diff --git a/source/ide/ide_methods.bas b/source/ide/ide_methods.bas
index d1aeac335..7545e5ed5 100644
--- a/source/ide/ide_methods.bas
+++ b/source/ide/ide_methods.bas
@@ -2307,7 +2307,7 @@ FUNCTION ide2 (ignore)
                                 Help_sy = Help_Back(Help_Back_Pos).sy
                                 Help_cx = Help_Back(Help_Back_Pos).cx
                                 Help_cy = Help_Back(Help_Back_Pos).cy
-                                a$ = Wiki(Back$(Help_Back_Pos))
+                                a$ = Wiki$(Back$(Help_Back_Pos))
                                 WikiParse a$
                                 GOTO newpageparsed
                             END IF
@@ -2565,7 +2565,7 @@ FUNCTION ide2 (ignore)
                     Help_sy = Help_Back(Help_Back_Pos).sy
                     Help_cx = Help_Back(Help_Back_Pos).cx
                     Help_cy = Help_Back(Help_Back_Pos).cy
-                    a$ = Wiki(Back$(Help_Back_Pos))
+                    a$ = Wiki$(Back$(Help_Back_Pos))
                     WikiParse a$
                     GOTO newpageparsed
                 END IF
@@ -2652,7 +2652,7 @@ FUNCTION ide2 (ignore)
                                         Help_Back(Help_Back_Pos).cx = 1
                                         Help_Back(Help_Back_Pos).cy = 1
                                         Help_sx = 1: Help_sy = 1: Help_cx = 1: Help_cy = 1
-                                        a$ = Wiki(l$)
+                                        a$ = Wiki$(l$)
                                         WikiParse a$
                                         GOTO newpageparsed
                                     END IF
@@ -2758,7 +2758,7 @@ FUNCTION ide2 (ignore)
                 Help_Back(Help_Back_Pos).cy = 1
                 Help_sx = 1: Help_sy = 1: Help_cx = 1: Help_cy = 1
 
-                a$ = Wiki(lnk$)
+                a$ = Wiki$(lnk$)
 
                 IF idehelp = 0 THEN
                     IF idesubwindow THEN PCOPY 3, 0: SCREEN , , 3, 0: GOTO ideloop
@@ -5414,8 +5414,16 @@ FUNCTION ide2 (ignore)
                 PCOPY 2, 0
                 q$ = ideyesnobox("Update Help", "This can take up to 15 minutes.\nRedownload all cached help content from the wiki?")
                 PCOPY 2, 0
-                IF q$ = "Y" THEN ideupdatehelpbox
-                PCOPY 3, 0: SCREEN , , 3, 0
+                IF q$ = "Y" THEN
+                    Help_Recaching = 1: Help_IgnoreCache = 1
+                    uerr = ideupdatehelpbox
+                    Help_Recaching = 0: Help_IgnoreCache = 0
+                    PCOPY 3, 0: SCREEN , , 3, 0
+                    IF uerr THEN
+                        lnk$ = "Update All"
+                        GOTO OpenHelpLnk
+                    END IF
+                END IF
                 GOTO ideloop
             END IF
 
@@ -17607,7 +17615,7 @@ SUB Help_ShowText
     IF setup = 0 AND UBOUND(back$) = 1 THEN
         setup = 1
         IF IdeContextHelpSF = 0 THEN
-            a$ = Wiki(Back$(1))
+            a$ = Wiki$(Back$(1))
             WikiParse a$
         END IF
     END IF
@@ -18665,7 +18673,15 @@ SUB IdeAddSearched (s2$)
     CLOSE #fh
 END SUB
 
-SUB ideupdatehelpbox
+FUNCTION ideupdatehelpbox
+    ideupdatehelpbox = 0 'all good, getting 1 on error
+    IF Help_Recaching = 2 THEN
+        DIM FullMessage$(1 TO 2)
+        UpdateStep = 1
+        Help_ww = 78
+        GOTO startMainLoop
+    END IF
+
     '-------- generic dialog box header --------
     PCOPY 0, 2
     PCOPY 0, 1
@@ -18707,8 +18723,9 @@ SUB ideupdatehelpbox
     FOR i = 1 TO 100: o(i).par = p: NEXT 'set parent info of objects
     '-------- end of generic init --------
 
