Vista - Windows Help and Support not available anymore

I have Windows Vista Bussiness and since a couple of days I am not able to
use Windows Help in Vista. When I click within Vista on a link to see the
helpfiles I get this message:

'Internet Explorer can not download / from windows
Internet Explorer was not able to open this internetsite. The requested site
is either unavailable or cannot be found. Please try again later'

This situation last for several days now. I hope someone has a solution,
because it is annoying.

Lady Sita--

Try these:

1) System Restore to a point before this happened if you have a restore
point or points and try them all.

2) Run SFC (System File Checker) from an elevated command prompt. It
replaces files that are damaged with intact ones:

Start>right click cmd>run as admin>type at the prompt sfc /scannow.

3) You can run Startup Repair by putting your Vista DVD in after the
language screen in setup. You can also run System Restore from the same
location.

You run the startup repair tool this way:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm

Note The computer must be configured to start from a CD or from a DVD. For
information about how to configure the computer to start from a CD or from a
DVD, see the information that came with the computer.
2. Restart the computer. To do this, click Start, click the arrow next to
the Lock button, and then click Restart.

This usually means that you enter bios setup by whatever key or keys
(sometimes there is more than one key that will do it for your model--go to
pc manufacturer site) and configure CD to be first in the boot order.

See for ref:
Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

Note If you cannot restart the computer by using this method, use the power
button to turn off the computer. Then, turn the computer back on.

3. Set your language preference, and then click Next.

Note In most cases, the startup repair process starts automatically, and you
do not have the option to select it in the System Recovery Options menu.

4. Click Repair your computer.

5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click the operating system
that you want to repair, and then click Next.

6. In the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair to start the
repair process.

7. When the repair process is complete, click Finish.

Additional References for Startup Repair With Screenshots:

How to Use Startup Repair:

***Accessing Windows RE (Repair Environment):***

1) Insert Media into PC (the DVD you burned)

2) ***You will see on the Vista logo setup screen after lang. options in the
lower left corner, a link called "System Recovery Options."***

Screenshot: System Recovery Options (Lower Left Link)
http://blogs.itecn.net/photos/liuhui...4/500x375.aspx

Screenshot: (Click first option "Startup Repair"
http://www.leedesmond.com/images/img...SysRecOpt2.bmp

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm

3) Select your OS for repair.

4) Its been my experience that you can see some causes of the crash from
theWin RE feature:

You'll have a choice there of using:

1) Startup Repair
2) System Restore
3) Complete PC Restore


4) You can try this regedit:

Backup the registry by 1) setting a sytem restore point 2)
Start>run>regedit>File>Export>Whole Registry>Save to location of your
choice.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App
Paths\HELPCTR.EXE]
@="C:\\WINNT\\PCHealth\\HelpCtr\\Binaries\\HelpCtr.exe"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{8E82AD02-D1A3-11D2-9374-00C04F72DAF7}]
@="Help and Support Services: Upload Manager"
"AppID"="{8E82AD01-D1A3-11D2-9374-00C04F72DAF7}"
"ThreadingModel"="Both"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{8E82AD03-D1A3-11D2-9374-00C04F72DAF7}]
@="Help and Support Services: Connection State"
"AppID"="{8E82AD01-D1A3-11D2-9374-00C04F72DAF7}"
"ThreadingModel"="Both"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\helpsvc]
"Type"=dword:00000020
"Start"=dword:00000002
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"ImagePath"=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,\
00,76,00,63,00,68,00,6f,00,73,00,74,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,20,00,2d,00,\
6b,00,20,00,6e,00,65,00,74,00,73,00,76,00,63,00,73,00,00,00
"DisplayName"="Help and Support"
"DependOnService"=hex(7):52,00,50,00,43,00,53,00,53,00,00,00,00,00
"DependOnGroup"=hex(7):00,00
"ObjectName"="LocalSystem"
"Description"="Enables Help and Support Center to run on this computer. If
this service is stopped, Help and Support Center will be unavailable. If
this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will
fail to start."
"FailureActions"=hex:80,51,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,05,00,03,\
00,01,00,00,00,64,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,64,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,64,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\helpsvc\Parameters]
"ServiceDll"=hex(2):25,00,57,00,49,00,4e,00,44,00,49,00,52,00,25,00,5c,00,50,\
00,43,00,48,00,65,00,61,00,6c,00,74,00,68,00,5c,00,48,00,65,00,6c,00,70,00,\
43,00,74,00,72,00,5c,00,42,00,69,00,6e,00,61,00,72,00,69,00,65,00,73,00,5c,\
00,70,00,63,00,68,00,73,00,76,00,63,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\helpsvc\Security]
"Security"=hex:01,00,14,80,90,00,00,00,9c,00,00,00,14,00,00,00,30,00,00,00,02,\
00,1c,00,01,00,00,00,02,80,14,00,ff,01,0f,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,\
00,00,02,00,60,00,04,00,00,00,00,00,14,00,fd,01,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,\
05,12,00,00,00,00,00,18,00,ff,01,0f,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,05,20,00,00,00,\
20,02,00,00,00,00,14,00,8d,01,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,0b,00,00,00,00,\
00,18,00,fd,01,02,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,05,20,00,00,00,23,02,00,00,01,01,\
00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\helpsvc\Enum]
"0"="Root\\LEGACY_HELPSVC\\0000"
"Count"=dword:00000001
"NextInstance"=dword:00000001


