Help & Support and System Restore

[Nichole Duran]

Problem Description: Windows can not find help and
support. From my start menu, I get an error that reads:
*** WINDOWS CANNOT FIND 'HELPCTR.EXE'. MAKE SURE YOU
TYPED THE NAME CORRECTLY AND THEN TRY AGAIN. TO SEARCH
FOR A FILE, CLICK THE START BUTTON, AND THEN CLICK
SEARCH. ***
I tried to search, but it wasn't found.
From the control panel, under performance and
maintenance, I get the following error while trying to
access help and support:
*** WINDOWS CANNOT FIND
'HCP:SERVICES/SUBSITE?
NODE=UNMAPPED/CONTROL_PANEL&TOPIC=MS-ITS%3A%
25HELP_LOCATION%25%5CHS.CHM%3A%
3A/HS_CONTROL_PANEL.HTM&SELECT=UNMAPPED/CONTOL_PANEL/PERFO
RMANCE_AND_MAINTENANCE'. MAKE SURE YOU TYPED THE NAME
CORRECTLY AND THEN TRY AGAIN. TO SEARCH FOR A FILE, CLICK
THE START BUTTON, AND THEN CLICK SEARCH. ***
Any help is welcome! Thank you in advanced.

 

[Kath Adams]

Problem Description: Windows can not find help and
support. From my start menu, I get an error that reads:
*** WINDOWS CANNOT FIND 'HELPCTR.EXE'. MAKE SURE YOU
TYPED THE NAME CORRECTLY AND THEN TRY AGAIN. TO SEARCH
FOR A FILE, CLICK THE START BUTTON, AND THEN CLICK
SEARCH. ***
I tried to search, but it wasn't found.
From the control panel, under performance and
maintenance, I get the following error while trying to
access help and support:
*** WINDOWS CANNOT FIND
'HCP:SERVICES/SUBSITE?
NODE=UNMAPPED/CONTROL_PANEL&TOPIC=MS-ITS%3A%
25HELP_LOCATION%25%5CHS.CHM%3A%
3A/HS_CONTROL_PANEL.HTM&SELECT=UNMAPPED/CONTOL_PANEL/PERFO
RMANCE_AND_MAINTENANCE'. MAKE SURE YOU TYPED THE NAME
CORRECTLY AND THEN TRY AGAIN. TO SEARCH FOR A FILE, CLICK
THE START BUTTON, AND THEN CLICK SEARCH. ***
Any help is welcome! Thank you in advanced.

Check out the third one down at this page, and then run the script.
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top10faqs.htm

 

[Kelly]

Caps are not needed here!

This post has become rather common as of late. Did this happen after users
sypware cleaners?

If not, perhaps you need to do so now:
http://www.securiteam.com/windowsntfocus/6Q00K0K5SI.html

In the meantime:

Helpctr.exe not responding - Go to Start/Run and type in: Helpctr.exe. For
some users this has restored the functionality in the Start Menu. If not:
Go to Start/Run and type in: helpctr -regserver

If the above didn't help:

Check your settings here: Go to Start/Run/Regedit and navigate to this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session
Manager\Environment

In the right pane if windir is listed under type as REG_SZ, it needs to be
changed to REG_EXPAND_SZ, Value Data: C\Windows.

If this is the case:

Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session
Manager\Environment

Right click on Environment, then choose Export, name it and save it. Then
go to the right pane, right click in an empty area and choose New/Expandable
String Value. Name it windir. Then double click it and under Value data,
type in: C:\WINDOWS

From there, right click and delete the windir which type was listed as
REG_SZ then hit refresh (F5).

Help, CHM, HH Checker/Fixer (Line 141)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

 

[Nichole Durna]

I have tried both of these suggestions, however it
didn't help. Thanks anyway.

 

[Kelly]

Clean your system.