Can't read older *.hlp files on Windows-10

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  1. Posts : 3,257
    Windows 10 Pro
       #31

    Fafhrd said:
    This lack of support for Winhlp32.exe OOTB has been present in every Windows consumer version since Vista, and (grudgingly, it seems) each time, a "fix" has been made available, usually by optional updates that are not offered by the routine update systems.
    That's because the .hlp format is a dangerous format, and can be used to infect systems. MS doesn't want to enable it by default and wants it to go away.
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  2. Posts : 4
    windows 10
       #32

    It works man, thanks.

    First step is : you have the winhlp from xp, i get it from attached file by YOU.
    If you run it, it will open file dialog to open hlp file, display like this:

    Can't read older *.hlp files on Windows-10-image-001.png

    If you test it to open any hlp file, it will open it.
    Then you can run batch file created by kimio kanda. It works on me.
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  3. Posts : 152
    Windows 10 Home v201H2
       #33

    Can anyone give me a rationale, similar to why .CHM is a safer format than .HLP, for why Microsoft seems to have abandoned any form of a local Help file or semi-detailed Users' guide for Windows 10 itself?

    If I'm operating off-line, e.g., when I'm camping in my RV, simply having links to Web pages doesn't cut it!

    Or, did I miss something in my W10 install? (I hope.)
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  4. Posts : 3,257
    Windows 10 Pro
       #34

    Here is some information on why .HLP is dangerous.. basically, you can embed code and macros in it that can execute without intervention...

    Reverse Mode - Please do not me!

    CHM is HTML based, while .HLP was RTF based. CHM is also blocked by default. When you download a .CHM file, you have to first "unblock" it for it to work.
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  5. Posts : 152
    Windows 10 Home v201H2
       #35

    OK, I admit to slightly "burying the lead" in my prior post, so I'll restate the real question:

    Can anyone give me a rationale for why Microsoft seems to have abandoned any form of a local Help file or semi-detailed Users' guide within Windows 10 itself?

    Following a clean install, most of my \Program Files\Microsoft & \Windows Help subdirectories are empty, and what few .CHM files are predominantly references to MSDN pages. Is this unusual, or is this the latest form of W10 "torture"?

    (But, thanks for the .CHM vs. .HLP explanation. It was interesting.)
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  6. Posts : 12
    Windows 7, 8.1, 10
       #36

    Attaching ".hlp" and/or ".chm" file(s) to an e-mail to be sent


    Mystere said:
    That's because the .hlp format is a dangerous format, and can be used to infect systems. MS doesn't want to enable it by default and wants it to go away.
    The following are just information, even many people might know the details very well.
    $1. For "Microsoft Outlook 2010"
    The file(s) ".hlp" and/or ".chm" cannot be attached to "Microsoft Outlook 2010," which you use for sending your e-mail.
    Please refer to the following.
    https://support.office.com/en-us/art...rs=en-US&ad=US$2. For "Google Gmail"
    Furthermore, the file ".chm" cannot be attached to "Google Gmail," which you use for sending your e-mail.
    Please refer to the following.
    https://support.google.com/mail/answer/6590?hl=en
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  7. Posts : 1
    Windows 10 64 BIT
       #37

    kimio kanda said:
    SUPPLEMENT-2:
    (1) First, get the service pack SP3 for Windows XP (x86) by,
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/down....aspx?id=25129
    Note:
    You can get two downloaded files (by waiting roughly 4 minutes),
    (A) WindowsXP-KB932823-v3-x86-ENU.exe, and
    (B) xpsp3_5512.080413-2113_usa_x86fre_spcd.iso.
    But, you can use ONLY "xpsp3_5512.080413-2113_usa_x86fre_spcd.iso."
    (2) Then, check the contents of the downloaded "iso" file, by using some tool (for looking the contents of an “iso” file).
    (3) You can find a “big file”(in the "iso" file),
    WINDOWSXP-KB936929-SP3-X86-ENU.EXE
    (4) Copy this “big file” (i,e, WINDOWSXP-KB936929-SP3-X86-ENU.EXE) into a temporary folder on your HDD.
    (5) Then, check the contents of this “big file” (at the temporary folder of your HDD) by using some tool (for looking the contents of an archived file).
    (6) By this checking, you can find the “winhlp32.ex_” in the “i386” folder (of this “big file”).
    (7) Copy the “winhlp32.ex_” into a temporary folder on your HDD.
    (8) Open the “Command Prompt” window, and then move the prompt to the temporary folder (in which the “winhlp32.ex_” exists).
    (9) Execute following command in the temporary folder (in which the “winhlp32.ex_” exists);
    expand winhlp32.ex_ winhlp32.exe
    By this execution, you can get “winhlp32.exe” (which has been de-compressed from “winhlp32.ex_”).
    As a result, you can use this “winhlp32.exe.”
    Thank you!
    It worked for me, even using the 32 bit versión of wihlp32.exe file (extracted from the WINDOWSXP-KB936929-SP3-X86-ENU.EXE file) in my Windows 10 - 64 bit OS.
    Later, I used the 64 bit version found in Can't read older *.hlp files on Windows-10 - Page 2 - Windows 10 Forums and it also worked, as expected.
    Thanks a lot for the info.
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  8. Posts : 4
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #38

