search.reg - You'll notice that that's how that .reg file
    > starts.
    >
    > It's essentially to ensure the removal of the value key 'Param1' at
    >
    > HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\Instance\InitPropertyBag
    >
    > which is in the first .reg file as
    >
    > "Param1"="search:"
    >
    > and remains even after running the restoration .reg file, so you could also
    > potentially also just remove that manually using regedit.
    Jon:

    That worked like a charm and Help and Support is back!

    Thanks very much for your assistance.

    Tom Young

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

SP1: Microsoft-supplied reg file hosed Help and Support

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