Open Explorer and go to the Windows\inf folder. Locate the srchasst.inf file. Right click it and select Install. You'll need your XP CD or the files from the i386 folder. (This fix will require you to have your Win XP CD).

The Windows\inf folder is a hidden folder. You can adjust your Explorer Folder Options (View tab) to Show hidden files and folders. You can also click Start, Run and enter %SystemRoot%\inf to open directly to the inf folder.

Error: "A file that is required to run Search Companion cannot be found. You may need to run setup".

The file that is missing, or corrupt, is one of two. BAR.XSL or BALLOON.XSL (and/or other files in the same folder), depending on your search preferences. These files are both normally located in the Windows\srchasst\mui\0409 folder on your hard drive. These files may be locally cached in the Temporary Internet Files, so this may explain why some users have this problem "intermittently".  Re-installing srchasst.inf works here as well.

Error Message: "A File That Is Required to Run Search Companion Cannot Be Found" (Q315330)
Windows XP Search Companion Does Not Work Because of File Corruption (Downloadable Fix)

The problem stems from Search Assistant being unable to connect to http://sa.windows.com.  This can be caused by proxy servers, firewalls and some "ad blocking" software.

Yellow Triangle with Exclamation Point

Option 1. Depending on your version of TweakUI, run it, go to the Desktop settings and put the check mark back in Search Results.

Option 2. If you don't have TweakUI installed, or this option isn't available in your version, copy and paste the following lines into a Notepad file and save the file with an REG extension. Make sure to add a blank line at the end of the file.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\
{e17d4fc0-5564-11d1-83f2-00a0c90dc849}]
@="Search Results Folder"

Locate the file you just saved and double click it. Answer yes to the import prompt.

Option 3: Apply this edit:

Search Shows Yellow Triangle with ! (Line 75)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

To use the VBS File: Download .vbs file and save it to your hard drive (you may want to right click and use Save Target As). Double-click  the vbs file. You will be prompted when the script is done.

All other information, customizing and tweaks for Search can be found here:

Troubleshooting Search Issues in Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_s.htm#search
 

Go to Start/Run and type in:  regsvr32 HHCTRL.OCX

If that doesn't help, more info:

This issue can occur if one or more of the PCHealth components in your computer are damaged. To resolve this issue:

1. It is important to note if you have recently made alterations to your computer before this problem occurred, or if the Help and Support
Center ever worked correctly. If you have recently made alterations to your computer before this problem occurred, try to undo the changes
 you made or uninstall the hardware or software that could have caused the issue. After you do so, test to determine if the issue is resolved,
and if it is, skip the remaining steps. If the issue is not resolved, continue to the next step.

2. Remove the .cab files from the Packagestore folder, and then rebuild the original Help and Support Center:

a. Click Start, click Run, type  "cmd" (without the quotation marks), and then click OK to open a command prompt.
    Type "net stop helpsvc" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER.
b. Type "cd /d windir\pchealth\helpctr" (without the quotation marks), where windir is the Windows folder, and then press ENTER.
c. Type "rd packagestore /s /q" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER.
d. Type "cd binaries" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER.
e. Type "start /w helpsvc /svchost netsvcs /regserver /install" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER.
f.  If any of the following processes are running, stop them: helpsvc.exe helphost.exe helpctr.exe

To stop a process, right-click the taskbar, and then click Task Manager. Click the Processes tab, click the process you want to stop,
and then click End Process.

g. At the command prompt, type "net start helpsvc" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER.

3. If the Help and Support Center has not been customized by an OEM, skip to the next step. If the Help and Support Center has been
 customized by an OEM, completely refresh the Help and Support Center:

a. Click Start, click Run, type "cmd" (without the quotation marks),
    and then click OK to open a command prompt. Type "net stop helpsvc" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER.
b. Type "cd /d windir\pchealth\helpctr" (without the quotation marks), where windir is the Windows folder, and then press ENTER.
c. Type "rd packagestore /s /q" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER.
d. Type "rd installedskus /s /q" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER.
e. Type "cd binaries" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER.
f. Type "start /w helpsvc /svchost netsvcs /regserver /install" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER.
g. Type "start /w helpsvc /register" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER.
h. If any of the following processes are running, stop them: helpsvc.exe helphost.exe helpctr.exe

To stop a process, right-click the taskbar, and then click Task Manager. Click the Processes tab, click the process you want to stop, and then click End Process.

i. At the command prompt, type "net start helpsvc" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER. NOTE: The preceding procedure should not negatively affect an OEM-customized Help and Support Center.

However, it does remove any other .cab files from the Packstorage folder, such as the Windows XP support tools (which adds their table of contents into the Help and Support Center).

4. If the preceding steps do not resolve the issue, use the Windows XP CD-ROM to start your computer, and then run a repair (in-place upgrade) installation.

Steven Liu

This edit resets the proper keys to invoke Help and Support, depending on your issues. Click here.

This script repairs Windows Help and Support if you have run any Reg Cleaners:
Repairs Windows® XP Help and Support after running Easy Cleaner or similar registry cleaners.

