Cannot find server for Visual Studio help

Cannot find server for Visual Studio help

• FR6

  Hello again.

  The document explorer was set to "Try online first, then local." I made the change you suggested, but it did not affect the behavior. I also tried "Try local only, not online" and it did not affect the behavior. I still get "The page cannot be displayed. Cannot find server or DNS error."

  Regards

  
  

• amienel

  Hello Drew,

  Have you tried cleaning up your IE Temporary Internet Files cache. Remove IE temporary files (In IE go Tools > Internet Options > Temporary Internet file> Delete files) reboot the machine and try accessing local help again

  Thanks

  
  
  

• Anupam Pathak

  spot9969 wrote:

  I've had exactly the same situation. Contents and index were shown fine, but "Cannot find server" error was displayed at main help pane. Bob says at developmentnow that "Temporary Internet Files" folder should be renamed or deleted. I've tried clean up this folder via IE options but it doesn't help. You should delete this folder (it will be created again at IE startup) if want to fix MSDN help. To delete "Temporary Internet Files" folder of yours account you should login as defferent user with sufficiently rights. This works for me. I'm happy. Fortunately I've reinstalled only MSDN help when right answer was found, not VS or Windows.

  This worked!

  I was unable to actually delete or rename Temporary Internet Files, but using an admin account, I could rename Local Settings, create a new one, and copy in the other directories. When I logged back in, help suddently worked. Hooray!!!

  
  

• Malcatrazz

  Hello Drew,

  Could you please check if you have selected to use Online help or Local help. You can do this following steps:

  Open MSDN library for Visual Studio 2005

  Go to Tools |Options| Help |Online |when Loading Help Content, select "Try local first and then online" hit OK and then close the library and open again.

  Thanks

  
  
  

• Stéphane Beauchemin

  I've had exactly the same situation. Contents and index were shown fine, but "Cannot find server" error was displayed at main help pane.

  Bob says at developmentnow that "Temporary Internet Files" folder should be renamed or deleted. I've tried clean up this folder via IE options but it doesn't help. You should delete this folder (it will be created again at IE startup) if want to fix MSDN help.

  To delete "Temporary Internet Files" folder of yours account you should login as defferent user with sufficiently rights.

  This works for me. I'm happy. Fortunately I've reinstalled only MSDN help when right answer was found, not VS or Windows.

  
  
  

• Nisa

  Let's test for local help in a different way. On the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft Visual Studio 2005, and then click Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 documentation.

  If that fails, maybe the Help collection is not installed. You should have a [drive]:\Program Files\MSDN\MSDN8.0\Visual Studio 8.0\1033 directory that includes between 150-200 files.

  If that's not present, update your installation and install the MSDN documentation.

  That leaves some issues to resolve about online connection, but that might start the process.

  
  

• thoams

  You can't delete Temporary Internet Files for your account when logged with this account.

  You should log in as admin and delete Temporary Internet Files for yours usual account.

  Try to check does yours usual account share Temporary Internet Files folder with admin account.

  I'm glad that could help.

  
  
  

• CyrilatMicrosoft

  I tried everything. My VS2005 help still does not work. It worked before till yesterday. My VS2003 does not work, either. Can any one help thanks.
  

• jiao

  Jo Molnar - MSFT wrote:

  Let's test for local help in a different way. On the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft Visual Studio 2005, and then click Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 documentation. If that fails, maybe the Help collection is not installed. You should have a [drive]:\Program Files\MSDN\MSDN8.0\Visual Studio 8.0\1033 directory that includes between 150-200 files. If that's not present, update your installation and install the MSDN documentation. That leaves some issues to resolve about online connection, but that might start the process.

  Attempting to reach the documentation through the VS 2005 shortcut made no difference in the behavior.

  The MSDN files are definitely present in their correct location.

  So, thanks for the suggestions, but this made no difference.

  
  

• Patrick_F

  No, I never installed any VS 2005 betas.

  No, Help has never worked on this machine. In particular, I had the same problem with VS 2003 help, but never got around to trying to resolve it.

  No, this is not a Win 2003 Server SP1 machine. It's XP Pro SP2.

  Regards,

  
  

• JonCole

  Thanks for your suggestion.

  Unfortunately, it did not help me, as the behavior is unchanged.

  
  

• ImNoScrub

  Thanks for your suggestion.

  I tried it, but unfortunately, it made no difference to the behavior. I still always get "Cannot find server."

  
  

• TheLokust

  Hi Drew,

  I have few quesitons:

  Have you installed any Visual Studio 2005 betas on this machine

  Is Help ever worked before on this machine for example VS 2003 Help

  Is it a Win 2003 Server SP1 machine Did you recently run windows update on it

  Thanks

  
  
  

• chriswillis

  Thanks for your suggestion. Unfortunately, it made no difference to the behavior. I still always get "Cannot find server."

  
  
• Cannot find server for Visual Studio help