MSDN Library Cannot find server error

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Jerry - 19 Oct 2005 04:08 GMT

I cannot get the Microsoft Document Explorer to display the MSDN Library. I
always get a "cannot find server" error (The page cannot be displayed). I had
this problem with the Jan 2005 library and I was hoping that by installing
the July 2005 library it would repair itself but no luck. I previously
uninstalled and reinstalled the Jan 2005 library but that didn't work either.

Please advise.

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Thanks,
Jerry

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Jerry - 19 Oct 2005 04:34 GMT

Here's some more information on the problem.
After I start the MSDN Library using the installed shortcut the url shown is:
ms-help://MS.MSDNQTR.2005JAN.1033/dnmsdn2/html/msdnstart.htm
however the shortcut used to start it shows the following target:
"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Help\dexplore.exe" /helpcol
ms-help://MS.MSDNQTR.2005JUL.1033

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> I cannot get the Microsoft Document Explorer to display the MSDN Library. I
> always get a "cannot find server" error (The page cannot be displayed). I had
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Please advise.

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Rhett Gong [MSFT] - 19 Oct 2005 08:20 GMT

Hello Jerry,
I understand the problem you are crossing on is that when you try to view the MSDN Library, it comes up with an error message saying cannot find server. Could you try
these steps and let me know if that resolved the problem?

- Clear Temporary Internet Files, delete offline content as well.
- Clear History
- Disable, or uncheck, all proxy settings
- Log in as a new user and try help

Thanks,
Rhett Gong [MSFT]
Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/servicedesks/msdn/nospam.asp&SD=msdn

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights.

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Jerry - 19 Oct 2005 16:28 GMT

I can log in as a new user and it works. But I want to log in as myself,
which doesn't work. I've tried the things you mentioned to no avail. What do
I need to do to use the help system with my user id?

Signature

Thanks,
Jerry

> Hello Jerry,
> I understand the problem you are crossing on is that when you try to view the MSDN Library, it comes up with an error message saying cannot find server. Could you try
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights.

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Rhett Gong [MSFT] - 20 Oct 2005 06:30 GMT

I noticed you can log in as a new user and it works but fails in your own account, so there seems a problem in your profile. Then you can log on with Administrator account,
and delete your profile under "\Documents and Settings\<your account>", then relogon with your account.

To be safer, I suggest you use delprof.exe to delete your profile under Admin account, here is a HOWTO article on delprof.
315411 How To Delete User Profiles by Using the User Profile Deletion Utility
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=315411

Please reference and let me know if it resolves your problem.

Thanks,
Rhett Gong [MSFT]
Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/servicedesks/msdn/nospam.asp&SD=msdn

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights.

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Jerry - 20 Oct 2005 06:53 GMT

Is this answer the best Microsoft has to offer? This problem was created by
Microsoft and it happened on all my machines when I did a Microsoft patch or
updated the MSDN Library. It would be nice if Microsoft would take some
responsibility on this and give me a more intelligent answer than to wipe out
my user accounts. I find you answer grossly inadequate. There is some setting
that causes this problem and I'm sure Microsoft can do better at helping
identify it. Not just for me but for the countless others that have suffered
the same fate. I await your reply.

Signature

Jerry

> I noticed you can log in as a new user and it works but fails in your own account, so there seems a problem in your profile. Then you can log on with Administrator account,
> and delete your profile under "\Documents and Settings\<your account>", then relogon with your account.
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights.

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michael - 20 Oct 2005 12:03 GMT

Jerry,

I was having exactly the same problem
and found advice on a quick fix to the
problem...

Just rename the 'Temporary Internet Files'
directory of the user that is having the
problem, which should force creation of a
new one. You may need to log on as an
Administrative user to do this.

It worked for me !!!

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Jerry - 20 Oct 2005 14:10 GMT

I did as you described and it work! Thanks.

This was a much better approach than deleting my user accounts. I watched
what went on in the Temporary Internet Files folder as I brought up the MSDN
Library. It looks like the problem is likely related to the following files
which were copied to the folder:
File Name Internet Address
HxLink.css ms-itss:C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft
Shared\Help\HxRuntime.HxS::/HxLink.css
hxlink.htc ms-itss:C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft
Shared\Help\HxRuntime.HxS::/hxlink.htc
DTUE.css ms-itss:C:\Program
Files\MSDN\2005JUL\1033\shared.hxs::/scripts/DTUE.css
dtue_ie5.js ms-itss:C:\Program
Files\MSDN\2005JUL\1033\shared.hxs::/scripts/dtue_ie5.js
dtuelink.js ms-itss:C:\Program
Files\MSDN\2005JUL\1033\shared.hxs::/scripts/dtuelink.js

Another detail which may be of interest is that on one machine, the first
thing I did after login in was to open the MSDN Library and it work right
away. On another machine I first opened IE and then opened the MSDN Library.
In the later case the initial welcome screen failed to load repeating the
previous error. Then I poked around in the table of contents and got a page
to display. Once one displayed, all was well.

Signature

Thanks,
Jerry

> Jerry,
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> It worked for me !!!

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Yan-Hong Huang[MSFT] - 21 Oct 2005 11:25 GMT

Hi Jerry,

This is Yanhong from Microsoft community support. I am reviewing this
thread and found your feedback. I am sorry that our suggestion don't help
much on this issue. Though Michael's advice has helped you out this issue,
I am still asking whether there is any more question. If you are still
monitoring the issue thread and have some concern, please feel free to
reply here or contact me directly through my email. (please remove online
to reach me) I will contact support team on the root cause and update you.

Thanks very much.

Best regards,
Yanhong Huang
Microsoft Community Support

Get Secure! ¨C www.microsoft.com/security
Register to Access MSDN Managed Newsgroups!
http://msdn.microsoft.com/subscriptions/managednewsgroups/

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

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Cary Teraji - 03 May 2006 23:11 GMT

I have followed this thread, experiencing similar problems. I can access
MSDN after adding a new user. Clearing Temporary Internet Files hangs (I let
it run for an hour) and clearing history did not resolve the problem with the
original user. I was unable to rename the Temporary Internet Files folder as
suggested by another user. I unsuccessfully attempted to remove the
read-only status from the folder, and noted when viewing properties for the
folder the number of entries rapidly increased.

> Hi Jerry,
>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

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MSDN Library Cannot find server error

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