Missing .exe file

[Guest]

I don't know how it's happened, but somehow the file helpctr.exe(Start/Help
and support) has been deleted from my system. I'm just wondering if anyone
knows of a way I can get this file without needing to reinstall Windows XP.
If anyone could direct me to somewhere to download it, that would be awesome.
Many thanks.

 

[Peter Foldes]

You can use Msconfig\General\Expand Files and extract it from you Windows XP
CD

 

[Guest]

I don't have a Windows XP CD though, it came with the OS already on and the
place I bought it from doesn't give out XP CD's with their computers.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Are you sure that helpctr.exe is gone completely?

helpctr.exe lives here...
C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries
and here...
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache

The dllcache folder is a hidden folder.

Do a Search on your machine if/when you find helpctr.exe, copy it from
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache
and paste it into
C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries

HOW TO: Search For Hidden Or System Files In Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302347

To display hidden files and folders
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...oductdoc/en/win_fcab_show_file_extensions.asp

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

Does anyone else have any ideas?

 

[Guest]

Thanks Wesley - I did everything you said and could find no sign of the dll
cache folder. Numerous searches(with view hidden folders on etc) didn't turn
it up either. Are you sure this is the folder you meant?

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

It'd be illegal to sell a system with WinXP preinstalled and not provide
some means of recovery, though this does not necessarily mean you get a CD,
sometimes it's a recovery partition. Often, with these types of systems, you
will find the original system files in an I386 folder hidden on the hard
drive. If this is the case, you need to expand the file from there. It's not
one you can download.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

I don't have a Windows XP CD though, it came with the OS already on

Search your drive/s for the file "helpctr.exe". When found, just copy
that file to the folder %WINDIR%\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Binaries.
If that file isn't present, search for the file "helpctr.ex_".
Expand that file in the command prompt window and move to the target
folder as mentioned above.

and the place I bought it from doesn't give out XP CD's with their
computers.

The best reason to buy a new computer somewhere else in the future.

 

[Guest]

I know how to open the command prompt window, but have absoloutely no idea
how to expand a file from there. Can anyone give me some directions on this?

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Have you searched for helpctr.* yet? First do that, then post back with the
file extension and what folder you found it in. Then I can give you the
right instructions.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

Yes, it finds a bunch of different helpctr files, I wish I could paste up the
results but I think the most notable places where the files are, are the
following:-

C:\WINDOWS\I386
C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\BINARIES

I know the second one is where it is supposed to be but when clicking on it
I get the message:-

'Windows cannot open Help and Support because a system service is not
running, to fix this problem start the service named help and support".

I've been trying lots of stuff to fix this virtually all day and I don't
seem to be getting the error message asking for that specific helpctr.exe
file now. Don't ask me why though, I can barely keep track of all the things
I've tried from searching on google and forums etc LOL. I look forward to
your instructions Rick - many thanks for your help.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Click start/run, type cmd and click ok. Then type:

net start helpsvc

and hit <enter>. See if the service starts. If so, then retry opening Help
and Support.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

Yes, it finds a bunch of different helpctr files, I wish I could paste up
the
results but I think the most notable places where the files are, are the
following:-

C:\WINDOWS\I386
C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\BINARIES

I know the second one is where it is supposed to be but when clicking on
it
I get the message:-

'Windows cannot open Help and Support because a system service is not
running, to fix this problem start the service named help and support".

I've been trying lots of stuff to fix this virtually all day and I don't
seem to be getting the error message asking for that specific helpctr.exe
file now. Don't ask me why though, I can barely keep track of all the
things
I've tried from searching on google and forums etc LOL. I look forward to
your instructions Rick - many thanks for your help.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Rick - I tried it to no avail, I got this error message:-

"The executable program that this service is configured to run in does not
implement the service"

I've tore my hair out all day with this, I think I may just resign myself to
the fact I'm not gonna be using help and support again LOL. I've tried
absoloutely everything to no avail.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Did the service start ok from the net start prompt?

Start/run services.msc, scroll down to Help and Support and double click it.
Go to the recovery tab and set the first one to retry starting it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

Hi again Rick - no it doesn't start, I get the error message stated in my
above post. There seems to be no way of fixing this at all.

 

[HeeroYuy]

Hi again Rick - no it doesn't start, I get the error message stated in my
above post. There seems to be no way of fixing this at all.

You can contact your PC manufacturer and order backup recovery CD's, though
they are going to be exactly the same as the recovery partition on your HDD.
What you can do (if your computer is HP-Compaq) is run the basic recovery,
avoiding the "advanced options" button altogether. This will layer their
copy over what you have, effectively writing over your copy of Windows and
any bundled software. You'll need to reinstall your other programs, but your
documents and other file saves won't be affected. Help & Support should work
after that whole shabang.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Liam,

Quite the conundrum. Start/run services.msc, double click the Help and
Support service. Go to the logon tab, make sure that it is set to logon as
the "local user account" and not a specific user account. You do not need to
allow it to interact with the desktop. Also make sure the RPC service is
running (this service depends on RPC running).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org