"Action Canceled" when attempting to view help pages from server

[Guest]

Chm files are imbedded in our applications, which are accessed on the server.
When I open the file (which I can do), There's an "Action Canceled" message
where the topics should be. I can see the TOC, and the Index, and those work
- I just can't view the pages themselved.

I just installed XP updates today, so I'm guessing that's what's causing
this - how do I fix it?

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

Usually, a CHM file error is due to a corrupt 'HH.EXE', Running MSCONFIG.EXE would show you an "Expand File" button, which you could
use to repair HH.EXE

 

[kwstroud]

Chm files are imbedded in our applications, which are accessed on the
server.
When I open the file (which I can do), There's an "Action Canceled"
message
where the topics should be. I can see the TOC, and the Index, and
those work
- I just can't view the pages themselved.

I just installed XP updates today, so I'm guessing that's what's
causing
this - how do I fix it?

The same thing is happening with our help files stored on a server. A
temporary fix is to copy the file you are trying to access to your
desktop, or anywhere local -- you will then be able to open it. Let me
know if you figure out a permanent fix.

 

[Guest]

We too are getting this error on our CHM files on network drives. Works OK on
local drive.

I believe it is related to a Windows update and not to a corrupt HH.EXE.

Have searched the web high and low and MS knowledgebase but no solution
found yet.

Hopefully someone within Microsoft will let us know what the fix is.

Regards

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Sentinel7,

Recent security update causes this. See:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896905
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892675

 

[Guest]

Hi,

Thanks for this.

But, we had previously reviewed these 2 kb items. Implemented and still have
same problem. Although kb http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892675 seems to
relate to http urls in the UrlAllowList registry setting. How does one put in
details about UNC paths on our network?

Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Hi again,

Finally solved the problem.

Our shares are using DFS, so we connect using a UNC of \\xyz.com.au\Data.
This means that in IE the share is put into the Internet zone by default and
not the Local Intranet zone.

If I change the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x\ItssRestrictions\MaxAllowedZone
key to 3 or higher, then the CHM file displays correctly. But this defeats
the purpose of the security update. A better way was to add the site
file://\\xyz.com.au\Data to the Local Intranet zone.

Now it all works.

Relevant KB articles:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896054/
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/174360/

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Glad you got it working, Sentinel7.