+    startMainLoop:
     DO 'main loop
-
+        IF Help_Recaching = 2 GOTO updateRoutine
 
         '-------- generic display dialog box & objects --------
         idedrawpar p
@@ -18813,6 +18830,7 @@ SUB ideupdatehelpbox
         END IF
         'end of custom controls
 
+        updateRoutine:
         '-------- update routine -------------------------------------
         SELECT CASE UpdateStep
             CASE 1
@@ -18830,9 +18848,8 @@ SUB ideupdatehelpbox
             CASE 3
                 'Download and PARSE alphabetical index to build required F1 help links
                 FullMessage$(1) = "Regenerating keyword list..."
-                Help_Recaching = 1: Help_IgnoreCache = 1
                 a$ = Wiki$("Keyword Reference - Alphabetical")
-                Help_Recaching = 0: Help_IgnoreCache = 0
+                IF INSTR(a$, "{{PageInternalError}}") > 0 THEN ideupdatehelpbox = 1: EXIT DO
                 WikiParse a$
                 UpdateStep = UpdateStep + 1
             CASE 4
@@ -18889,13 +18906,14 @@ SUB ideupdatehelpbox
                         f2$ = LEFT$(f2$, LEN(f2$) - 4)
                         n = n + 1
                         FullMessage$(2) = "Page title: " + f2$
-                        Help_IgnoreCache = 1: Help_Recaching = 1: ignore$ = Wiki(f2$): Help_Recaching = 0: Help_IgnoreCache = 0
+                        ignore$ = Wiki$(f2$)
                     END IF
                 ELSE
                     UpdateStep = UpdateStep + 1
                 END IF
             CASE 6
                 stoprecache:
+                IF Help_Recaching = 2 THEN EXIT DO
                 FullMessage$(1) = "All pages updated."
                 FullMessage$(2) = ""
                 idetxt(o(ButtonID).txt) = "#Close"
@@ -18906,7 +18924,7 @@ SUB ideupdatehelpbox
         mousedown = 0
         mouseup = 0
     LOOP
-END SUB
+END FUNCTION
 
 FUNCTION ideASCIIbox$(relaunch)
 
