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ms-help cannot find server error: MSDN

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ms-help cannot find server error: MSDN

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I was using the Visual Studio .NET 2003 IDE, and when I requested for help, the Document Explorer came up, and clicking on a topic, gives me the error “cannot find server”.

One of the most unusual thing about this situation is that the documentation and suggestions elsewhere about fixing this problem does not apply. I have installed and unstalled MSDN 3 to 4 times, thinking that it was MSDN that was corrupted, before googling for this particular problem. Suggestions to this problem included: Clearing the Temporary Internet Files cache. I followed that, though it didn't help.

Right clicking on any directory gives a greyed Read-Only checkbox, which leads me to suspect that the directory was read only, alas, this was not so. Using ATTRIB on the directory tells me that the read only attribute wasn't on, but I kept wondering why Explorer's Properties window keep showing up Read-Only as greyed, indicating that some of the selection has the read only attribute on. However, I was only selecting ONE directory!

Eventually, I ran a CHKDSK /F on the drive, and turn off the Read-Only attribute for the directory, before I could view any help.

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  • Same problems for me. I also checked proxy settings etc. nothing helped - any new ideas?
  • Yeah, use MoveFileEx to delete your index.dat located at C:\Documents and Settings\<Your User ID>\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5

    index.dat is locked at all times, since you're using Windows XP. Since you have NET 1.1, and 1.0 installed, I assumed you're at least a .NET developer.

    You can use "Microsoft Win32 to Microsoft .NET Framework API Map" to find the .NET equivalent of MoveFileEx.
  • logon in administrator account differ in your account,
    then delete the directory C:\Documents and Settings\<Your User ID>\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files.
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