    Thanks kimio kanda


    Hello,
    I tried your solution & it works. It took a little effort since I had to locate an XP repository, I then installed the ISO image into a virtual machine, and finally copied winhlp32.exe onto a USB key. After getting hold of winhlp32.exe, I simply followed your instructions.
    Regards,
    bostjanv
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  9. Posts : 104
    Windows 10
       #39

    Mystere said:
    Why not just convert the .hlp file to PDF? There are a number of tools to do so, but I don't know of any free ones.
    That would work for many help files but would not help at all for help which is triggered by picks in a development environment such as my Delphi IDE. I lose a great deal of built-in capability by not being able to click on a definition in Delphi and having it pop up the appropriate help information.

    Even help files which are opened by a menu pick internal to software would not find the .pdf file. What would redirect the program to look for the .pdf file instead of the .hlp file? No way to alias the file, right?

    The patch for W7 worked fine. Nothing yet for W10. And reading here, it seems most have lost all hope. I'd click "accept" on a license agreement removing Microsoft from all liability if a .hlp file contaminates my computer. If that will get my .hlp files working again, I'm ready. After all, what I have is older software which hasn't riddled my system with viruses in 15 years. Why would I think that would change? Any new software will come with the new help format, yes?
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  10. Posts : 2
    Win8
       #40

    kimio kanda said:
    How to read an old “.hlp file (*)” on Windows 10 (x64, or, x86)
    (*): The “.hlp file” must be read, without any problem, on Windows XP, 2000, ME, or, 98/98SE.
    The following is a procedure to be able to read an old “.hlp file” on Windows 10 (x86).
    (1) First, get the winhlp32.exe existing in the Windows directory of Windows XP (x86).
    (2) Make a temporary folder (for example D:\TEMP) on the HDD of Windows 10 (x86).
    (3) Copy the winhlp32.exe (obtained by the #(1) step) into the temporary folder D:\TEMP.
    (4) Make a file, named Win10-Hlp32-Fix.cmd, by using the text editor.
    All of the contents of the file (Win10-Hlp32-Fix.cmd) are as follows;
    @echo off
    set crtpth=%CD%
    takeown /f "%windir%\winhlp32.exe" >nul
    icacls "%windir%\winhlp32.exe" /grant *S-1-5-32-544:F >nul
    copy /y "%crtpth%\winhlp32.exe" %windir%
    icacls "%windir%\winhlp32.exe" /setowner "NT Service\TrustedInstaller" >nul
    echo.
    echo Done.
    echo.
    echo Press any key to Exit
    pause >nul
    exit
    (5) Therefore, you can find two files (winhlp32.exe and Win10-Hlp32-Fix.cmd) in the D:\TEMP.
    (6) Open the Command Prompt window, by selecting "Run as administrator.”
    (7) Then, move the prompt to the D:\TEMP directory, by using recover (CD)command.
    (8) Under this condition, execute the Win10-Hlp32-Fix.cmd command in the D:\TEMP directory.
    (9) After the completion of this execution, you can read an old “.hlp file” on Windows 10 (x86).

    Remarks:
    In the case of Windows 10 (x64), please use the winhlp32.exe existing in the Windows directory of Windows XP (x64).
    Any simple solution available? It's a bit hard for me
    Last edited by sckyless; 06 Oct 2015 at 05:08.
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