@@ -19867,20 +19885,30 @@ FUNCTION findHelpTopic$(topic$, lnks, firstOnly AS _BYTE)
     'check if topic$ is in help links
     '    - returns a list of help links separated by CHR$(0)
     '    - returns the total number of links found by changing 'lnks'
-    IF NOT _FILEEXISTS("internal\help\links.bin") THEN
+    lnks = 0: lnks$ = CHR$(0)
+    fh = FREEFILE
+    '----------
+    linksFileExist = _FILEEXISTS("internal\help\links.bin")
+    IF linksFileExist THEN
+        OPEN "internal\help\links.bin" FOR INPUT AS #fh
+        linksFileEmpty = (LOF(fh) = 0): CLOSE #fh
+    END IF
+    IF (NOT linksFileExist) OR linksFileEmpty THEN
         q$ = ideyesnobox("Help problem", "The help system is not yet initialized,\ndo it now? (Make sure you're online.)")
         PCOPY 3, 0: SCREEN , , 3, 0
-        IF q$ = "N" THEN lnks = 0: lnks$ = CHR$(0): GOTO noLinksFile
+        IF q$ = "N" GOTO noLinksFile
         Help_IgnoreCache = 1
         a$ = Wiki$("Keyword Reference - Alphabetical")
         Help_IgnoreCache = 0
+        IF INSTR(a$, "{{PageInternalError}}") THEN
+            lnks = 1: lnks$ = lnks$ + "Initialize" + CHR$(0)
+            GOTO noLinksFile
+        END IF
         Help_ww = 78: WikiParse a$ 'assume standard IDE width for parsing
     END IF
     '----------
     a2$ = UCASE$(topic$)
-    fh = FREEFILE
     OPEN "internal\help\links.bin" FOR INPUT AS #fh
-    lnks = 0: lnks$ = CHR$(0)
     DO UNTIL EOF(fh)
         LINE INPUT #fh, l$
         c = INSTR(l$, ","): l1$ = LEFT$(l$, c - 1): l2$ = RIGHT$(l$, LEN(l$) - c)
diff --git a/source/ide/wiki/wiki_methods.bas b/source/ide/wiki/wiki_methods.bas
index 9d0cd3d56..904ca2699 100644
--- a/source/ide/wiki/wiki_methods.bas
+++ b/source/ide/wiki/wiki_methods.bas
@@ -32,20 +32,6 @@ FUNCTION Wiki$ (PageName$) 'Read cached wiki page (download, if not yet cached)
             a$ = SPACE$(LOF(fh))
             GET #fh, , a$
             CLOSE #fh
-            chr13 = INSTR(a$, CHR$(13))
-            removedchr13 = 0
-            DO WHILE chr13 > 0
-                removedchr13 = -1
-                a$ = LEFT$(a$, chr13 - 1) + MID$(a$, chr13 + 1)
-                chr13 = INSTR(a$, CHR$(13))
-            LOOP
-            IF removedchr13 THEN
-                fh = FREEFILE
-                OPEN Cache_Folder$ + "/" + PageName3$ + ".txt" FOR OUTPUT AS #fh: CLOSE #fh
-                OPEN Cache_Folder$ + "/" + PageName3$ + ".txt" FOR BINARY AS #fh
-                PUT #fh, 1, a$
-                CLOSE #fh
-            END IF
             Wiki$ = a$
             EXIT FUNCTION
         END IF
@@ -53,10 +39,20 @@ FUNCTION Wiki$ (PageName$) 'Read cached wiki page (download, if not yet cached)
 
     'Check for curl
     IF _SHELLHIDE("curl --version") <> 0 THEN
-        PCOPY 2, 0
-        result = idemessagebox("QB64", "Cannot find 'curl'.", "#Abort")
-        PCOPY 3, 0: SCREEN , , 3, 0
-        EXIT FUNCTION
+        a$ = CHR$(10) + "{{PageInternalError}}" + CHR$(10)
+        IF PageName$ = "Initialize" THEN
+            a$ = a$ + "To be able to initialize the help system, "
+        ELSEIF PageName$ = "Update All" THEN
+            a$ = a$ + "To be able to update the help pages from the online Wiki, "
+        ELSE
+            a$ = a$ + "The requested help page is not yet cached locally. To download the help page from the online Wiki, "
+        END IF
+        a$ = a$ + "a tool called ''curl'' is required, but it wasn't found on your system." + CHR$(10) + CHR$(10)
+        a$ = a$ + "* To get ''curl'', visit the official [https://curl.se/download.html download page]." + CHR$(10)
+        a$ = a$ + "** Grab the latest ''binary'' archive available for your system." + CHR$(10)
+        a$ = a$ + "** Unpack and drop the ''curl'' executable into the QB64 folder." + CHR$(10)
+        a$ = a$ + "** If there's a file named ''curl-ca-bundle.crt'' or similar, drop it into the QB64 folder too." + CHR$(10)
+        Wiki$ = a$: EXIT FUNCTION
     END IF
 
