Need help with .hlp

[Dave Neve]

Hi

I recently posted concerning my .hlp files and the '?' icon which can be
dragged to a button etc in order to get help.

Someone kindly sent me a registry fix and it worked but .hlp has since
crashed again and the fix no longer works.

On clicking an .hlp file, the little timeglass appears for a few seconds and
then disappears but the .hlp file doesn't pop up.

Any ideas what could be causing the crashes and how to fix it definitively.

Thanks in advance

XP Pro with SP1/2 installed.

 

[Kelly]

Hi Dave,

Do a search for your previous post. I can't really help you without knowing
more.

--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[Guest]

Hello Dave,

I was Going Trough Your Issue and I Think you can Do Below Listed Steps

-- 1st Resoution :

Open Msconfig and Disable Startup Items. Apply and Close And Restart The
Computer.
Note: This is not a Permanet Resolution.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Resolution.

1. Start ->run -> and Type "Regedit" (Without Quotes) And Then Click Ok
2. Expand Heky_Classes_Root
3. Look for .hlp
: --> Incase We Dont Have any .hlp Key
4. Right Click On Heky_Classes_Root And go to New and Clcik on Key
5. Rename it to .hlp and Close The Registry
6. Restart The Computer.

Hope This will Resolve your Issue.

Disclaimer : Use Registry at your Own Risk.


Regards
Aanang Kumar
Support Engineer
Windows XP
Microsoft Corporation

 

[Kelly]

No.......

--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[Dave Neve]

Hi

Nothing worked until I simply copied WinHlp 32 from my second hard drive and
replaced all the existing WinHlp 32 files on the first drive.

I'll have to wait and see if this fix is ok or if there is sth corrupting
these files (virus tests are negative)

Thanks anyway for all the help

Dave Neve

Dave Neve

 

[Rodger_B]

Dave - do you have EasyCleaner installed on your computer?
When XP first came out, EasyCleaner used to delete a Registry key that was
needed for Windows Help and Support.
There was a *.reg file posted on their site to fix it.

http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/index.htm

 

[Kelly]

Hi Dave,

This workaround was used for SP1. But you listed SP1 and 2. Seems a bit
odd that you needed it now. Just for your information:

After installing SP1 for some users the correct version of win32hlp.exe is
not properly placed in the System32 folder. If this is the case replace the
older version with the version found in windows\ServicePackFiles\i386. Or
you can download it here:

Restore winhelp32.exe for XP or XPSP1 (Line 57)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Manual Edit:

1. Insert the Windows XP installation CD into your CD-ROM.
2. Browse to your CD-ROM and change the folder to \I386
3. Copy the following files into a temporary folder on your hard disk:

Winhlp32.cn_
Winhlp32.ex_
Winhlp32.hl_

4. Click Start->Run, type "CMD" without the quotation marks and then press
Enter.
5. Change to the temporary folder where you stored the Winhlp32 files.
6. Type the following commands:

EXPAND WINHLP32.CN_ WINHLP32.CNT
EXPAND WINHLP32.EX_ WINHLP32.EXE
EXPAND WINHLP32.HL_ WINHLP32.HLP

7. Copy Winhlp32.exe to your \%SYSTEMROOT%\ folder.
8. Copy the Winhlp32.cnt, and Winhlp32.hlp to the \%SYSTEMROOT%\Help\
folder.
9. Typically this folder is C:\Windows.
10. Delete the contents of your temporary folder.

--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[Dave Neve]

Roger,

You are my saviour.

No sooner had I sent my last email that the .hlp pages crashed again and I
have been brooding ever since.

Yes, I do have Easy Cleaner and I did use it last night.

If I lived in America, I could sue 'em but here in France, I'll have to
settle for the patch.

Thanks

Thanks