Sony Z W7 64bit Problems Accessing Online Help

I have a Vaio Z790, upgraded to Windows 7 Pro 64 bit. I've noticed that I cannot access online the content for several Help viewers, including Microsoft Office 2007. For example, if I click the "?" button in MS Word or any other Office program, the Help window appears, but it is blank. If I set the Help viewer to look only at files on my PC rather than online, it works fine. Curiously, the problem goes away if I log into Windows with a different user account (or run Word as a different user). The problem also goes away if I disable Internet Explorer 8. If IE8 is enabled but not the default browser, Help tries to download a small file called transition.htm, but the script in the file, which I think is trying to access online help, does not work properly.

Similarly, Windows has a help viewer called by the Properties sheet of files stored on the computer. For example, open Properties on any file, and you will see links on several of the tabs (e.g., Security). These are intended to open online help to explain these features. On my computer, these don't work properly. If IE8 is enabled, the links try to open a browser session outside of the Help window, but the information is incomplete. If IE8 is disabled, the Help link brings up the Help window ok, but the content is rendered in html or xml code with an error message stating that it does not match the type called for by the server. There is an option to view restricted content, and when that is selected, the window renders properly.

I've tried repairing and reinstalling Office, disabling 3rd party services, disabling my firewall, and various other things, but nothing helps. Sorry for the long post, but has anyone else experienced this? If you have a setup similar to mine, would you please see whether these help viewers work ok on your system? Any ideas about what could be causing this? Thanks.

 

I was hoping someone could at least try to reproduce the problem to see whether it is a common one. If you have a Viao Z upgraded to Windows 7 (mine is 64 bit Windows Pro), and you have IE8 enabled:

1. Right click on any file and select "Properties"
2. Click on the "Security" tab
3. Click on the link at the bottom that says, "Learn about access control and permissions"

Do you get a normal "Help" window?

Alternatively, if you have Office 2007, click on the "?" at the top right. Does the "Help" viewer work properly?

Thanks.

 

Hello!
My set up:
VGN-Z610Y/B
Win 7 Ultimate 64-bit
Office 2007

I tried both scenarios mentioned in your 12:03 message and they both worked properly for me. The only thing I can think of (and it sounds like you've already tried this) is to re-install Office and then install the various Office patches found by Windows Update.

I wish I could offer more help. Good luck.