     'Download message (Status Bar)
@@ -112,9 +108,10 @@ FUNCTION Wiki$ (PageName$) 'Read cached wiki page (download, if not yet cached)
         a$ = StrReplace$(a$, "Start}}" + CHR$(10) + "'' ''", "Start}}")
         a$ = StrReplace$(a$, "'' ''" + CHR$(10) + "{{", CHR$(10) + "{{")
         a$ = StrReplace$(a$, "'' '' " + CHR$(10) + "{{", CHR$(10) + "{{")
-        a$ = StrReplace$(a$, "'' ''" + MKI$(&H0A0A) + "{{", CHR$(10) + "{{")
-        '--- wiki redirects
+        a$ = StrReplace$(a$, "'' ''" + CHR$(10) + CHR$(10) + "{{", CHR$(10) + "{{")
+        '--- wiki redirects & crlf
         a$ = StrReplace$(a$, "#REDIRECT", "See page")
+        a$ = StrReplace$(a$, CHR$(13) + CHR$(10), CHR$(10))
         '--- put a download date/time entry
         a$ = "{{QBDLDATE:" + DATE$ + "}}" + CHR$(10) + "{{QBDLTIME:" + TIME$ + "}}" + CHR$(10) + a$
         '--- now save it
@@ -775,8 +772,8 @@ SUB WikiParse (a$) 'Wiki page interpret
             IF c$ = ";" AND nl = 1 THEN 'definition (new line only)
                 IF c$(2) = "; " THEN i = i + 1
                 Help_Bold = 1: col = Help_Col: Help_DList = 1
-                IF c$(3) = ";* " THEN i = i + 2: Help_DList = 3 'list dot belongs to description
-                IF c$(2) = ";*" THEN i = i + 1: Help_DList = 2 'list dot belongs to description
+                IF c$(3) = ";* " OR c$(3) = ";# " THEN i = i + 2: Help_DList = 3 'list dot belongs to description
+                IF c$(2) = ";*" OR c$(2) = ";#" THEN i = i + 1: Help_DList = 2 'list dot belongs to description
                 GOTO charDone
             END IF
             IF c$ = ":" AND Help_DList > 0 THEN 'description (same or new line)
@@ -803,16 +800,16 @@ SUB WikiParse (a$) 'Wiki page interpret
         'Wiki lists (*, **) are not handled in blocks (soft- and hard lock), as it would
         'disrupt the block, also in code blocks it could be part of the code example itself
         IF Help_LockParse = 0 THEN
-            'Unordered lists
+            'Unordered/Ordered lists
             IF nl = 1 THEN
-                IF c$(2) = "**" THEN
-                    IF c$(3) = "** " THEN i = i + 2: ELSE i = i + 1
+                IF c$(2) = "**" OR c$(2) = "##" THEN
+                    IF c$(3) = "** " OR c$(3) = "## " THEN i = i + 2: ELSE i = i + 1
                     Help_AddTxt "   " + CHR$(4) + " ", 14, 0
                     Help_NewLineIndent = Help_NewLineIndent + 5
                     GOTO charDone
                 END IF
-                IF c$ = "*" THEN
-                    IF c$(2) = "* " THEN i = i + 1
+                IF c$ = "*" OR c$ = "#" THEN
+                    IF c$(2) = "* " OR c$(2) = "# " THEN i = i + 1
                     Help_AddTxt CHR$(4) + " ", 14, 0
                     Help_NewLineIndent = Help_NewLineIndent + 2
                     GOTO charDone
diff --git a/source/qb64.bas b/source/qb64.bas
index 8596ef3e0..d58f82cb9 100644
--- a/source/qb64.bas
+++ b/source/qb64.bas
@@ -13118,6 +13118,14 @@ FUNCTION ParseCMDLineArgs$ ()
                 PRINT "  -z                      Generate C code without compiling to executable"
                 PRINT
                 SYSTEM
+            CASE "-u" 'Invoke "Update all pages" to populate internal/help files (hidden build option)
+                Help_Recaching = 2: Help_IgnoreCache = 1
+                IF ideupdatehelpbox THEN
+                    _DEST _CONSOLE
+                    PRINT "Update failed: curl not found"
+                    SYSTEM 1
+                END IF
+                SYSTEM
             CASE "-c" 'Compile instead of edit
                 NoIDEMode = 1
                 cmdlineswitch = -1