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Help and Support in Vista

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Help and Support in Vista
How to Fix Windows Vista Help and Support
Published by Brink
08-24-2007

How to Fix Windows Vista Help and Support

Information
  When you try to open Help and Support in Vista, you get a error message and Help will not open properly, or you get a message that WinHlp32.exe is no longer supported.
NOTE
  Common Error Messages:
  • Red X mark appears where the images are to be displayed.
  • CSS styles are not applied to the pages in Help and Support.
  • Error Internet Explorer cannot download / from Windows
Help_Error.jpg
  • The Windows Help (WinHlp32.exe) program is no longer included in Windows
WinHlp32.jpg


RELATED LINK:


OPTION ONE:
For This Help Error Message
NOTE
  For more information, see: Windows Help and Support: KB917607 Article
  • The Windows Help (WinHlp32.exe) program is no longer included in Windows
1. Go to this site: Microsoft Download Center: Windows Help program (WinHlp32.exe) for Windows Vista


2. Click Continue at the site above to download and install the patch.
NOTE: If you get the error 80070422 or the patch will not install, then see: MS KB917607 WinHelp32 Patch


OPTION TWO:
For These Help Error Messages
NOTE
  These are usually caused when the Content Type registry settings for the file types: .XML, .XSL, .PNG, .JPG, .CSS is incorrect or missing.
  • Red X mark appears where the images are to be displayed.
  • CSS styles are not applied to the pages in Help and Support.
  • Error: Internet Explorer cannot download / from Windows
STEP ONE:
NOTE: To make sure that you have Online Help and Support enabled.
1. Click on Options at the top right corner of the Help window, and click on Settings. (See screenshot below step 3)
2. Check the Include Windows Online Help and Support when you search for help box.
3. Click OK.

Help_Settings.jpg

STEP TWO:
1. Click on the download button below to download the Fix Help.reg file.



3. Click on Save and save it to the desktop.
4. Right click on the Fix Help.reg file (on desktop) and click Merge.
5. Click on the Run button for Security Warning prompt.
6. Click Continue button for UAC prompt.
7. Click YES on confirmation prompt.
8. Click OK on success prompt.
9. When done, you can deleted the Fix Help.reg file (on desktop) if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
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Tutorial Tools

Applies to
All Vista Versions
64 Bit & 32 Bit

Rating
Skill Level
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Old 09-26-2007  
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Re: Help and Support in Vista

Updated 9-26-2007 to include WinHlp32.exe problem.

Shawn

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Please post feedback to help others.
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Old 11-04-2007  
Borna_mir
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Re: Help and Support in Vista

Dear Shawn;

Regarding this error message: "The Windows Help (WinHlp32.exe) program is no longer included in Windows" I cheked out Windows Help and Support: KB917607 Article and downloaded the x86 patch for my 32bit windows but I'm affraid to install it on my computer because in the article there was a list of known issues which I may encounter, such as:
  • Macros are disabled
  • Cannot access .hlp files that are stored on intranet sites
  • Noninteractive user access has been blocked
  • Drag-and-drop functionality has been disabled
  • Dependencies on “How to Use Help” files
What is your opinion? Is it safe to install this patch?


Thanks: Borna

Last edited by Borna_mir; 11-04-2007 at 01:01 PM. Reason: Unsupported font
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Old 11-04-2007  
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Re: Help and Support in Vista

Hi Borna mir,

Yes, it is safe to install the patch. If you have any of the listed problems, then the KB917607 article shows you how to resolve them towards the bottom of it.

Shawn

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Old 11-14-2007  
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Re: Help and Support in Vista

Dear Shawn:

I installed Winhlp32.exe patch but now there's an error after opening help files: "There was a problem running the macro (1037)".

According to "Doug M. in NJ" I should add this syntax to my registry:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WinHelp]
"AllowProgrammaticMacros"=dword:00000001
"AllowIntranetAccess"=dword:00000001

Doug Says "the syntax above is for a .REG file. Paste the lines into Notepad, then save and merge the file."

I have never added something to registry, so I need a little more explanation please!! What should be the extention of notepad file? and how it should be merged?...

Sorry if it is a dumb question.
Thanks: Borna
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Old 11-14-2007  
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Re: Help and Support in Vista

MS KB917607 WinHelp32 Patch :

You can read more on this towards the bottom of this link under Registry entries and group policies:
Windows Help and Support: KB917607 Article

FOR:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WinHelp]
"AllowProgrammaticMacros"=dword:00000001
"AllowIntranetAccess"=dword:00000001


1. To Add WinHelp - Click on Add_WinHelp.reg below to download it.
2. To Remove WinHelp - Click on Remove_WinHelp.reg below to download it.
3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

Add_WinHelp.reg < Click To Download

Remove_WinHelp.reg < Click To Download

4. Right click the .reg (On Desktop) file and click Merge.
5. Click on the Run button for Security Warning pop-up.
6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
7. You may need to Logoff and logon or restart the computer to apply the changes.
8. When done, you can delete the .reg file (On Desktop).

That's it,
Shawn

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Old 11-29-2007  
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Re: Help and Support in Vista

Thanks A lot Shawn, You're the BEST!!! It Worked Fine.
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Old 11-29-2007  
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Re: Help and Support in Vista

Your welcome Borna,

Glad it helped you. Thank you for the feedback.

Shawn

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Old 01-30-2008  
Rita Belserene
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Re: Help and Support in Vista

Note: If you're using 64-bit Vista, the registry fix above won't work. You need to change a different key:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\WinHelp]
"AllowProgrammaticMacros"=dword:00000001
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Old 01-30-2008  
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Re: Help and Support in Vista

Hi Rita,

Thank you for providing this, but are you sure?
When I go to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft location in the registry, I do not even have a WinHelp key there.

Both Microsoft KB articles that you are referring to from above say that it is for the 64 bit Vista as well.

The Windows Help (WinHlp32.exe) program is no longer included in Windows operating systems starting with Windows Vista

and

Download details: WinHlp32.exe for Windows Vista

You may be correct, but could you provide a KB article or something on this to help clear up any confusion?

Thank you,
Shawn

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Please post feedback to help others.
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