Microsoft has started making cuts in Windows Vista but especially their soon to be released operating system Windows 7. Programs like the email client Outlook Express, Windows Movie Maker or Windows Photo Gallery have been detached from the operating system and are now available as separate downloads for users who want to use them. Many experienced Windows users like this new strategy as they feel that Microsoft has finally started cutting some of the bloat from the operating system with the opportunity for everyone to download the programs separately.
Windows 7 users who try to open help files with the .hlp extension that require the Windows Help (WinHlp32.exe) program might be in for a surprise though. This is actually a change that Microsoft has implemented in Windows Vista.
Users who want to view .hlp files in Windows 7 need to download the Windows Help Program WinHlp32.exe separately from the following download locations:
Windows Help Program 32-bit and 64-bit
WinHlp32.exe is required to display 32-bit Help files that have the “.hlp” file name extension. To view .hlp files on Windows 7, you need to install this application.
A genuine validation will be performed before the download can be started. The Help program seems to be the same for 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows 7.
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8 Responses to “Windows 7: Download WinHlp32.exe to Open Help (hlp) Files”
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[...] has changed yesterday with the release of the Windows Help program (WinHlp32.exe) for Windows 7. The download is now available and Windows 7 users who want (or need to) view help [...]
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[...] has changed yesterday with the release of the Windows Help program (WinHlp32.exe) for Windows 7. The download is now available and Windows 7 users who want (or need to) view help [...]
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[...] has changed yesterday with the release of the Windows Help program (WinHlp32.exe) for Windows 7. The download is now available and Windows 7 users who want (or need to) view help [...]
Seeing as how unuseful “Help&Support” has been in the past, this appears to be a step in the right direction. A typical MS half-step, as I expect to find the service still installed and if not set to Automatic start-up type it will start to let you know you need to re-install if you accidentally brush the F1 key. Kinda like the Messenger component that I “uninstalled”.
The important step here is yet another genuine validation gets implemented. I am almost starting to believe I AM guilty… until proven innocent.
I’m glad they released it a lot quicker for Windows 7. It took until late 2007 (nearly a year after release) for Microsoft to release the one for Vista, and even then there was a sense that they didn’t really want to.
This comment was originally posted on Windows 7 News
Within the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, the 32-bit editiion, the 64-bit edition, or both, are individually selected for download.
yes, but which is which? I know i’m running 32-bit – my file download options are:
Files in This Download
The links in this section correspond to separate files available in this download. Download the files most appropriate for you.
Windows6.1-KB917607-x64.msu and
Windows6.1-KB917607-x86.msu
Neither of those obviously corresponds to a 32-bit system and there is no information to tell me which I should use. The x64 seems like it ought to be the 64-bit, but why the heck would I want to download something called x86 for my system? What am I missing here?
The x86 is the 32-bit edition.