DOCUMENT:Q157517 04-AUG-2001 [visualc] TITLE :BUG: Uninstalling DAO 3.0 SDK Prevents Help Files from Working PRODUCT :Microsoft C Compiler PROD/VER::4.0,4.1,4.2; WINDOWS:4.2 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbDAOsearch ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Visual C++, versions 4.0, 4.1, 4.2 - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition, version 4.2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== Uninstalling the DAO SDK that ships with Visual C++ 4.X will result in the incorrect deletion of registry entries used by Microsoft products for the location of Help files. Non-Microsoft products, or Microsoft products not using the specific registry path given below are unaffected. CAUSE ===== The DAO SDK uninstall incorrectly destroys the following registry entry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Help This is where many Microsoft products store information giving the path of their Help files. When the DAO SDK uninstall removes the entries in this registry path, the Online Help for any Microsoft product using this path will no longer function. The only way to recover the lost entries is to re-install the Microsoft products. If possible, perform partial re-install just on the Help components for each product. RESOLUTION ========== Don't uninstall the DAO SDK. This problem is not an issue for the redistributable components. If you wish to prevent accidental uninstall, you can edit the registry to remove the DAO SDK from the uninstall list. Delete the following registry entry: My Computer\ HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Uninstall\ Data Access Objects (DAO) This will prevent Windows from allowing the uninstall of the DAO components. STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this bug and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available. Additional query words: kbVC400bug ====================================================================== Keywords : kbDAOsearch Technology : kbVCsearch kbVC400 kbAudDeveloper kbVC410 kbVC420 kbVC32bitSearch kbExchange550SP5 Version : :4.0,4.1,4.2; WINDOWS:4.2 Issue type : kbbug ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.