Can't read registry entry AppPath

[ClaireE]

Hi everybody. I know this must be an old problem but I've never seen it before.

I've installed RoboHelp X3 to do some work for a client and I now get the error "Can't read registry entry AppPath" when starting RoboHelp for Word. I've reinstalled but to no avail. I've also searched on this and other forums but can't find anything (that works).

I know I'm not the only one to ever see this. Can anybody remember how to sort it out?

Many thanks in anticipation.

[Peter Grainge]

Welcome to the forum Claire.

I don't know the answer but perhaps something here might help.

1] Was RH installed using your logon and with admin rights attached? Problems occur if IT install an application using their logons.

2] What version of Word are you using and was it installed before RH?

3] Rick Stone, aka RoboWizard for completely justifiable reasons, is more likely to know the answer. He is US based so he won't be online for another 6/7 hours. However, it might be worth downloading his Tips and Tricks file to see if there is anything in that. Click here.

[Peter Grainge]

The other thought that occurs to me is have you installed X3 on a machine that has previously had a later version of RoboHelp on it?

[ClaireE]

Thanks for the response.

Actually I had RoboHelp X5 installed before installing X3. Also, I am using Word XP and I am a local Administrator.

Anybody else have any ideas?

[Peter Grainge]

I have other ideas but if you want to wait for someone else...

I asked about having a later version on the machine for a reason. RH can be a problem if you install an earlier version on a machine that has had a later version on it. I think the only solution will be to do a full uninstall including some registry changes.

Normally I would point you to the relevant topic on my site but the host company's server is having severe problems. If you click my user name and send me an email, I can send you the instructions in PDF format.

[Peter Grainge]

Having had another look at my topic, most of it is about installing and activating. On the uninstall side you will probably be able to work from this link to a topic on Macromedia's site.

http://tinyurl.com/hnrx9

[hez302]

I have also received this error when trying to use RoboHelp for Word x4.1.

"Can't read registry entry AppPath. RoboHelp may not be installed properly.
Re-install RoboHelp if you continue to get this message."

I had originally had teh trail version of RoboHelp Office x5 installed on my PC, then I found out our company already had purchased a licensed version (x4.1).

I have uninstalled and reinstalled many times now, with no resolution. The last time, I followed the advice in the technote posted, to completely uninstall RoboHelp to remove all traces before reinstalling. This has not helped the problem. I'm stall getting the error.

Any suggestions?

[Peter Grainge]

Go to my site and follow the instructions for uninstalling including following the link to Adobe's site where certain registry changes will be described.

Installing an earlier version than has previously been on the machine is always a problem. I am hoping the full uninstall will do the trick.

Also bear in mind that to install you must use your own logon, not an IT person's logon and you must have had admin rights.

[Peter Grainge]

Just reread your post. You have been down the technote route.

What version of Word do you use? X4 is not compatible with Word 2003 and before you ask, no there is not a back door way of making it work!

[hez302]

Thanks for responding so quickly.

I'm using Word 2002 SP3.

I forgot to mention I installed RoboHelp with my user id which has admin rights for this PC.

[Peter Grainge]

Sorry, I don't know what else to suggest other than going through it all again to make sure you didn't miss something.

[hez302]

I retried and uninstall and reinstall of RoboHelp, and this time it seemed to work.

I must have missed deleting some files/reg keys the first time around, otherwise I'm not sure I can explain why it worked this time.

Thanks for your help.

[HB1_Pencil]

I had the same problem on a machine where I had X5 then removed that and installed the X6 trial version (which incidentally I don't recall this happening for). I unstalled X6 and reinstalled X5 as we decided we would purchase X5 instead (long story on this one, see separate post). This resulted in the same AppPath registry message mentioned here. I followed the same instructions for which Peter provided a link ( http://tinyurl.com/hnrx9) and the reinstall of X5 has worked perfectly. Thanks for raising this, and thanks for giving a resolution. I would have been lost without this kind of support 🙂