Open and View Windows Help .HLP Content Files in Vista

[maxitis]

Microsoft is dropping support for WinHelp in Windows Vista. WinHelp or Windows Help as WinHlp32.exe is a help program that has been included with Microsoft Windows operating system since version Windows 3.1. Previously, this Windows Help program (WinHlp32.exe) is required to display 32-bit help content files that have the “.HLP” file name extension.

However it’s still possible to open and view 32-bit Help files with the .HLP extension in Windows Vista. Simply download and install Windows Help program (WinHlp32.exe) for Windows Vista, and you will be able to display 32-bit Help files that have the “.hlp” file name extension.

Both 32-bit and 64-bit and all editions of Windows Vista is supported.

[WillFS]

Has anybody had any luck getting this download to work from Microsoft? I have downloaded it about 25 times over the past 6 months or so and never had any luck getting it to install. Each time I have written to Microsoft for help. But of course, they are too good to talk to me. I am only a customer.

First, Microsoft has to validate my version of Vista. That goes fine. Then I am taken to a page with two files to download. Not a clue is given about which one I should choose.

The Instructions just say...
1. Install Windows Help by clicking the Download button.
2. Click Run and then follow the instructions on the screen.

There is no "RUN" button. I have "OPEN" "SAVE" and "CANCEL" So, I clicked the open button.

But that does not work. First off, the two files are:
Windows6.0-KB917607-x64.msu and Windows6.0-KB917607-x86.msu

I am using a Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit edition on my Dell Computer. It has 4 GBytes of RAM and uses an AMD Athlon 64x Dual Core Processor 5000+ 2.6 GHz.

So I picked the first file with the x64 in it hoping that had something to do with 64x in my microprocessor. All I get when I run the file is an error saying:

"C:\Users\Will\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temp orary Internet
Files\Low\Content.IE5\0TXR3OIA\Windows6.0-KB917607-x64[1].msu is not a valid
Win32 application."

SO now what???

How can I get a Microsoft application to work on a Microsoft operating system?

Will

[ratcat]

Try this






















http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg255/ratcat73/Forum%20pic/BangComputer.gif












.

[w31n3r]

Has anybody had any luck getting this download to work from Microsoft? I have downloaded it about 25 times over the past 6 months or so and never had any luck getting it to install. Each time I have written to Microsoft for help. But of course, they are too good to talk to me. I am only a customer.

First, Microsoft has to validate my version of Vista. That goes fine. Then I am taken to a page with two files to download. Not a clue is given about which one I should choose.
blah blah blah...

Will

once you're done following ratcats advice, download the Windows6.0-KB917607-x86.msu file. problem solved.

you have a 32bit operating system. you downloaded a file for a 64bit OS. you got an error message that clearly told you so, and even if you didn't get it, downloading the other file would have been the logical answer. thus ratcats advice first, then mine.

Edit: ignore the fact that your processor is 64bit capable as long as you have a 32bit OS.

[ratcat]

........
I am using a Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit edition on my Dell Computer. It has 4 GBytes of RAM and uses an AMD Athlon 64x Dual Core Processor 5000+ 2.6 GHz.
............

Will

After re reading the post again and again.

To me that computer should rock, compared to my cpu, I feel like a kid with a small toy.

Why would you want ms help? They design it does mean they know how to use it. If you really want to fiddle with the system there are other people who do that for a living and do it better than ms.

Yes please follows w31n3r advice and remember


........
I am using a Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit edition on my Dell Computer. It has 4 GBytes of RAM and uses an AMD Athlon 64x Dual Core Processor 5000+ 2.6 GHz.


btw how come the original post got started in Science and Tech and wasn't move to general computing in the window section... I'll strike that one down has another ZP mystery. lol

.

[WillFS]

once you're done following ratcats advice, download the Windows6.0-KB917607-x86.msu file. problem solved.

you have a 32bit operating system. you downloaded a file for a 64bit OS. you got an error message that clearly told you so, and even if you didn't get it, downloading the other file would have been the logical answer. thus ratcats advice first, then mine.

Edit: ignore the fact that your processor is 64bit capable as long as you have a 32bit OS.

I did try both files. They both did the same thing. The only diference of course was in the error message it referred to the x86 rather than the x64 file. Both are not true 32-bit applications according to Windows Vista.

I actually think the trouble might be centered around the User Account Control.

You are right, the version of Windows I have is the 32-bit. Dell told me that the 64-bit version would not take advantage of the dual core processors so I took the 32-bit.

Luckily, I still have XP on all my other computers. That way, I can possibly transfer all my help files to a notebook and run them there with the notebook sitting next to me while I work on this desktop. It's a pain, but that's MicroShaft.

[w31n3r]

just mark it down as one of those anomalies that keep coming out of redmond. screw the help files, they're useless anyway, and a lot of people do away with them altogether. if you need help post it here and i or anyone of thousands of members here would be happy to help you. and if we can't, then you won't find it on Help anyway. also, google always does a better job IMHO.

welcome aboard.