Control Panel, Help, and System Restore are empty or partially empty (309663)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
This article was previously published under Q309663
Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

SYMPTOMS

When you try to view Control Panel items or Help files, the folders may be empty or partially empty.

Additionally, other folders, such as My Computer, Dial-up Networks, and the Search window may be empty or partially empty.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur if one or more of the Jscript registry key settings are incorrect. This behavior can also occur if the Jscript.dll file is missing or damaged.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, modify the applicable registry keys. To do this, follow these steps.

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.
  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
  2. Locate the following registry key:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{f414c260-6ac0-11cf-b6d1-00aa00bbbb58}\InprocServer32

  3. Confirm that the (Default) entry contains one of the following values, depending on the operating system:
    • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
      C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\JSCRIPT.DLL
    • Microsoft Windows 2000
      C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\JSCRIPT.DLL
    If this entry does not contain one of these values, double-click (Default), type the appropriate value in the Value data box, and then click OK.
  4. Confirm that value of the ThreadingModel entry is "Both" (without the quotation marks). If the value is not "Both," double-click ThreadingModel, type Both in the Value data box, and then click OK.
  5. Locate the following registry subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{f414c260-6ac0-11cf-b6d1-00aa00bbbb558}\InprocServer32

  6. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to verify or modify this subkey.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about how to replace the Jscript.dll file, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

265371 How to extract and replace a protected file in Windows Me

For more information about blank pages that appear in Help, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

275651 Blank Pages in Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me) Help and Support

276995 Cannot view the Windows Me Help and Support page

221153 Control Panel does not open

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/20/2005
Keywords:kbprb kbui KB309663
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.