I cannot open Help files that require the Windows Help (WinHlp32.exe) program

On computers that are running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008, you may be unable to open Help files that require the Windows Help (WinHlp32.exe) program. This article contains information about a download that helps you fix this problem.

Ever since Windows 3.1, Microsoft included the Windows Help program (WinHlp32.exe) with new releases. WinHlp32.exe is used to view 32-bit Help files that have the .hlp file name extension. Starting with the release of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, Microsoft has decided to no longer include in WinHlp32.exe as a component of the Windows operating system. Microsoft made this decision because WinHlp32.exe has not had a major update for many years, and it does not meet our standards for all new Microsoft programs. Microsoft realizes that this may cause some problems for customers who want to upgrade to Windows Vista or to Windows Server 2008 but still rely on 32-bit .hlp files. Therefore, Microsoft is making WinHlp32.exe available as a download from the Microsoft Download Center.

Special note for Help content providers who ship .hlp files

Starting with the release of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, third-party software developers are no longer authorized to redistribute WinHlp32.exe with their programs. For more information, see the "More information for Help content providers who are shipping .hlp files" section.

To install the correct version of this update, you must know your Windows version. Additionally, you must be logged on to Windows as an administrator. If you are not sure which Windows version is installed, or if you need help verifying that you are an administrator, click here to verify your environment (http://support.microsoft.com/gp/admin) . Then, download the correct update by clicking one of the following links.

Note At this time, there is no WinHlp32.exe download available for Windows 7 or for Windows Server 2008 R2. However, separate downloads for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 will be offered after the RTM versions of these products are available to public.

Download WinHlp32.exe for Windows Vista

To obtain the WinHlp32.exe download for Windows Vista, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Download WinHlp32.exe for Windows Server 2008

To obtain the WinHlp32.exe download for Windows Server 2008, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note Certain macros may be disabled and .hlp files that are stored on the Intranet are blocked after you install the WinHlp32.exe download.

For more information about these issues, see the "Known issues that may occur while you are installing the WinHlp32.exe update" section. For more information about how to enable macros on a single computer, see the "How to enable macros on a single computer after you install the WinHlp32.exe download" section. For information about how to enable macros in a managed environment by using group policies, see the "Registry entries and group policies for network administrators" section.

Known issues

Known issues that may occur while you are installing the WinHlp32.exe update

• Windows Update error 80070422
  
  If you receive Windows Update error 80070422 while you are downloading the WinHlp32.exe update, you may have to change the Windows Update service settings, and then restart the service. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Administrative Tools.
  2. Double-click Services. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or provide confirmation.
  3. Right-click the Windows Update service, and then click Properties.
  4. On the General tab, make sure that Automatic is selected next to Startup type.
  5. Next to Service status, check whether the service is started. If it is not started, click Start. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or provide confirmation.
  6. Click OK.

Known issues that may occur after you install the WinHlp32.exe update

The following list shows the known functionality regressions from previous releases of WinHlp32.exe. The following known issues apply only to the version of WinHlp32.exe that is discussed in this article.

• Macros are disabled
  
  By default, the following macros are disabled in Windows Help for Windows Vista and in Windows Help for Windows Server 2008:
  • ExecFile
  • RegisterRoutine
  • ShellExecute
  • ShortCut
  • Generate
  • Test
  • ExecProgram
  However, all other macros in .hlp files will function as in past releases. Therefore, if an .hlp file that depends on these macros is opened after you install Windows Help for Windows Vista or Windows Help for Windows Server 2008, some functionality for the file may not function correctly. Users will also receive the following error message:
  There was a problem running the macro. (1037)
  Users who require these macros can turn them on by using the group policies workaround or the registry workaround that is described in the "Registry entries and group policies for network administrators" section.
• Cannot access .hlp files that are stored on intranet sites
  
  By default, you cannot use WinHlp32.exe to access .hlp files that are stored on intranet sites. If users try to open a remote file, they will receive the following error message:
  Cannot display this help file. Try opening the help file again, and if you still get this message, copy the help file to a different drive, and try again.
  Users who require access to .hlp files that are stored on intranet sites can unblock them by using the group policies workaround or registry workaround that is described in the "Registry entries and group policies for network administrators" section.
• Noninteractive user access has been blocked
  
  Access has been blocked to .hlp files by noninteractive users such as system processes. The user does not receive an error message when this error is encountered.
• Drag-and-drop functionality has been disabled
  
  Support for drag-and-drop functionality in the application has been disabled. The user does not receive an error message when this error is encountered.
• Dependencies on “How to Use Help” files
  
  The Help files that are titled “How to Use Help” were removed from Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. The following is the list of files that were removed:
  • Windows.hlp
  • Winhlp32.hlp
  • Winhlp32.cnt
  • Winhelp.cnt
  • Nocntnt.cnt
  The .hlp files that depend on these files may return an error when users try to open them. These files will be available in the future from the Microsoft download center to address compatibility issues.

