links in help

[Guest]

If I understand correctly, this issue occures when the SP2 pack is installed.
The result when clicking on help online links is an empty red x box.

Just to clarify, I have had the SP2 installed since it was first available,

and the result I get when I click "help online" links is an empty IE window,
but no red x.

So do you think this is in fact the same issue? It sounded close, but maybe
not the same?

Certain updates from Microsoft set "Kill-bit" for the Help HTML ActiveX
control, thereby preventing it from loading. This results in the blank Help
and Support Center Index.

Help and Support Center Index is blank with a Red X mark:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/helpctrindex.htm

How to help protect against the Internet Explorer Click and Scroll security
issue:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888534

Only way to resolve the problem is to remove the "Kill-bit" as discussed in
the above page, but that UNDOes the security update you installed.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


message This old thread applies to me, but I tried following your steps to find the
Active X and could not find it. I am not a technology expert whatsoever. I
have SP2, and am set to update automatically. I have been uninstalling
programs recently put into my system, etc...If I can't do this myself I am
not sure what to do.

Elvart,

My general advice is that you install SP2 (not for this particular problem
but my general advice), as it has many security enhancements.

To verify if an ActiveX Control is set the Kill-bit, open Regedit.exe and
navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX
Compatibility\{GUID}

See if the "Compatibility Flags" value is set to 400, in the right-pane.
If
so, that control is blocked for security purposes.

Where the {GUID}entries for Help Control are:

{ADB880A6-D8FF-11CF-9377-00AA003B7A11}
{41B23C28-488E-4E5C-ACE2-BB0BBABE99E8}

To remove the Kill-bit, backup the particular registry key and delete the
"Compatibility Flags" value. Restart Help and Support Center.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

The placeholder icon appears in the Help Center (Index) if the help control
is set Kill-bit.
[IMG: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/images/helpindex.JPG]

Is this the case in your system?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


message If I understand correctly, this issue occures when the SP2 pack is
installed.
The result when clicking on help online links is an empty red x box.

Just to clarify, I have had the SP2 installed since it was first available,

and the result I get when I click "help online" links is an empty IE window,
but no red x.

So do you think this is in fact the same issue? It sounded close, but maybe
not the same?

 

[Guest]

No. The help and support center opens uo fine. The only issue I have is help
links within programs not working. I click the link and get an empty IE
window. That's it.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Are they .chm files? Try opening the following file (type in Start, Run):

c:\windows\help\access.chm

Are you able to view the CHM contents?

See also:

Problems viewing CHM help files:
http://winonline.blogspot.com/2005/12/question-my-system-has-no.html

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


message No. The help and support center opens uo fine. The only issue I have is help
links within programs not working. I click the link and get an empty IE
window. That's it.