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f1-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}]
@="Help and Support"
"LocalizedString"="@explorer.exe,-7021"
"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,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,00,68,00,\
65,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,32,00,34,\
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,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,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]
@=""

Good luck,

CH


"LadySita" <LadySita@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:91D77958-1588-4032-B23A-4F34A414B417@microsoft.com...
>I have Windows Vista Bussiness and since a couple of days I am not able to
> use Windows Help in Vista. When I click within Vista on a link to see the
> helpfiles I get this message:
>
> 'Internet Explorer can not download / from windows
> Internet Explorer was not able to open this internetsite. The requested
> site
> is either unavailable or cannot be found. Please try again later'
>
> This situation last for several days now. I hope someone has a solution,
> because it is annoying.
>
>
>
>

Also try typing "HelpPane.exe" in the run box without the quotes and see if
it brings up Help and Support.

There also is the same data base available at this web site:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...S/default.mspx

CH


"LadySita" <LadySita@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:91D77958-1588-4032-B23A-4F34A414B417@microsoft.com...
>I have Windows Vista Bussiness and since a couple of days I am not able to
> use Windows Help in Vista. When I click within Vista on a link to see the
> helpfiles I get this message:
>
> 'Internet Explorer can not download / from windows
> Internet Explorer was not able to open this internetsite. The requested
> site
> is either unavailable or cannot be found. Please try again later'
>
> This situation last for several days now. I hope someone has a solution,
> because it is annoying.
>
>
>
>

Additionally, I almost forgot this fix from Kristan Kenney that has been
successful on this group:

http://www.windows-now.com/blogs/kmk...d-support.aspx

Download the fix here:

http://www.chris123nt.com/guides/RTM...nd_Support.zip

Good luck,

CH

"LadySita" <LadySita@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:91D77958-1588-4032-B23A-4F34A414B417@microsoft.com...
>I have Windows Vista Bussiness and since a couple of days I am not able to
> use Windows Help in Vista. When I click within Vista on a link to see the
> helpfiles I get this message:
>
> 'Internet Explorer can not download / from windows
> Internet Explorer was not able to open this internetsite. The requested
> site
> is either unavailable or cannot be found. Please try again later'
>
> This situation last for several days now. I hope someone has a solution,
> because it is annoying.
>
>
>
>

And lastly or alternatively there is this, but several above should fix you:

There's a problem with your XML association. (Macromedia Dreamweaver
installed, by chance?).

Open Notepad and paste this text (courtesy of Kristan M. Kenney):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml]
@="xmlfile"
"Content Type"="text/xml"
"PerceivedType"="text"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml\OpenWithList]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml\OpenWithList\winword.exe]
@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml\PersistentHandler]
@="{7E9D8D44-6926-426F-AA2B-217A819A5CCE}"

Save it as FixHelp.reg, right-click it and choose Merge.

Note that you may be prompted for consent by UAC; click Continue.