Note: If you have used Easy Cleaner, there is a workaround that prevents Help and Support from becoming corrupt:  In the options, add Help to the Skip List.
http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts

Start Menu/Help and Support doesn't work:  Go to Start/Run and type in: helpctr -regserver and Start/Run/CMD:  regsvr32 /u hhctrl.ocx.

To reinstall Help and Support: Go to C:\Windows\inf\pchealth.inf.  Right click and choose install. Have your CD handy.

Note: The folder is hidden by default. Go to Start/Run and type in: control folders. View: Show hidden files and folders and uncheck Hide extensions for known file types.

"Could not start the Help and Support Service on Local Computer. Error 126: The specified module could not be found"  Restore Help and Support Service.  Restore Help and Support Service Keys.

You may also opt to running the System File Checker.  To do so, go to Start/Run/CMD and type in:  SFC /Scannow.  This option forces Windows to scan all protected system files immediately. 

Restore winhlp32.exe for XP or XPSP1 (Line 57)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

After installing SP1 for some users the correct version of win32hlp.exe is not properly placed in the System32 folder. If this is the case replace the older version with the version found in windows\ServicePackFiles\i386.

Another option to the above:

1. Insert the Windows XP installation CD into your CD-ROM.
2. Browse to your CD-ROM and change the folder to \I386
3. Copy the following files into a temporary folder on your hard disk:

Winhlp32.cn_
Winhlp32.ex_
Winhlp32.hl_

4. Click Start->Run, type CMD and then press Enter.
5. Change to the temporary folder where you stored the Winhlp32 files.
6. Type the following commands:

EXPAND WINHLP32.CN_ WINHLP32.CNT
EXPAND WINHLP32.EX_ WINHLP32.EXE
EXPAND WINHLP32.HL_ WINHLP32.HLP

 7.  Copy Winhlp32.exe to your \%SYSTEMROOT%\ folder.
 8.  Copy the Winhlp32.cnt, and Winhlp32.hlp to the \%SYSTEMROOT%\Help\folder.
 9.  Typically this folder is C:\Windows.
10. Delete the contents of your temporary folder.

Checkpoint:  Help and Support Won't Expand

Go to Start/Run/Regedit and navigate to this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment.  In the right pane, verify that the windir value is REG_EXPAND_SZ and not a REG_SZ type.  If not, change it.

Tip:  If you want to view only the locally stored Windows XP Help documentation in the Classic View: Go to Start/Run and type in: hh windows.chm

Check the default values for these registry keys to make sure that they match.  Registry keys and values to fix XP's Help and Support after running Toni Arts EasyCleaner. 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib\{FC7D9E00-3F9E-11D3-93C0-00C04F72DAF7}\1.0\0\win32
Default value: C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe\1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib\{FC7D9E00-3F9E-11D3-93C0-00C04F72DAF7}\1.0\HELPDIR
Default value: C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe\

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib\{FC7D9000-3F9E-11D3-93C0-00C04F72DAF7}\1.0\0\win32
Default Value: C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe\2

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib\{FC7D9000-3F9E-11D3-93C0-00C04F72DAF7}\1.0\HELPDIR
Default value: C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe\

Help and Support - Did you know not working...

Delete the following file. C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Config\News\newsver.xml

Help and Support - Start Menu Doesn't Work

Go to Start/Run and type in: helpctr -regserver

Help and Support - Text is missing

Some themes can knock out the text in help and switching to another custom theme may not correct it. Switching back to an original XP theme - so far - will set things right again.

Windows XP Security Patch: Flaw in Windows XP Help and Support Center Could Enable File Deletion
http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/Release.asp?ReleaseID=43681

The above patch resolves the "Flaw in Windows XP Help and Support Center Could Enable File Deletion" vulnerability in Windows XP. Download now to prevent an attacker from deleting files on another user’s computer, via either a Web site or an e-mail.

Restore winhlp32.exe for XP or XPSP1 (Line 57)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

More information on troubleshooting Help and Support, customizing and other extra issues can be found here:

Troubleshooting Help and Support
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_h.htm#h&s

Help, CHM, HH Checker/Fixer (Line 141)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Helpctr.exe not responding - Go to Start/Run and type in: Helpctr.exe.
For some users this has restored the functionality in the Start Menu.

Go to Start/Run and type in: helpctr -regserver

If the above didn't help:

Check your settings here: Go to Start/Run/Regedit and navigate to this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session
Manager\Environment

In the right pane if windir is listed under type as REG_SZ, it needs
to be changed to REG_EXPAND_SZ, Value Data: C\Windows.

If this is the case:

Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment

Right click on Environment, then choose Export, name it and save it. Then go to the right pane, right click in an empty area and choose New/Expandable String Value. Name it windir. Then double click it and under Value data, type in: C:\WINDOWS

From there, right click and delete the windir which type was listed as REG_SZ then hit refresh (F5).
 

 Why doesn't Windows keep my folder settings?

 Why does Windows XP Style change to Windows Classic Style?