OFF2000: Error Message: "Help Requires Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 or Greater" When You Start Help (268355)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Project 2000
  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 2000 SP 1
  • Microsoft Access 2000
  • Microsoft FrontPage 2000
  • Microsoft Outlook 2000
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
  • Microsoft Publisher 2000
  • Microsoft Word 2000
  • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
This article was previously published under Q268355
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

In any of the Microsoft Office 2000 programs or Microsoft Project 2000, if you ask the Office Assistant for help and click any of the Help topics, the following error message appears:
Help requires Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 or greater. You can install the latest version of IE from www.Microsoft.com.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if both of the following conditions are true:
  • Your operating system is Microsoft Windows 2000.

    -and-

  • You downloaded and installed Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack 1 from the Web between Thursday, July 6, 2000 and Tuesday, July 11, 2000.

RESOLUTION

To be able to access the Help topics without receiving the error message described in the "Symptoms" section, use one of the resolutions in this section.

Resolution 1: Install Critical Update, July 14, 2000

Microsoft has released an update to correct this problem. The update is available at the following Microsoft web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/download/critical/patch10.htm

Resolution 2: Install Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or Later

You can resolve this problem by installing Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or later. For more information about the latest version of Microsoft Internet Explorer, visit the following Microsoft Web page, and follow the instruction on the page:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx

Resolution 3: Modify the Registry

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

  1. Close all Office programs.
  2. On the Windows Start menu, click Run.
  3. In the Open box, type Regedit, and then click OK.
  4. In Registry Editor, select the following subkey (folder):

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer

  5. In the right pane, select the Build string value.
  6. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
  7. In the Value data box, type 53103.1000 and then click OK.
  8. On the Registry menu, click Exit to close Registry Editor.
Microsoft Office Help should now function correctly.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack 1 downloaded from the Web between Thursday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 11, 2000.

This problem was resolved for Internet Explorer 5.01 SP1 downloads from the Web on July 12, 2000. If you downloaded Internet Explorer 5.01 SP1 on July 12, 2000 or later, your computer is not affected by this issue. If you do not know when you downloaded Internet Explorer 5.01 SP1, Microsoft recommends that you apply Critical Update, July 14, 2000.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:1/26/2006
Keywords:kbbug kbpending KB268355
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