CH



"LadySita" <LadySita@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:91D77958-1588-4032-B23A-4F34A414B417@microsoft.com...
>I have Windows Vista Bussiness and since a couple of days I am not able to
> use Windows Help in Vista. When I click within Vista on a link to see the
> helpfiles I get this message:
>
> 'Internet Explorer can not download / from windows
> Internet Explorer was not able to open this internetsite. The requested
> site
> is either unavailable or cannot be found. Please try again later'
>
> This situation last for several days now. I hope someone has a solution,
> because it is annoying.
>
>
>
>

Have you installed a program that changed the associated application for
..xml files recently?

Vista standard would be

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml]
@="xmlfile"
"Content Type"="text/xml"
"PerceivedType"="text"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml\OpenWithList]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml\OpenWithList\winword.exe]
@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml\PersistentHandler]
@="{7E9D8D44-6926-426F-AA2B-217A819A5CCE}"


Torsten
Microsoft MVP - SMS

Am Thu, 25 Jan 2007 02:36:31 -0500 schrieb Chad Harris:

> Also try typing "HelpPane.exe" in the run box without the quotes and see if
> it brings up Help and Support.
>
> There also is the same data base available at this web site:
>
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...S/default.mspx
>
> CH
>
>
> "LadySita" <LadySita@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:91D77958-1588-4032-B23A-4F34A414B417@microsoft.com...
>>I have Windows Vista Bussiness and since a couple of days I am not able to
>> use Windows Help in Vista. When I click within Vista on a link to see the
>> helpfiles I get this message:
>>
>> 'Internet Explorer can not download / from windows
>> Internet Explorer was not able to open this internetsite. The requested
>> site
>> is either unavailable or cannot be found. Please try again later'
>>
>> This situation last for several days now. I hope someone has a solution,
>> because it is annoying.
>>
>>
>>
>>

Torsten--

That was one of the options for fixing this I posted earlier.

Thanks,

CH

"Torsten [MVP]" <torsten.meringer@NOSPAM.web.de> wrote in message
news:1o8r54deevgil.14pki7arel44s.dlg@40tude.net...
> Have you installed a program that changed the associated application for
> .xml files recently?
>
> Vista standard would be
>
> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml]
> @="xmlfile"
> "Content Type"="text/xml"
> "PerceivedType"="text"
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml\OpenWithList]
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml\OpenWithList\winword.exe]
> @=""
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml\PersistentHandler]
> @="{7E9D8D44-6926-426F-AA2B-217A819A5CCE}"
>
>
> Torsten
> Microsoft MVP - SMS
>
> Am Thu, 25 Jan 2007 02:36:31 -0500 schrieb Chad Harris:
>
>> Also try typing "HelpPane.exe" in the run box without the quotes and see
>> if
>> it brings up Help and Support.
>>
>> There also is the same data base available at this web site:
>>
>> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...S/default.mspx
>>
>> CH
>>
>>
>> "LadySita" <LadySita@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:91D77958-1588-4032-B23A-4F34A414B417@microsoft.com...
>>>I have Windows Vista Bussiness and since a couple of days I am not able
>>>to
>>> use Windows Help in Vista. When I click within Vista on a link to see
>>> the
>>> helpfiles I get this message:
>>>
>>> 'Internet Explorer can not download / from windows
>>> Internet Explorer was not able to open this internetsite. The requested
>>> site
>>> is either unavailable or cannot be found. Please try again later'
>>>
>>> This situation last for several days now. I hope someone has a solution,
>>> because it is annoying.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>

Thank you so much for someone having this... I was going nuts why this was
not working..... It works and thanks you!!

"Chad Harris" wrote:

> And lastly or alternatively there is this, but several above should fix you:
>
> There's a problem with your XML association. (Macromedia Dreamweaver
> installed, by chance?).
>
> Open Notepad and paste this text (courtesy of Kristan M. Kenney):
>
> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml]
> @="xmlfile"
> "Content Type"="text/xml"
> "PerceivedType"="text"
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml\OpenWithList]
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml\OpenWithList\winword.exe]
> @=""
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml\PersistentHandler]
> @="{7E9D8D44-6926-426F-AA2B-217A819A5CCE}"
>
> Save it as FixHelp.reg, right-click it and choose Merge.
>
> Note that you may be prompted for consent by UAC; click Continue.
>
> CH
>
>
>
> "LadySita" <LadySita@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:91D77958-1588-4032-B23A-4F34A414B417@microsoft.com...
> >I have Windows Vista Bussiness and since a couple of days I am not able to
> > use Windows Help in Vista. When I click within Vista on a link to see the
> > helpfiles I get this message:
> >
> > 'Internet Explorer can not download / from windows
> > Internet Explorer was not able to open this internetsite. The requested
> > site
> > is either unavailable or cannot be found. Please try again later'
> >
> > This situation last for several days now. I hope someone has a solution,
> > because it is annoying.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>

YEAH!!!! This has driven me absolutely crazy for the last couple of days. I
had finally isolated the issue to dreamweaver (flash, fireworks, etc. don't
cause the problem. Getting help from anyone at microsoft?... not possible
right now. Anyway, thank you so much for letting us know how to resolve this
issue.