How to address application-compatibility issues that are related to Windows Help (WinHlp32.exe) in Windows Vista and in Windows Server 2008

You can use the Windows Help for Windows Vista and Windows Help for Windows Server 2008 downloads that are mentioned in the "Introduction" section to view 32-bit Help files. This release provides group policies and registry subkeys that you can use to work around application-compatibility issues. For example, the group policies and registry subkeys can be used to resolve issues that are related to macros in .hlp files and to access .hlp files that are stored on intranet sites. However, if users view Help files from an unknown source, the computer will be put at more risk if they enable these policies or these settings. Therefore, you should use caution when you decide whether to implement the application-compatibility workarounds that are described in this section.

Use the following questions to help you decide whether to install WinHlp32.exe and which policy changes and registry changes to make.

Do you have to have the applications and the functionality that are affected by the removal of WinHlp32.exe in Windows Vista and in Windows Server 2008?
• How many applications require WinHlp32.exe? How many applications are affected by the functionality changes? How important are these applications?
• How severe is the malfunction that is caused by the changes?

What are your security requirements and security capabilities?
• Which is more important, that you can use the WinHlp32.exe functionality or that you make sure that your security is as strong as possible?
• Do external security measures, such as a local or a corporate firewall, give you sufficient confidence that you can install WinHlp32.exe and make the policy changes or the registry changes that are described in this article?

If you are in an organization, does your organization deliver content in the .hlp format?
• Can you modify the program or the contents so that they do not have to use WinHlp32.exe functionality? For example, can you convert the help content that is currently in the .hlp format to an alternative file format such as .chm, .html or .xml?
• Does your organization store .hlp files on the intranet? Could you install these files locally instead of on the intranet?

How to enable macros on a single computer after you install the WinHlp32.exe download

After you install the WinHelp32.exe download that is discussed in this article, certain macros are disabled. For more information about this issue, see the "Known issues" section.

This section contains steps to re-enable these macros by modifying a registry key. If your computer is in a managed environment, do not follow these steps without first consulting with your IT department. IT departments may decide not to re-enable macros or they may decide to re-enable them by using group policies. IT departments will want to read this article in its entirety before you continue.

Warning This article offers information about how to work around issues that are caused by changes in this release of Windows Help. However, Microsoft makes no specific recommendations about which registry keys and which values are right for your unique environment. If you are in a managed environment, your IT department is the best judge of how to weigh the advantages of these workarounds against the risks of using them. The safer course is to use no registry workarounds at all.

Note To perform the steps in this task, you must be logged on to the computer by using an administrator account. By using an administrator account, you can make changes to your computer that you cannot make with any other account, such as a standard account.

To log on by using an administrator account, you must know the password for an administrator account on your computer. If you are performing these steps on your personal computer, you are likely already logged on with an administrator account. If you are performing these steps on a computer at work, you might have to ask the system administrator for help.

To have us fix this problem for you, go to the “Fix it for me” section. If you would rather fix this problem yourself, go to the “Let me fix it myself” section.

Fix it for me

To fix this problem automatically, click the Fix this problem link. Then click Run in the File Download dialog box, and follow the steps in this wizard.

Fix this problem

Note This wizard is temporarily in English only. However, the automatic fix also works for other language versions of Windows.

Note If you are not on the computer that has the problem, you can save the automatic fix to a flash drive or a CD and then run it on the computer that has the problem.

Now go to the "Did this fix the problem?" section.

Let me fix it myself

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
To enable macros on a single computer after you install WinHelp32.exe, follow these steps:

1. Log on by using an administrator account.
2. Click Start
   Collapse this imageExpand this image

   
   , type regedit in the Start Search box, and then click regedit in the Programs list.
   
   Collapse this imageExpand this image

   
   If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
3. Locate the following registry subkey, and then click it:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
4. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key.
5. Type WinHelp, and then press ENTER.
6. Click the WinHelp key. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD (32-bit) Value.
7. Type AllowProgrammaticMacros, and then press ENTER.
8. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
9. In the Value data box, type 1, click Hexadecimal in the Base area, and then click OK.
10. Exit Registry Editor.

