Error Message: Unable to Display Find Tab (177)

• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 SP4
• Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release versions 2, 2.1, 2.5
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 SP4

SYMPTOMS

When you click Start, click Help, click the Find tab, and then click Next, you may receive the following error message:

Unable to display Find tab (177)

CAUSE

This issue can occur if the Update.cnt file contains a reference to the Mstask.hlp file.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue:

1. Rename the Update.cnt file in the %SystemRoot%\Help (for Windows NT) or Windows\Help (for Windows 95) folder. When you specify a new file name, it should not contain the .cnt file extension (for example, use Update.xxx).
   
   For information about how to rename a file, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type renaming, and then double-click the "Renaming files" topic.



2. Delete the Windows.gid index file. This file is re-created the next time you search for a Help topic.
   
   For information about how to delete a file, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type deleting, and then double-click the "Deleting files or folders" topic.



3. Try searching for the Help topic again.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.

MORE INFORMATION

The Update.cnt and Mstask.hlp files are included with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x and Microsoft Windows 98, and are not compatible with the Internet Explorer 5 Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)-based Help system.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kberrmsg osr2 win95 NTSrv
Version : WINDOWS:95; winnt:4.0 SP4
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbprb