PRB: Corrupt Hh.dat Prevents Starting the MSDN Library

ID: Q192915

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0
MSDN Library
Microsoft HTML Help

SYMPTOMS

When you try to start the MSDN Library from Visual Studio 6.0, the following error message appears:

MSDEV.EXE - Application Error : The instruction at "0x5d48d2f0" referenced memory at "0x00000000". The memory could not be "written".

When you try to start the MSDN Library from the desktop, the following error message appears:

OleMain ThreadWndName: HH.EXE - Application Error : The instruction at "0x5d48d2f0" referenced memory at "0x00000000". The memory could not be "written".

This message is followed by:

OleMain ThreadWndName: HH.EXE - Application Error : The instruction at "0x5d48932e" referenced memory at "0x00000000". The memory could not be "read".

CAUSE

The Hh.dat file is corrupt.

RESOLUTION

Close all instances of the MSDN Library. Search for all occurences of the Hh.dat file on the system. Delete the Hh.dat file, and attempt to launch the MSDN Library again.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Hh.dat is a database file that saves information about the HTML Help window and MSDN Library favorites. Unfortunately, all favorites are lost when the Hh.dat file is deleted, but there is no other known way to recover from this error. The Hh.dat file is recreated when the MSDN Library launches.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbHTMLHelp kbMSDN
Version :
Platform :
Issue type : kbprb