"Chris" wrote:

> Thank you so much for someone having this... I was going nuts why this was
> not working..... It works and thanks you!!
>
> "Chad Harris" wrote:
>
> > And lastly or alternatively there is this, but several above should fix you:
> >
> > There's a problem with your XML association. (Macromedia Dreamweaver
> > installed, by chance?).
> >
> > Open Notepad and paste this text (courtesy of Kristan M. Kenney):
> >
> > Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
> >
> > [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml]
> > @="xmlfile"
> > "Content Type"="text/xml"
> > "PerceivedType"="text"
> >
> > [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml\OpenWithList]
> >
> > [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml\OpenWithList\winword.exe]
> > @=""
> >
> > [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml\PersistentHandler]
> > @="{7E9D8D44-6926-426F-AA2B-217A819A5CCE}"
> >
> > Save it as FixHelp.reg, right-click it and choose Merge.
> >
> > Note that you may be prompted for consent by UAC; click Continue.
> >
> > CH
> >
> >
> >
> > "LadySita" <LadySita@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:91D77958-1588-4032-B23A-4F34A414B417@microsoft.com...
> > >I have Windows Vista Bussiness and since a couple of days I am not able to
> > > use Windows Help in Vista. When I click within Vista on a link to see the
> > > helpfiles I get this message:
> > >
> > > 'Internet Explorer can not download / from windows
> > > Internet Explorer was not able to open this internetsite. The requested
> > > site
> > > is either unavailable or cannot be found. Please try again later'
> > >
> > > This situation last for several days now. I hope someone has a solution,
> > > because it is annoying.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >

Very cool -- fixed that annoying problem!! Thank you very much!!
Regards, Clive

On Feb 1, 10:22 am, SR <S...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> YEAH!!!! This has driven me absolutely crazy for the last couple of days. I
> had finally isolated the issue to dreamweaver (flash, fireworks, etc. don't
> cause the problem. Gettinghelpfrom anyone at microsoft?...notpossible
> right now. Anyway, thank you so much for letting us know how to resolve this
> issue.
>
> "Chris" wrote:
> > Thank you so much for someone having this... I was going nuts why this was
> >notworking..... It works and thanks you!!
>
> > "Chad Harris" wrote:
>
> > > And lastly or alternatively there is this, but several above should fix you:
>
> > > There's a problem with your XML association. (Macromedia Dreamweaver
> > > installed, by chance?).
>
> > > Open Notepad and paste this text (courtesy of Kristan M. Kenney):
>
> > > Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
>
> > > [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml]
> > > @="xmlfile"
> > > "Content Type"="text/xml"
> > > "PerceivedType"="text"
>
> > > [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml\OpenWithList]
>
> > > [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml\OpenWithList\winword.exe]
> > > @=""
>
> > > [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml\PersistentHandler]
> > > @="{7E9D8D44-6926-426F-AA2B-217A819A5CCE}"
>
> > > Save it as FixHelp.reg, right-click it and choose Merge.
>
> > > Note that you may be prompted for consent by UAC; click Continue.
>
> > > CH
>
> > > "LadySita" <LadyS...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > >news:91D77958-1588-4032-B23A-4F34A414B417@microsoft.com...
> > > >I have Windows Vista Bussiness and since a couple of days I amnotable to
> > > > use WindowsHelpin Vista. When I click within Vista on a link to see the
> > > > helpfiles I get this message:
>
> > > > 'Internet Explorer cannotdownload / from windows
> > > > Internet Explorer wasnotable to open this internetsite. The requested
> > > > site
> > > > is either unavailable or cannot be found. Please try again later'
>
> > > > This situation last for several days now. I hope someone has a solution,
> > > > because it is annoying.