System Info; Msinfo32.exe; XP Sp 2

[Guest]

I have Xp Home Edition Sp 2.

I recently noticed that System Information (or Msinfo32.exe) doesn't 'run'
when activated; rather "Help & Support" is launched. It used to work OK.

A quick search of websites suggests the problem is a deleted 'index.dat'
file contained in a sub-folder of 'WINDOWS/PCHEALTH'. The only suggested fix
I can see is a clean re-install of Xp.

Is this missing index.dat file really the cause of the problem ? If so, is a
clean re-install the only fix (or can I get an appropriate generic index.dat
file from somewhere ?) ?

Or,.... is the problem to do with Sp 2 ?

I would welcome advice.

Many Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Try typing in run:Msinfo32 If it doesnt as Msinfo32.exe wont,then install
xp cd,exit the info page,then go run,type:cmd In cmd type:Sfc /Scannow.

 

[Guest]

Thanks but, running Msinfo32.exe at cmd, doesn't run System Info - it runs
Help & Support instead. sfc/scannow hasn't helped.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Same answer as in

microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain

First. Set Hidden files and folders to display.

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab
Check:
Display the contents of system folders
Show hidden files and folders
UNCheck:
Hide protected operating system files
Apply | OK

[[Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not
typical items.]]

Second. Paste this in the Start | Run box...

C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\OfflineCache

Click OK.

Look for a file called index.dat. Is one there? If not, remove the 123
from my E-mail address and E-mail me I'll send you a copy of the index.dat
file.

Or if you like get a copy from a friend.

There a work arounds, but you are probably missing
C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\OfflineCache\index.dat

I fixed this on my machine a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Guest]

Wesley

Thanks for your response - there is no 'index.dat' file - I'll email to get
a copy.

Same answer as in

microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain

First. Set Hidden files and folders to display.

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab
Check:
 Display the contents of system folders
 Show hidden files and folders
UNCheck:
 Hide protected operating system files
Apply | OK

[[Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not
typical items.]]

Second. Paste this in the Start | Run box...

C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\OfflineCache

Click OK.

Look for a file called index.dat. Is one there? If not, remove the 123
from my E-mail address and E-mail me I'll send you a copy of the index.dat
file.

Or if you like get a copy from a friend.

There a work arounds, but you are probably missing
C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\OfflineCache\index.dat

I fixed this on my machine a couple of weeks ago.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In

Thanks but, running Msinfo32.exe at cmd, doesn't run System Info -
it runs Help & Support instead. sfc/scannow hasn't helped.

 

[Guest]

Wesley

Many thanks for the 'index.dat' file - it completely solves the problem !

Wesley

Thanks for your response - there is no 'index.dat' file - I'll email to get
a copy.

Same answer as in

microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain

First. Set Hidden files and folders to display.

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab
Check:
 Display the contents of system folders
 Show hidden files and folders
UNCheck:
 Hide protected operating system files
Apply | OK

[[Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not
typical items.]]

Second. Paste this in the Start | Run box...

C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\OfflineCache

Click OK.

Look for a file called index.dat. Is one there? If not, remove the 123
from my E-mail address and E-mail me I'll send you a copy of the index.dat
file.

Or if you like get a copy from a friend.

There a work arounds, but you are probably missing
C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\OfflineCache\index.dat

I fixed this on my machine a couple of weeks ago.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In

Thanks but, running Msinfo32.exe at cmd, doesn't run System Info -
it runs Help & Support instead. sfc/scannow hasn't helped.

:

Try typing in run:Msinfo32 If it doesnt as Msinfo32.exe wont,then
install xp cd,exit the info page,then go run,type:cmd In cmd
type:Sfc /Scannow.


:

I have Xp Home Edition Sp 2.

I recently noticed that System Information (or Msinfo32.exe)
doesn't 'run' when activated; rather "Help & Support" is launched.
It used to work OK.

A quick search of websites suggests the problem is a deleted
'index.dat' file contained in a sub-folder of 'WINDOWS/PCHEALTH'.
The only suggested fix I can see is a clean re-install of Xp.

Is this missing index.dat file really the cause of the problem ? If
so, is a clean re-install the only fix (or can I get an appropriate
generic index.dat file from somewhere ?) ?

Or,.... is the problem to do with Sp 2 ?

I would welcome advice.

Many Thanks.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

I love it whan a plan comes together.

Keep having fun!

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Wesley

Many thanks for the 'index.dat' file - it completely solves the
problem !

