problems with old HLP file

[roytom]

Hi All,
I'm trying to use an older program (that has no possibility of an upgrade) on Win 7 - the program runs fine but I cannot get the help to load - its an old HLP file that only works under XP or older.

I've tried all the compatibilty software options (I think they only work with the older CHM format) that windows offers but this file will not work... still.

Can I convert this old HLP format to anything else?

Thanks, Roy

 

[Dzomlija]

Hi All,
I'm trying to use an older program (that has no possibility of an upgrade) on Win 7 - the program runs fine but I cannot get the help to load - its an old HLP file that only works under XP or older.

I've tried all the compatibilty software options (I think they only work with the older CHM format) that windows offers but this file will not work... still.

Can I convert this old HLP format to anything else?

Thanks, Roy

Try this:
I cannot open Help files that require the Windows Help (WinHlp32.exe) program

Windows Help program (WinHlp32.exe) for Windows 7

 

[roytom]

Nope... the Windows Help program (WinHlp32.exe) for Windows 7 download (Windows6.1-KB917607-x64.msu) does not work for this help file and from the program attempting to access the help it gives the error message, as before, of:-

"Cannot display this help file. try opening the help file again, and if you still get this message, copy the help file to a different drive, and try again"

Therefore the downloaded windows help update (64 bit win 7) doesn't work for this type of help file or this one in particular.

Any other possible solutions - running the old program under XP is not a practical possibility.

Rgds., Roy

 

[Dzomlija]

Nope... the Windows Help program (WinHlp32.exe) for Windows 7 download (Windows6.1-KB917607-x64.msu) does not work for this help file and from the program attempting to access the help it gives the error message, as before, of:-

"Cannot display this help file. try opening the help file again, and if you still get this message, copy the help file to a different drive, and try again"

Therefore the downloaded windows help update (64 bit win 7) doesn't work for this type of help file or this one in particular.

Any other possible solutions - running the old program under XP is not a practical possibility.

Rgds., Roy

If it is an older type Windows Help file (.HLP), then the update from Microsoft should have worked.

Is it possible that the program is using it own proprietary help file, and it is just using the extension .HLP?

I've just checked myself, and some of my own software that uses standard Windows Help HLP files successfully opened their help files after I installed the update...

 

[roytom]

No it appears to be a standard helpfile - I have tried converting it using a 3rd party converter to pdf as a test, the text and graphics come out but the hotlinks within the help file fail to work.

This HLP file works normally under XP but not Vista or Win 7.

Is there a free and reliable helpfile converter out there anywhere? If I can get the file over to say CHM then I think that the Win 7 patch/fix/upgrade (Windows6.1-KB917607-x64.msu) would probably work.

Thanks, Roy