Microsoft KB Archive/274623

= PRB: Update of the Help System During Installation of MSDN Library Breaks the Windows 2000 Help System =

Article ID: 274623

Article Last Modified on 7/4/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * MSDN 2000

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This article was previously published under Q274623



SYMPTOMS
The update of the HTML Help System during the installation of the Microsoft Developers Network (MSDN) Library breaks the Microsoft Windows 2000 Help system.

During the installation of the MSDN Library (usually, but not limited to the April 2000 or July 2000 editions), the MSDN Library installation program attempts to update the HTML Help System. The update fails due to not having the required permissions. (The installation is denied rights to do so due to the Windows file system protection feature.) Although the installation attempt fails and the update has not been completed, the HTML Help system is not able to display the MSDN Library correctly when started.

The following MSDN Library (any edition) error messages appear:

&quot;unable to find the collection \..\msdn***.col&quot;

-or-

&quot;Can not open the MSDN010.COL&quot;

The exact error depends on the version of the MSDN Library being started.



CAUSE
The MSDN Library updates some of the underlying files, but is not able to complete the HTML Help system update.



RESOLUTION
Install Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 from the following Microsoft Web site at

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/sp1/default.mspx

and then perform the steps that you find in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

240350 HOWTO: Manually Uninstall the MSDN Library

