Can't open help files

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ray
  • Start date Start date
R

Ray

I have some help files from an application that won't open
in W2000 Pro, SP4. Every time I try to open them by
double clicking on the file icon, I get a message saying
that it isn't a help file, and then another message saying
I need a newer version of help. On W98 machines the file
opens fine. Other users on W2000 seem to be OK too. I
have had the problem with different applications, and some
applications allow me to open help no problem.

Thanks for your help.
 
Ray,
I have some help files from an application that won't open
in W2000 Pro, SP4. Every time I try to open them by
double clicking on the file icon, I get a message saying
that it isn't a help file, and then another message saying
I need a newer version of help.
Click to expand...

These messages normally indicate that Windows is trying to use the
wrong application to open .hlp files. If you check the file
associations in Windows Explorer (Tools > Folder Options > File Types,
select the HLP entry and click Advanced), you may find that the
winhelp.exe executable is associated with .hlp files. This should be
winhlp32.exe.
 
-----Original Message-----
Ray,
empty.

You should have two files called winhlp32.exe (please note the
spelling): one is in the \winnt directory, and the other is in
\winnt\system32. The copy in \winnt\system32 is a small "stub", which
I believe just passes all help calls to the other version of the file.

Both the \winnt and \winnt\system32 directories are in the Windows
search path, so there's no need to specify the path to winhlp32.exe
when setting the file associations in Windows Explorer.

As for why this problem occurs, I think it's most likely the result of
a Windows 3.x-era setup program making a file association for .hlp
files with winhelp.exe. The information in the page below is a little
out-of-date but still valid.

http://www.stcsig.org/oi/hyperviews/resources/winhelp_faq/ whfaq_qa.htm#Id_Sec73
Click to expand...

Pete,
I had the spelling wrong. Thanks. I did change the
spelling of the file in the Explorer:Folder Options:File
types, but it still didn't work, so I clicked on
the "change" button and browsed in to the newest version
of the winhlp32.exe file (I had several on my system).
Now I can get the help I so badly don't need anymore
again. I just wanted to respond that this all worked in
case anyone else has the same trouble. Thanks for your
help.

Ray
 
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