Wesley

Thanks for your response - there is no 'index.dat' file - I'll email
to get a copy.

Same answer as in

microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain

First. Set Hidden files and folders to display.

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab
Check:
 Display the contents of system folders
 Show hidden files and folders
UNCheck:
 Hide protected operating system files
Apply | OK

[[Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are
not typical items.]]

Second. Paste this in the Start | Run box...

C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\OfflineCache

Click OK.

Look for a file called index.dat. Is one there? If not, remove
the 123 from my E-mail address and E-mail me I'll send you a copy
of the index.dat file.

Or if you like get a copy from a friend.

There a work arounds, but you are probably missing
C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\OfflineCache\index.dat

I fixed this on my machine a couple of weeks ago.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In englishman <[email protected]> hunted and pecked:
Thanks but, running Msinfo32.exe at cmd, doesn't run System Info
- it runs Help & Support instead. sfc/scannow hasn't helped.

:

Try typing in run:Msinfo32 If it doesnt as Msinfo32.exe
wont,then install xp cd,exit the info page,then go run,type:cmd
In cmd type:Sfc /Scannow.


:

I have Xp Home Edition Sp 2.

I recently noticed that System Information (or Msinfo32.exe)
doesn't 'run' when activated; rather "Help & Support" is
launched. It used to work OK.

A quick search of websites suggests the problem is a deleted
'index.dat' file contained in a sub-folder of 'WINDOWS/PCHEALTH'.
The only suggested fix I can see is a clean re-install of Xp.

Is this missing index.dat file really the cause of the problem ?
If so, is a clean re-install the only fix (or can I get an
appropriate generic index.dat file from somewhere ?) ?

Or,.... is the problem to do with Sp 2 ?

I would welcome advice.

Many Thanks.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Wesley Vogel posted this message (with index.dat attachment) recently:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/[email protected]
(Paste that link in Start, Run)

Alternately, a complete rebuild of Help Center
(http://www.geocities.com/marfer_mvp/Helpfix.txt) restores the index.dat.

--
Ramesh, Windows XP MVP
http://windowsxp.mvps.org

Hi Wesley & Englishman

I was searching the net with regard to the missing pchealth index.dat
file and came accross what you guys had posted. I (stupidly) went ahead
and deleted all the index.dat files and as a consequence I no longer
have it. I performed the checks like you outlined Wesley but had no
luck in finding it. I would be very appreciative if either of you had
this file and could email it to me.

If your still out there, maybe you could post here or email me at
(e-mail address removed).

Many thanks in advance!

Wesley

Many thanks for the 'index.dat' file - it completely solves the problem
!



:
-
Wesley

Thanks for your response - there is no 'index.dat' file - I'll email
to get
a copy.



:
-
Same answer as in

microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain

First. Set Hidden files and folders to display.

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab
Check:
 Display the contents of system folders
 Show hidden files and folders
UNCheck:
 Hide protected operating system files
Apply | OK

[[Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are
not
typical items.]]

Second. Paste this in the Start | Run box...

C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\OfflineCache

Click OK.

Look for a file called index.dat. Is one there? If not, remove the
123
from my E-mail address and E-mail me I'll send you a copy of the
index.dat
file.

Or if you like get a copy from a friend.

There a work arounds, but you are probably missing
C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\OfflineCache\index.dat

I fixed this on my machine a couple of weeks ago.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In englishman (e-mail address removed) hunted and pecked:-
Thanks but, running Msinfo32.exe at cmd, doesn't run System Info
-
it runs Help & Support instead. sfc/scannow hasn't helped.

:

Try typing in run:Msinfo32 If it doesnt as Msinfo32.exe wont,then
install xp cd,exit the info page,then go run,type:cmd In cmd
type:Sfc /Scannow.


:

I have Xp Home Edition Sp 2.

I recently noticed that System Information (or Msinfo32.exe)
doesn't 'run' when activated; rather "Help & Support" is launched.
It used to work OK.

A quick search of websites suggests the problem is a deleted
'index.dat' file contained in a sub-folder of 'WINDOWS/PCHEALTH'.
The only suggested fix I can see is a clean re-install of Xp.

Is this missing index.dat file really the cause of the problem ? If
so, is a clean re-install the only fix (or can I get an appropriate
generic index.dat file from somewhere ?) ?

Or,.... is the problem to do with Sp 2 ?

I would welcome advice.

Many Thanks.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

You're welcome junglist!