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Resolved Help and Support

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by lj50, 2003/09/22.

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  1. 2003/09/22
    lj50 Lifetime Subscription

    lj50 SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member Thread Starter

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    I'm running XP Pro. Does anyone know how delete the entries in the Help and Support Center History list. I went into autocomplete and unchecked web addresses but it didn't seem to work. Anyone have any suggestions on how to delete the entries. Thanks in advance.
     
    lj50,
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  2. 2003/09/22
    charlesvar

    charlesvar Inactive Alumni

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    Hello lj50,

    Two things to try:

    To clear IE: Open internet options, content tab. In the bottom box click the "Autocomplete" button. In the next panel, click the "Clear Forms" button. This will remove all usernames (which will need to be reentered). It will also remove all information recorded in search functions.

    The other is to use a tracks eraser program: http://www.spywareinfo.com/downloads.php Item 2 - 1c

    Regards - Charles
     
    Last edited: 2003/09/22
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  4. 2003/09/22
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Hi lj50!

    In Windows Explorer, navigate to

    C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\HelpCtr

    and delete the file HelpSessionHistory.dat

    The next time You open Help and Support this file will be recreated.

    The Application Data folder is hidden so to be able to do this You have to go to Tools > Folder Options > Show and choose "Show hidden files and folders ".

    It worked for me ...... :) ...... !

    Christer,
    worrying about his translations from swedish ......
     
    Last edited: 2003/09/22
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  5. 2003/09/22
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    The filename "HelpSessionHistory" made me think and focus on Session which indicates that it should be rebuilt for each session. It would make sense if the entries from the previous session are there when you return but if not used again they could be kicked out.

    It actually does kick out previous entries but it seems to do it rather randomly. When the list gets full and a scroll bar appears, then it seems to kick out the unused entries but if the list isn´t full, then it doesn´t.

    It would be convenient with a "Clear History Button ", though!

    Christer
     
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  6. 2003/09/22
    lj50 Lifetime Subscription

    lj50 SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member Thread Starter

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    Thanj you Christer worked like a charm.
     
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  7. 2003/09/22
    lj50 Lifetime Subscription

    lj50 SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member Thread Starter

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    I wonder if there is registry key that will disable that function.
     
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  8. 2003/09/22
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    The keywords that are typed into the Search Assistant in Windows Explorer are stored in the registry so, that´s where I first looked before finding the dat-file. I didn´t find anywhere to disable it but I didn´t scroll from top to bottom ...... :eek: ...... so maybe there is a way.

    There´s one easy way ...... :cool: ...... and that´s to not click the history button ...... :D ......

    Christer

    By the way, You´re welcome, I´m only glad to help!
     
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  9. 2003/09/22
    lj50 Lifetime Subscription

    lj50 SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member Thread Starter

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    Found it. use yout procedure to delete the history. HKCU\Software\Microsoft\PCHealth\Usersettings\ShowHistory. Change the true to untrue( iguess you could use false in place of untrue ,but iwoked with untrue). Restart for the change to take effect.
     
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  10. 2003/09/22
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Hi lj50!

    I searched the registry on my computer (XP pro), first for "PCHealth" and then for "Show History" but found no such key.

    Strange ...... :confused: ......

    Christer
     
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  11. 2003/09/22
    lj50 Lifetime Subscription

    lj50 SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member Thread Starter

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    I'm using XP Pro. Try following the path and you should find it. But it didnt work. I'll try WE approach.
     
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  12. 2003/09/22
    Newt

    Newt Inactive

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    The full location is
    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Usersettings\

    but I think that is one of those keys that is only generated when you activate or use a feature.

    That being the case, deleting the "ShowHistory" key might solve the problem rather than trying to change a value. Good idea to back up the registry first though just in case it causes problems to remove the key.
     
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  13. 2003/09/22
    lj50 Lifetime Subscription

    lj50 SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member Thread Starter

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    I inadvertently left out part of the path sorry bout that. I deleted ShowHistory but that didnt work. So I recreated it and set the value back to true. I'll just delete HelpSessionHistory.dat perodically. Not that I use help and support that much. I just wanted to know if the list could be cleared. Just inquizative I guess. Thanks for your help.
     
    lj50,
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  14. 2003/09/23
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Newt,

    I´ve been there too but no "Show History" key.
    You´re probably right that it gets there when a feature is used.

    Christer
     
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  15. 2003/09/23
    Newt

    Newt Inactive

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    Same on my system which is the reason I made the assumption about it magically appearing only if you had the function active.
     
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  16. 2003/09/23
    lj50 Lifetime Subscription

    lj50 SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member Thread Starter

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    Do you know how to deactivate that function
     
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  17. 2003/09/24
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    lj50,
    my Help and Support creates entries in the HelpSessionHistory but I don´t have the "Show History" registry key.

    I believe that the function that Newt refers to is another function, not the Help and Support feature itself, that creates this registry key.

    Maybe if Help and Search connects to the internet ...... :confused: ...... or anything else that yet has to be defined.

    Christer
     
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  18. 2003/09/24
    lj50 Lifetime Subscription

    lj50 SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member Thread Starter

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    I had to do a system restore because I was getting a dialog box that read Error 2: When i tried to access Avanced System Information through Help and Support. Now I followed that registry path I no longer have the regisrty key ShowHistory either. Could Adaware or Spybot S&D created it. I restored to a point before I installed these two programs. I went in to Help and Support, picked a topic it created an entry to the history list than i checked in the registry and still didn't have the Show History key. So I don't think its created when an item is added to the History list.
     
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  19. 2003/12/09
    bax

    bax Inactive

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    i have a problem with Help & Support of Win XP. everytime i try to access it or open the program an error occurs: "Windows cannot find helpctr.exe..." but i'm sure that file is in his place. what should i do to correct this? tnx...
     
    bax,
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  20. 2003/12/09
    charlesvar

    charlesvar Inactive Alumni

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    Hello bax,

    In XP Home:

    helpctr.exe is in \WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Binaries

    Double clicking on the helpctr.exe (Help and Support) will bring it up.

    Regards - Charles
     
    charlesvar,
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