Help and Support in Vista

**Brink** · **OPTION ONE:**

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:

How to Add or Remove Help from the Normal and Classic Vista Start Menu

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

**Brink** · 09-26-2007

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

Shawn

Borna_mir · 11-04-2007

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

**Brink** · 11-04-2007

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

Borna_mir · 11-14-2007

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

**Brink** · 11-14-2007

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

Borna_mir · 11-29-2007

Thanks A lot Shawn, You're the BEST!!! It Worked Fine.

**Brink** · 11-29-2007

Your welcome Borna,

Glad it helped you. Thank you for the feedback.

Shawn

Rita Belserene · 01-30-2008

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

**Brink** · 01-30-2008

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

09-26-2007
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP1 Posts: 13,545 Location: Texas, USA	Re: Help and Support in Vista Updated 9-26-2007 to include WinHlp32.exe problem. Shawn
	There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them. Vista Forums Please post feedback to help others.

11-04-2007
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP1 Posts: 13,545 Location: Texas, USA	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
	There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them. Vista Forums Please post feedback to help others.

11-14-2007
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP1 Posts: 13,545 Location: Texas, USA	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
	There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them. Vista Forums Please post feedback to help others.

11-29-2007
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP1 Posts: 13,545 Location: Texas, USA	Re: Help and Support in Vista Your welcome Borna, Glad it helped you. Thank you for the feedback. Shawn
	There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them. Vista Forums Please post feedback to help others.

01-30-2008
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP1 Posts: 13,545 Location: Texas, USA	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
	There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them. Vista Forums Please post feedback to help others.

11-04-2007
Borna_mir Newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Vista home premium Posts: 8	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

11-29-2007
Borna_mir Newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Vista home premium Posts: 8	Re: Help and Support in Vista Thanks A lot Shawn, You're the BEST!!! It Worked Fine.

01-30-2008
Rita Belserene Newbie Join Date: Jan 2008 Vista Ultimate x64 Posts: 2	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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