Windows 10: Access .HLP files on legacy programs

How can I access help files (*.hlp) for old programs - pre Windows 10? I think a method was published earlier but I cannot locate it now.

:)

 

How to Open old HLP files from Windows 10


@andylaode
The easiest way to solve this problem is to use the XP version of winhlp32.exe.
If you have the Windows XP installtion disk, you can extract from it or download the attachment below which contains both X86 and X64 version of winhlp32.exe (XP64winhlp32.exe & XP32winhlp32.exe). Use the appropriate version with your Windows 10.

1. Copy XP64winhlp32.exe to C:\Windows or to C:\Windows\system32 if your Windows 10 is 64 bit. else copy XP32winhlp32.exe.
2. right click on the .hlp file that you want to open->Open with->More Apps then browse to the executable in step one to select it, put a check mark on "Always use ...." as shown below to associate the file type .hlp with this XP version.
   
   
   
   The original .hlp has an icon as shown:
   
   
   
   new association will change to:
   
   
   

To open the .hlp file, simply double click it or open it within the program you are running (Only work if the app is not hardcoded to open with winhlp32.exe)


XPWinhlp32.7z

 

.hlp file support

Hello Paul,

Thank you for posting your concern in Microsoft Community and welcome to the windows 10 Family.

Please be informed that, the Windows Help program which you have mentioned is applicable for Windows 7/8/8.1. As of now there no support for legacy .HLP files in Windows 10. We will inform you when we have any updates.

Thank You.

 

How to Open old HLP files from Windows 10


Microsoft deprecated the old .hlp format over 10 years ago because of security risks.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/micros...-of-hlp-files/

I've converted some of my more useful .hlp files to .chm.

The replacement format for help files is the compiled HTMLHelp format (CHM). The look and use of a .chm help file is almost identical to that of the older .hlp files. In fact, the project files (table of contents, images, text etc.) used to compile a .hlp file can easily be converted to a .chm project. From there it's an easy step to recompile the project in .chm format. Microsoft of course don't release the project files for their Help files, but these can be recreated by decompiling the .hlp file. A step-by-step guide including links to the (free) software required is here:

http://www.help-info.de/en/Help_Info...converting.htm