cannot open .chm files

[gmalavrazic]

Suddenly I cannot open .chm files (html compiled help). I have read some posts abot similar problems but neither was like mine.

I suspected on corrupted c:\winnt\hh.exe and c:\winnt\system32\hhctrl.ocx, so I applied service pack 4 again, but nothing happen. Still receive the following error message:

Cannot ope the file: mkMSITStore:C:\Winnt\Help\win_dos.chm

The last depends on chm file I want to open

 

[SaMaLaKo]

is the file association still correct?

--------------------------------------
Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs,
and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots.
So far, the Universe is winning.

 

[bcastner]

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=312456

 

[gmalavrazic]

The file association is ok:

"C:\WINNT\hh.exe" %1

also:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=312456

did'nt help! I wrote in my that I restored files c:\winnt\hh.exe and c:\winnt\system32\hhctrl.ocx

The problem also occurred when I try to open help in Microsoft Office, the help is empty.

 

[bcastner]

I wrote in my that I restored files c:\winnt\hh.exe and c:\winnt\system32\hhctrl.ocx" You wrote that you reapplied Service Pack 4, which is not the same thing as the issues discussed in the MS KB article.

In any case, you will have to make a registry edit to remove .CHM files from the unsafe file list:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;291369&Product=ie600

 

[semigod]

in all most all cases that I have run into this it is a problem with an install application regsvr32-ing another copy of the control. I spent 2 days tracking down this issue and was piss to discover I had 4 or 5 copies of this control all over the place. (Some even from other Microsoft application which ended up been the problem) if you regsvr32 /u c:\windows\system32\hhctrl.ocx and then regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\hhctrl.ocx your help system should work if not you will need to use a tool like COMX (COM explorer) and clear out all the BS or duplicates in the registry.

one of the quickest way to figure out if you have mutli copies of this DLL is to drop to a command prompt and run

dir hhctrl.ocx /s > helpfilelist.txt

now I did not delete any of the other copies but I just cleared them from the registry. Here is a list of the DLL and the OCX that the hh.exe uses. (the Q article is old and does not give you an updated version number) This is will all SPs and hotfixes applyed to an XP Pro system.

HHCTRL.OCX 5.02.3790.1280
ITSS.DLL 5.02.3790.1221
ITIRCL.DLL 5.02.3790.1159
HHA.DLL 4.74.8702.0