Help and Support wont run

[Guest]

I recently experienced a blue screen error, PC rebooted itself (Lifeview TV
card driver problem) but I have lost all but one of my Outlook Express
folders and Help and Support (cannot run H & S because a system service is
not running) so I cant use System restore. I tried a previous fix on the
forum but running (helpctr -regserver) gave no response although the other 3
commands did.

 

[Guest]

Hi,

Click Start. Choose Run. In the Run box, type services.msc.
Click OK.
Double-click ‘Help and Support’ Service and click Start. Ensure that the
startup type is Automatic.

Regards,

“Arun Aluvilaâ€

 

[Guest]

Help and Support doesn't appear on the services list

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Try the 3rd FAQ section here:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top10faqs.htm

Courtesy MVP Kelly. On system restore, click start/run and enter this in the
box:

%windir%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

Then click ok, this should launch the application.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Click start/run, type cmd and click ok. From the prompt, run:

net start helpsvc

What happens?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

Thanks
This is what happened
"The service name is invalid" "More help is available by typing net helpmsg
2185"
I tried typing this and,
"Service invalid, you tried to start a service that is not configured on
this system"

 

[Guest]

Still struggling here!
Following step 3, I type "cd/d c\pchealth/helpctr" in command window
"Can't find the path specified"
Is my punctuation wrong
Luck doesn't seem to be with me today!

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

You have the command wrong, try:

cd %windir%\pchealth\helpctr

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

Ok Rick , I've tried that but still "the system cannot find the specified path"

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Jim,

From the command prompt, run these in succession:

cd \windows
cd pchealth
cd helpctr

Exactly as shown and don't miss the space after cd. Which one fails?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

Ok Rick, I tried a fix from Ramesh's site prior to this with no luck but
following your instructions all commands have executed.Click on Help and
support still says cannot find helpctr.exe

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Jim,

Ok, that just means the directory is valid, but helpctr.exe may still be
damaged. Retry the steps on Kelly's page:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top10faqs.htm

But in step "b", use this:

cd \windows\pchealth\helpctr

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

Ok Rick we're slowly advancing here! When I enter "rd packagestore /s /q" I
get " the system cannot find the file specified".
Jim

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Jim,

That's ok, it just means it doesn't exist and that command is designed to
remove it anyways. Just continue on to the next step.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

Ok Rick, tried that, been through the whole instruction, "The help and
Support service was started successfully"
Click on Help and Support I still get error "Windows cannot find helpctr.exe
I really appreciate your help
Jim

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Jim,

Open Windows Explorer to:

C:\Windows\pchealth\helpctr\binaries and see if the file is in there. If it
is just under \helpctr, then it needs to be moved.

Also, check this registry entry (click start/run, type regedit and click ok,
then expand the plus (+) signs):

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App
Paths\HELPCTR.EXE

Make sure the "default" value data in the right pane reads (double click it
to see what it contains):

C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe

If not, change it to match.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

You appear to be on the right track here Rick.The file is present in binaries
but not in the registry. I'm getting excited now!
Jim

 

[Guest]

I dont know if my little knowledge has proved dangerous or not. I've added
the registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App
Paths\HELPCTR.EXE
value C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe

When I click H&S now I don't get an error message but I dont get Help and
support or anything else either!

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

The string value should be named (default), change it if not. Also check the
binaries folder and double click helpctr.exe, does this open it?

No error message means that we have fixed the path, but something else is
now blocking it. Have you completed running through the steps from Kelly's
site?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

Sorry Rick,
String value is, Name default, Type REG_SZ, Path
C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe
I have tried click in binaries folder, no response at all!
I've completed Kellys page as well.
Is a repair install looking to be the next step? if so how easy or
alternative to format and reinstall? XP SP2
Jim