FIX: MSDN Library Does Not Support CD Server Installation (196469)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) October 98
  • Microsoft HTML Help 1.21

This article was previously published under Q196469

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install the MSDN Visual Studio 6.x or MSDN October 1998 Library from a CD-ROM Server or CD jukebox server, the viewer does not work as expected. When you try to open topics, you get the following error message:

Internet Explorer cannot open the Internet Site mk:@MSStore:\\ABC\CD1\MSDN\vsintro.chm/html/vsstartpage.htm


%1 could not be found.

CAUSE

When you run the Setup.exe from a shared CD CD-DRIVE, the HhColReg.dat file contains invalid pointers to content (.chm files). For example, in the previous error message, "\\ABC\CD1\MSDN\vsintro.chm" represents the location that the Setup.exe was installed from and the topic that you are attempting to view.

RESOLUTION

There are four ways to resolve this problem.

Obtain the April 1999 or Greater Version of the MSDN Library

  1. This problem has been corrected in the April 1999 MSDN Library.

Option 2: Copy All of the CD Bits the Local Machine or a Network Location

For additional information how to create a network installation, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

196440 PRB: Problems Running MSDN Library from a Network Installation

Option 3: Share CD 2 and CD 3 on a CD Server

  1. Insert CD 1 into the workstation and install the product.
  2. Run the product. When you are prompted to insert CD 2, enter the UNC for CD 2, and do the same when you are prompted for CD 3.

    NOTE: When you use this option, each customer must have CD 1 on his or her local computer, available for access.

Option 4: Modify the HhColReg.dat File (UNSUPPORTED and NOT recommended)

  1. Create share points for all CDs. For example, you can use the following share points: \\ABC\CD1, \\ABC\CD2, \\ABC\CD3.
  2. On the Start menu, click Run, type \\ABC\CD1 in the Open: text box, and run the Setup.exe for MSDN.
  3. Open the HhColReg.dat file (in the %WinDir%\Help directory). You will see the following sections:
          <Locations>
          <Location>
             <LocColNum value=1/>
             <LocName value="98OCT-1033-Local"/>
             <TitleString value="Local"/>
             <LocPath value="C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual
                             Studio\MSDN98\98OCT\1033\"/>
             <Volume value="ABCS300"/>
          </Location>
          <Location>
             <LocColNum value=1/>
             <LocName value="98OCT-1033-CD3"/>
             <TitleString value="MSDN October 1998 CD3"/>
             <LocPath value="\\ABC\CD1\MSDN\"/>  **NEED TO CHANGE**
             <Volume value="dnq830enu1"/> **NEED TO CHANGE**
          </Location>
          <Location>
             <LocColNum value=1/>
             <LocName value="98OCT-1033-CD2"/>
             <TitleString value="MSDN October 1998 CD2"/>
             <LocPath value="\\ABC\CD1\MSDN\"/>  **NEED TO CHANGE**
             <Volume value="dnq830enu1"/> **NEED TO CHANGE**
          </Location>
          <Location>
             <LocColNum value=1/>
             <LocName value="98OCT-1033-VC Samples"/>
             <TitleString value="MSDN October 1998 CD1"/>
             <LocPath value="\\ABC\CD1\MSDN\"/>
             <Volume value="dnq830enu1"/>
          </Location>
          </Locations>
          ...
    
          <DocCompilation>
             <DocCompId value="vsintro"/>
             <DocCompLanguage value=1033/>
             <LocationHistory>
                <ColNum value=1/>
          **NEED TO CHANGE**<TitleLocation
                             value="\\ricks266\CD1\MSDN\vsintro.chm"/>
                <IndexLocation value="C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual
                                      Studio\MSDN98\98OCT\1033\vsintro.chi"/>
          **NEED TO CHANGE**<QueryLocation
                             value="\\RICKS266\CD1\MSDN\MSDN830.CHQ"/>
                <LocationRef value="98OCT-1033-CD2"/>
                <Version value=29200603/>
                <LastPromptedVersion value=0/>
                <TitleSampleLocation value=""/>
                <TitleQueryLocation value="98OCT-1033-CD2"/>
                <SupportsMerge value=0/>
             </LocationHistory>
          </DocCompilation>
    						
You need to change the items marked **NEED TO CHANGE**. The following changes to these items enable you to view the Visual Studio Start Page topic from a shared CD server.
      ...
      <LocPath value="\\ABC\CD3\MSDN\"/>
      <Volume value="13"/>
      ...
      <LocPath value="\\ABC\CD2\MSDN\"/>
      <Volume value="14"/>
      ...
      <TitleLocation value="\\ABC\CD2\MSDN\vsintro.chm"/>
      ...
      <QueryLocation value="\\ABC\CD2\MSDN\MSDN830.CHQ"/>
      ...
				


You need to make the changes mentioned previously, for all DocCompilations. In the example above, the path for the VSIntro.chm file has been corrected. Also, please note that "Volume value=" needs to be a unique value.

The HhColReg.dat file contains many DocCompilations that must be corrected to provide a fully functional MSDN Viewer. All the DocCompilations require the same type of changes.

STATUS

This problem has been fixed in the April 1999 version of the MSDN Library.

MORE INFORMATION

The HHCOLREG.DAT is a very important file for the MSDN Viewer. Any modification of this file is unsupported because it can break the ability to use collections within the viewer. Changing this file could potentially break other collections. Therefore, it is not recommended that you modified this file.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:3/15/2005
Keywords:kbBug kbfix kbHTMLHelp100fix KB196469