Chris,
help files of older applications don't work. Links throw
errors. A significant problem as no one supplies a manual
with thier software anymore. All links that bomb are
javascript. Have already reinstalled windows script 5.x.
The problem you've described sounds like the one documented in
Microsoft Knowledge Base article 822989, in which case Critical Update
811630 should sort it out.
822989:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=822989
811630:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811630
If this doesn't fix the problem, here are some things to try:
1) Use MJ's Help Diagnostics to check that all the components used to
view help files are properly installed and registered.
http://helpware.net/downloads/index.htm#MJs
(The only section of the MJ's Help Report that is relevant to your
problem is the one headed "HTML Help Run-time Components".)
2) Delete or rename the file hh.dat, which you should find in this
subdirectory:
\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data\Microsoft\HTML
Help
The hh.dat file stores user-specific information on all the HTML Help
files on your system (favourite topics, changes that you've made to
the size and position of a help window, etc.), and can cause the files
to
misbehave if it has somehow been corrupted. Windows will create a new
version of hh.dat when you next open any .chm file.
3) Empty your Temporary Internet Files (TIF) directory. A full TIF
directory can cause HTML Help files to misbehave.
4) See the following pages for further guidance on how to resolve help
problems in Windows XP:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_h.htm
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/fixwinxphelp.htm