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

Just installed trusty old Delphi7 on my Windows10 machine and was dismayed to find the Delphi Help yielded a most unhelpful message from MS. I downloaded winhlp32 XP from YOU - many thanks to YOU! - and ran this .cmd file. It didn't seem to fix anything (what is it supposed to do?), so I simply went into the Windows directory and replaced winhlp32x.exe with the one from YOU. Now Help works fine.

 

Ok guys, Windows 10 x64 ITA here...
The archive for Windows 8 RTM (just 898KB) available from Download Windows Help program (WinHlp32.exe) for Windows 8 from Official Microsoft Download Center seem to contain all languages files, for those interested in a full install including 'WinHlp32.exe' + 'WinHlp32.exe.mui' (= help file/localization catalog/search)...

I've managed to replace 'C:\Windows\WinHlp32.exe' and 'C:\Windows\it-IT\WinHlp32.exe.mui' from the above .MSU (containing the CAB with the files...).

Here is how I did:

• Downloaded 'Windows8-RT-KB917607-x64.msu' and extracted 'Windows8-RT-KB917607-x64.cab' on the desktop with ZipWare (freeware, there are many alternatives like BandiZip, IZ-Arc etc.)
• Extracted the real files out of the .cab with CLI command: Expand.exe "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\Windows8-RT-KB917607-x64.cab" -F:* "<destdir>". Expand.exe is part of the Windows AIK package, or look simply in C:\Windows\System32
• Searched for 'winhlp' into the extraction directory and found a lot of .mui for every language both x86 and x64, e.g. the files for me (it-IT; search us-US for American English etc.) were:
  
  
  
• Took ownership of 'C:\Windows\WinHlp32.exe' and 'C:\Windows\it-IT\WinHlp32.exe.mui'... I used Windows UI, not command prompt (to be exact I gave ownership and full rights to the Admins for these files):
  
  
  
  and this gave me complete control of those files, so I renamed them to be able to paste-in the new ones
• Then I copied the new 'C:\Windows\WinHlp32.exe' and 'C:\Windows\it-IT\WinHlp32.exe.mui' in place and gave them back all the correct rights based on previous files (or any other file in those system protected dirs), including giving back ownership to "NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller" (you can type in it directly in the window with the number 3 in the above pic, because it's NOT listed)

Finished. Now I have fully functional (search working and help guide included) ITA localized Winhlp.exe (version 6.2.9200.16420 year 2007) installed in my system "the clean way" *Wink just the same as installing it from the official Windows 8 update package, not available for Windows 10 (yet?).

Hope this can be helpful...
Enjoy!

P.S.
SFC /SCANNOW command or a future Windows update can replace the fixed version with the stub.
To avoid this follow this solution:
copy extracted files but instead of replacing the original stub in C:\Windows rename them as:
...\winhlp32_legacy.exe
...\it-IT\winhlp32_legacy.exe.mui
and put them somewhere else on your HD. Then assign .hlp files to this default program (winhlp32_legacy.exe). Remember that .mui must be in a subdir with your language initials (it-IT, en-US, etc.).

 

thanks for posting this workaround to read old HLP files. Helps a lot.

I'm currently facing a problem when reading HLP files. The search button doesn't work/exist when opening the HLP files:

WIN10x64 opened HLP file:







on WIN7x64 same opened HLP file:







can't be a problem with the language, or am I wrong?

 

Hi there

My own view of this is that all these "Canned" methods could fail again after any large W10 update is done -- since some of them involve getting files from an XP system why not simply create an XP VM in the first place and then convert / read these files at leisure. The VM takes minimal space - especially if you don't need it for any thing else and simply use "Host only" networking so the XP machine is isolated from the Internet if you are worried about security etc.

Cheers
jimbo

 

Follow my guide (the msg #46 above) to install also the mui file and you should have Search and everything (localized in your own language). Fully functional :
Solved Can't read older *.hlp files on Windows-10 - Page 5 - Windows 10 Forums

 

And now--thanks to you--my .hlp files are readable again on Windows 10 (64-bit) *Smile thanks again for the instructions.

Bob

 

here you can find winhlp32.exe x86 and x64 :
Solved Can't read older *.hlp files on Windows-10 - Page 2 - Windows 10 Forums

 

Read #46 Solved Can't read older *.hlp files on Windows-10 - Page 5 - Windows 10 Forums
There is also a link to the official file from MS (800KB).
Following my instructions you'll have also Guide and Search fully working in any language.

 

Hey!! SFC /SCANNOW detected new files as corrupted and "repaired" them reinstalling original stubs! *Rolleyes

...
2016-02-04 13:24:08, Info CSI 00005d95 [SR] Repairing corrupted file [l:20 ml:21]"\??\C:\WINDOWS\it-IT"\[l:16]"winhlp32.exe.mui" from store
2016-02-04 13:24:08, Info CSI 00005dd4 [SR] Repairing corrupted file [l:14 ml:15]"\??\C:\WINDOWS"\[l:12]"winhlp32.exe" from store
...
2016-02-04 13:24:25, Info CSI 00006153 [SR] Repairing corrupted file [l:20 ml:21]"\??\C:\WINDOWS\it-IT"\[l:16]"winhlp32.exe.mui" from store
2016-02-04 13:24:25, Info CSI 00006156 [SR] Repairing corrupted file [l:14 ml:15]"\??\C:\WINDOWS"\[l:12]"winhlp32.exe" from store
...

 

Thanks - works a treat - dropped the hlp file on the exe and she opened. *Thumbs*Thumbs

 

Grazie (thank you) hexaae, I'll try your procedure asap

 

here's a zip file i made
containing the winhlp32.exe from windows XP
i've been using for a year
along with instructions on how to replace it...

it works for me even on x64...
winhlp32.zip

edit: this works on windows 8 and 10
even though the help file doesn't say so...
and probably 7 too though i haven't tried it...

 

Easy solution:
copy extracted files (see here) and rename as:
...\winhlp32_legacy.exe
...\it-IT\winhlp32_legacy.exe.mui
Somewhere else and assign .hlp files to this. Remember that .mui must be in a subdir with your language initials (it-IT, en-US, etc.)

 

I'm on the Windows 10 fast ring for new builds and this was working but a recent build put the original file back. I followed the same procedure but now opening any help simply returns an error (9009) so I'm wondering if this is no longer viable.
Edit: I switched to the XP version and that works.

 

9009 error = for the version of winhlp32.exe you are using also the .mui file is required for localization, help guide, and search function.
Follow my guide at post #46.