Old Stuff in New Stuff; VB5 must survive.


  1. Posts : 270
    Win-10
       #1

    Old Stuff in New Stuff; VB5 must survive.


    While using really old software; like Visual Basic Pro 5.0,may not fit in the millennial mindset or the Microsoft marketing strategy; as aretired old fashion engineer and sometime software guy, Windows 10 does offersome stability and neat features I like; but, I cannot afford to buy and learn something to replace VB5. During the upgrade from Win-7 to 10 it began working okay andwhile I rarely use the ‘help’ in the VB5 editor, now in Win-10 the Help willnot work. The same problem came up when I went from a Win-XP machine to a Win-7 PC, but it was fairly east to fix. Now no matter what I do the VB5 ‘help’ willnot work – it takes me to some dumb MS page with Win-10 fixes or suggestions. Yeah, maybe a temp job at Wal-Mart will earn me some extra cash for MS to spend, but I refuse to bend to the farleft methods to drive us old guys out of the programming world.

    There must be a way to overcome the Microsoft migrating to Apple marketing strategy; that is to hook people into their software then bleed them completely dry of their green. There must be a fix so I can use the VB5 help files.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 13,898
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #2

    dustymars said:
    While using really old software; like Visual Basic Pro 5.0,may not fit in the millennial mindset or the Microsoft marketing strategy; as aretired old fashion engineer and sometime software guy, Windows 10 does offersome stability and neat features I like; but, I cannot afford to buy and learn something to replace VB5. During the upgrade from Win-7 to 10 it began working okay andwhile I rarely use the ‘help’ in the VB5 editor, now in Win-10 the Help willnot work. The same problem came up when I went from a Win-XP machine to a Win-7 PC, but it was fairly east to fix. Now no matter what I do the VB5 ‘help’ willnot work – it takes me to some dumb MS page with Win-10 fixes or suggestions. Yeah, maybe a temp job at Wal-Mart will earn me some extra cash for MS to spend, but I refuse to bend to the farleft methods to drive us old guys out of the programming world.

    There must be a way to overcome the Microsoft migrating to Apple marketing strategy; that is to hook people into their software then bleed them completely dry of their green. There must be a fix so I can use the VB5 help files.
    I tried the 'trick' to get .hlp files readable in Win10 and it failed. I think it's because the Win10 computers I tried it on are 64-bit while the WinXP application was only 32-bit, quite a common issue with old programs on new technology. WinXP Pro was also available as 64-bit but I've never worked with it, didn't catch on as there weren't many 64-bit programs back then. Regardless of how poor some folks thought about Vista it did start the 'changing of the guard' to 64-bit computing along with 32-bit. A solution would be to keep a WinXP computer not connected to the Internet, I have one with 3.5", 5.25" floppy drives and a ZIP drive for the occasions I need to transfer folks' old documents to something newer.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 270
    Win-10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    You may be right. I have an old eMachines T3104 desktop that I and setup and use just for Visual Basic, but it will be pain to find space for it :) VB5 works like it should in all aspects except for the help. Ordinarily help is only used when my old brain freezes up, so maybe I can get out an old fashioned VB book for help whenever I forget some simile task. Maybe someone with time on their hands and the knowhow will come up with a fix. Yeah, being cheap comes with age :)

    Also, my daughter got a new laptop and gave her old one, with VISTA, to her mom, so I can use that. Just disable the Wi-Fi and get around all the bells and whistles I'm all set to go. Maybe put on an old Win-7 upgrade.
    Last edited by dustymars; 17 Apr 2016 at 13:49.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 270
    Win-10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    VB Help Function FIx


    Thanks to whoever posted a fix for the helpfiles. I replaced the existing Win-10 WinHlp32.exe with the XP version and myVisual Basic Pro 5.0 help works!!!! Thanks loads (Solved Can't read older *.hlp files on Windows-10 - Windows 10 Forums).
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 270
    Win-10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    This M$ changing stuff is getting really old. My PCs updated to a newer Windows 10 now I have to tweak it back to my desires, then fiddle around replacing the help files in C:\ Windows again -- what a pain! Just leave us alone!!!!!!!!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 31,472
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #6

    While I'm not familiar with VB5, it's a fairly safe bet that the help files are in the deprecated .hlp format. It's fairly easy to convert .hlp files to the current .chm format. I have done so for my old PaintShopPro 7, so you should be able to do so for your VB5 help files. See my post here...
    Can't read older *.hlp files on Windows-10
      My Computers


 

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