Help and Support issue Vista Bugs and Problems Discuss Help and Support issue in the Windows Vista forums; Guys... if you read the error... it isn't an internet connection issue... it is an internal o/s problem. So feverpitch, you can do 1 of 2 things; 1) ...

[crabby]

Guys... if you read the error... it isn't an internet connection issue... it is an internal o/s problem. So feverpitch, you can do 1 of 2 things;

1) Rewrite the closed source file!!!

2) Reinstall Vista.

You see the issue is actually because the 'home page' of help is lost!!! There is a syntax error in the opening browser file which cannot locate the help template, but you can't edit it so all you can do is replace it, and I have no way of finding what file it is here (xp all weekend and locked network rights)

Would now be a good time to say 5840 is out? And RTM will be out in a week?

crabby

[Davehc]

Wrong. If you selected the option to search help on line on access, then it will make the connection before doing anything else. If for any reason at all, it cannot make that connection, then the bug will stop it proceeding further. You can test this by either watching you router attempting access or running a monitor.

[felix8406]

You can try this:

1. Open IE7, click Tools and select Internet Options
2. Select the General tab, and below Browsing history click the Delete… button
3. On the Delete Browsing History window, for Temporary Internet Files click Delete Files…
4. Confirm your selection by clicking Yes
5. Close IE and see if you can access the Help and Support.
Hope this help, but either way come back to us and let us know whether it did or not. Good luck.

[Znod]

Originally Posted by Znod

Quoting myself: When I get desperate, I reinstall Vista from within Vista. Sometimes my problem gets fixed and sometimes it doesn't, but the procedure appears to be a very safe one--at least I have never had a problem using it.

Why not try this possible solution? It's so easy if it works. Just start the install within, go to Starbucks for a whatever, maybe go to the grocery store for a quick pick up, and then come back just in time to finish the installation up. Maybe the problem won't be gone, but what have you lost?

[felix8406]

Originally Posted by Znod

Why not try this possible solution? It's so easy if it works. Just start the install within, go to Starbucks for a whatever, maybe go to the grocery store for a quick pick up, and then come back just in time to finish the installation up. Maybe the problem won't be gone, but what have you lost?

Better yet, try my method and if it doesn't work then try the reinstal. I'm almost positive that a reinstall will solve the problem, unless there's a probem with the file. But it doesn't hurt to try my suggestion first.

[Znod]

Originally Posted by felix8406

Better yet, try my method and if it doesn't work then try the reinstal. I'm almost positive that a reinstall will solve the problem, unless there's a probem with the file. But it doesn't hurt to try my suggestion first.

I lost track of all the suggestions. But, if your's is short, easy, and safe, then by all means try if first.

[feverpitch]

Cool, just downloaded build 5840. Will do upgrade and see if that solves the problem.

I am assuming my RC1 licence keys(Microsoft gave me 2 for some reason) will work this release as well.

[Znod]

Hope it works. Upgrading should work as well as reinstalling from within--I guess.

[feverpitch]

Upgrade solved the problem. Certainly wouldn't want to have to do that too often though; It took alomost 2.5 hours for the process to complete.

Znod, just out of curiousity, how did you instigate the "repair" process? When I started the install i was only given options to fresh install or upgrade; nowhere did it show me any repair options.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[Znod]

Good deal feaverpitch. There are no software repair options. As I recall, there is a repair tab, or some such thing, but whatever it reveals is a waste from the perspective of problems like yours. As I recall, the "Repair" option let's you repair disk and maybe do a disk cleanup.

The ultimate repair, which requires no real knowledge of what the specific software problem is, is simply to reinstall the same version from within that version or to upgrade to a new version. Of course, neither will solve some persistent problems. You, in effect, followed my suggestion to reinstall when you upgraded--although an upgrade might sometimes have a greater potential for fixing some software problems.