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Repair CHM File Using Manual Solutions

Microsoft Compiled HTML Help is commonly used file format for software documentation.It gets corrupted due to script errors in internet explorer, Security update for windows operating system or use of corrupted chm file viewer. Read about in this article about how to recover chm file.

What is CHM File?

CHM is extension for compiled HTML help developed by Microsoft Corporation. It is HTML based file help documentation . It consist of information about how software operates or how to use it. It includes text, images, hyperlinks etc. Microsoft Reader .LIT file is a modified version of CHM file. These files are sometimes used for e-books.

Causes of Corruption

  • Due to use of corrupted CHM viewer software.
  • CHM files are stored in folder with "#" character in the path.
  • Security update for windows operating system.
  • Use of virus infected storage devices to store CHM files.
  • Registry file of PC gets corrupted.
  • Script Errors in internet explorer.

Explore about manual solutions to repair CHM file.

Common Errors

  • "Navigation to the webpage was canceled"
  • "Problems with this Web page might prevent it from being displayed properly or functioning properly. In the future, you can display this message by double-clicking the warning icon displayed in the status bar"
  • "The page cannot be displayed"

Solutions To Repair CHM File

Solution #

User opens CHM file using PowerShell Help file viewer gets error "Navigation to the webpage was canceled". Follow steps to resolve above error :

Method 1

Step 1: Click Start, type cmd, right-click and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Click Start and in search type "run".

Step 3: Type cmd.

Step 4: Enter the following command in command prompt and press Enter.
regsvr32 hhctrl.ocx
After execution of command user gets a success message "DllRegisterServer in hhctrl.ocx succeeded".

Method 2 – Recover CHM file with manual guide

step 1 : Right click CHM file and click properties.

Step 2 : In "General" tab of "Properties" dialog box, click "Unblock" button under "Security" section.

Step 3 : Click "Apply" and "OK" to save the settings.

Note : Help socumentation is from trusted source them only use method 2.

Solution #

Troubleshoot Error " Problems with this Web page might prevent it from being displayed properly or functioning properly. In the future, you can display this message by double-clicking the warning icon displayed in the status bar"

Method 1: Fix chm file and troubleshoot script errors.

Follow steps to Verify Active Scripting, ActiveX, and Java are not blocked by Internet Explorer

  • Start Internet Explorer.
  • Go to Tools menu, click Internet Options.
  • In the Internet Option dialog box, click the Security tab.
  • Click Default Level.

  • Click OK.

Method 2 : Remove all temporary internet files and repair CHM file.

Solutions works for Internet Explorer 11/10/9/8

  • Start Internet Explorer.
  • Go to Tools menu, click Internet Options.
  • Click General tab.
  • Under Browsing History section, click Delete.

  • In Delete Browsing History dialog box, click following check boxes, and then click Delete:
    1. Temporary Internet Files
    2. Cookies
    3. History

  • Click Ok.

To remove all the temporary Internet files for Internet Explorer 7 follow :

  • Start Internet Explorer browser.
  • Go to Tools menu, click Internet Options.
  • Click General tab.
  • Under Browsing History section, click Delete, and then click Yes when you are prompted to confirm.
  • In Delete Browsing History dialog box, under Temporary Internet Files section, click Delete Files, and then click Yes when you are prompted to confirm.
  • Under Cookies, click Delete Cookies option, and then click Yes when user is prompted to confirm.
  • Under History, click Delete History option , and then click Yes when user is prompted to confirm.
  • Click Close, and then click OK to close the Internet Options dialog box.

To remove all the temporary Internet-related files for Internet Explorer 6 follow steps to repair chm file :

  • Start Internet Explorer.
  • Go the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
  • Click General tab.
  • Under Temporary Internet files section, click Settings.
  • Click Delete Files option , and then click OK.
  • Click Delete Cookies option , and then click OK.
  • Under History, click Clear History, and then click Yes.
  • Click OK.

Method # 3 Disable Script Debugging

Note : Turn off notification about script errors in Internet Explorer browser (solution works for Internet Explorer 11, Internet Explorer 10, Internet Explorer 9, Internet Explorer 8 and Internet Explorer 7)

Follow below given steps to repair corrupt CHM file :

  • Start Internet Explorer.
  • Go to the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
  • Click Advanced tab, uncheck option Display a notification about every script error box, and then click OK.

To Turn off the Scripting Debugger (solution works for Internet Explorer 6) follow steps to rebuild CHM :

  • Start Internet Explorer.
  • Go the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
  • On the Advanced tab, check option Disable script debugging box, and then click OK.

Solution # To resolve " The page cannot be displayed" follow :

Method 1 :

Cause of Error : The system file is corrupted, or unregistered.

Step 1 : Run "regsvr32 hhctrl.ocx" command from the command line to register the library in the system.

Method 2 :

Cause : CHM files are stored in the folder with '#' (HASH) CHARACTER IN THE storage PATH. Hash character represents an anchor in HTML so the CHM viewer fails to resolve the storage path and retrieve the content.

Step 1: Remove '#' (hash) character from the directory name. Avoid using characters such as '?', '&', and '+' characters in directory names.

Method 3

Cause : A security update for windows block access to CHM files

Repair CHM file by following steps :

  • Run windows Explorer.
  • Right click CHM file.
  • Select properties from menu displayed by right clicking.
  • Click "Unblock" button below Advanced button on General page.
  • Click Apply to show the content.

Conclusion

In this article we have discussed about chm file, causes of corruption, errors and manual solutions to repair CHM file. If above solutions fail to recover chm help documentation file then use a professional third party tool to restore CHM file.