Microsoft Retires WinHelp32 & .HLP files

[sfsltd]

It appears Microsoft stopped including the 32-bit Help file viewer in Windows releases beginning with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917607

Be aware, if you ship help documentation as .HLP or .CHM files, they can no longer be read on Vista & Windows 7 PCs.
Microsoft seems to have also made it very difficult to re-install WinHelp32 on these platforms including restricting developers from re-distributing the WinHelp viewer.

QUOTE: "third-party software developers are no longer authorized to redistribute WinHlp32.exe with their programs".

... unfortunately this means the Express.hlp cannot be viewed on Vista & Windows 7 PCs either

[rdonnay]

You may not be able to distribute it but you can download it.
I downloaded WinHelp32 from the Microsoft website and am using it with Windows 7.

I know that I need to produce a CHM file.
I just haven't found the time to rewrite my help system.

[sfsltd]

Roger

Not sure when you did your download from the Microsoft site, this is the current download link:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en

What is NOT apparent is the effect of "Validation Required" ...

Microsoft have retired the GenuineCheck.exe validation tool which provides a 'Validation Key' required by the WinHelp32 installer. Without the validation key the installer won't run on Vista/Windows 7. The new validation tool (WindowsActivationUpdate.exe) does not provide a validation key.


This site was quite useful as a way to decompile and convert old .HLP files:

http://www.help-info.de/en/Help_Info_Wi ... erting.htm

Michael

[rdonnay]

Thanks for that info.