Index in Help and Support does not load

Question

Have Dimension 2350 w/XP SP1. Help and Support loads except that the Index files do not. The window on left of screen remains blank. Also, under Tools the System Configuration Utility will not accept running the Diagnostic Startup. Could not run diagnostics from the Dell disk because my CD-Rom has failed and needs replacement.

This all began after trying to setup home network with a laptop. The wizard for network setup fails with a Spooler SubSystem App error and the desktop cannot "see" the laptop in the wireless network.

After reading forum Help and Support problems and trying various suggestions I've had no luck resolving problems. I have tried re-installing Dell support software from Dell Tools System Software and also, support from the Dell ResouceCD. I uninstalled the software before re-installing it.

I can run all the Help and Support Software on the laptop, but want to resolve the problem on the desktop. Thanks

JRosenfeld · Answer

The index is part of the native XP help and support, so reinstalling the Dell overlay would not do anything. See this may help (found by googling):

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/helpctrindex.htm

As for system configuration utility, I usually open that from click start, run, type msconfig, click OK, but that should not make a difference. Diagnostic startup is essentially starting in safe mode, and I have not used msconfig to do that. Generally I would shut down the PC, then restart and tap on F8 repeatedly after the Dell screen comes up (before Windows loads), which leads to a menu where you can select safe mode.

What problem do you have that you want to try diagnostic startup mode?

For the Dell diagnostics, they may be installed on your PC in a small FAT partition. Shut down, restart and when the Dell screen shows press F12 (or whatever key it says to enter boot menu) if you have the diagnostics there should be an option (mine says boot to utility partition). If so select that and you can run the Dell diagnostics.

You can also see if you have that partition by right click My computer, click Manage, under storage in the left pane click disk management. In the right pane, you would see an unnamed partition file system FAT, size 39MB (or about that). You cannot normally access it from Windows.

FreeQuery · Answer

Thank you for the guidance on the Help & Support problem. Installing the 811630 patch resolved the problem and the index now is visible in the left window.

I was trying to run the diagnostics to determine if it would uncover some fault that would allow me to proceed without error to set up the home network with the wireless router.

I will now return to the Spooler SubSystem App problem when I run the Setup Network Wizard.

Once again, thank you.

Windows General

Index in Help and Support does not load

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