Now go to the "Did this fix the problem?" section.

Did this fix the problem?

• Check whether the problem is fixed. If it is fixed, you are finished with this section. If it is not fixed, you can contact support (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus) .
• We would appreciate your feedback. To provide feedback or to report any issues with this solution, please leave a comment on the "Fix it for me" blog (http://blogs.technet.com/fixit4me/) , or send us an e-mail (mailto:fixit4me@microsoft.com?Subject=KB917607 - How to enable macros on a single computer after you install the WinHlp32.exe) message.

How to unblock .hlp files that are stored on the Intranet on a single computer after you install the WinHlp32.exe download

After you install the WinHelp32.exe discussed in this article, .hlp files that are stored on Intranet sites are blocked. For more information about this issue, see the “Known issues” section.

This article contains steps to unblock these .hlp files by modifying a registry key. If your computer is in a managed environment, do not follow these steps without first consulting with your IT department. IT departments may decide not to re-enable macros or they may decide to re-enable them by using group policies.

Important This article contains information that shows you how to help lower security settings or how to turn off security features on a computer. You can make these changes to work around a specific problem. Before you make these changes, we recommend that you evaluate the risks that are associated with implementing this workaround in your particular environment. If you implement this workaround, take any appropriate additional steps to help protect the computer.

Warning This article offers information about how to work around issues that are caused by changes in this release of Windows Help. However, Microsoft makes no specific recommendations about which registry keys and which values are right for your unique environment. If you are in a managed environment, your IT department is the best judge of how to weigh the advantages of these workarounds against the risks of using them. The safer course is to use no registry workarounds at all.

Note To perform the steps in this task, you must be logged on to the computer by using an administrator account. By using an administrator account, you can make changes to your computer that you cannot make with any other account, such as a standard account.

To log on by using with an administrator account, you must know the password for an administrator account on your computer. If you are performing these steps on your personal computer, you are likely already logged on with an administrator account. If you are performing these steps on a computer at work, you might have to ask the system administrator for help.

To have us fix this problem for you, go to the “Fix it for me” section. If you would rather fix this problem yourself, go to the “Let me fix it myself” section.

Fix it for me

To fix this problem automatically, click the Fix this problem link. Then click Run in the File Download dialog box, and follow the steps in this wizard.

Fix this problem

Note This wizard is temporarily in English only. However, the automatic fix also works for other language versions of Windows.

Note If you are not on the computer that has the problem, you can save the automatic fix to a flash drive or a CD and then run it on the computer that has the problem.

Now go to the "Did this fix the problem?" section.

Let me fix it myself

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
To unblock .hlp files on a single computer after you install WinHelp32.exe, follow these steps:

1. Log on by using an administrator account.
2. Click Start
   Collapse this imageExpand this image

   
   , type regedit in the Start Search box, and then click regedit in the Programs list.
   
   Collapse this imageExpand this image

   
   If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
3. Locate the following registry subkey, and then click it:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
4. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key.
5. Type WinHelp, and then press ENTER.
6. Click the WinHelp key. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD (32-bit) Value.
7. Type AllowIntranetAccess, and then press ENTER.
8. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
9. In the Value data box, type 1, click Hexadecimal in the Base area, and then click OK.
10. Exit Registry Editor.

Now go to the "Did this fix the problem?" section.

Did this fix the problem?

• Check whether the problem is fixed. If it is fixed, you are finished with this section. If it is not fixed, you can contact support (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus) .
• We would appreciate your feedback. To provide feedback or to report any issues with this solution, please leave a comment on the "Fix it for me" blog (http://blogs.technet.com/fixit4me/) , or send us an e-mail (mailto:fixit4me@microsoft.com?Subject=KB917607 - Unblock HLP Files on intranet site) message.

Registry entries and group policies for network administrators

Warning This workaround may make a computer or a network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We do not recommend this workaround but are providing this information so that you can implement this workaround at your own discretion. Use this workaround at your own risk.

Warning This article offers information about how to work around issues that are caused by changes in this release of Windows Help. However, Microsoft makes no specific recommendations about which registry keys and which values are right for your organization. Your IT department is the best judge of how to weigh the advantages of these workarounds against the risks of using them. The safer course is to use no registry workarounds at all.

The WinHlp32.exe download provides group policies and registry entries to work around two known issues in this release of Windows Help. By using the following group policies or registry entries, network administrators and individual users can re-enable macros and unblock .hlp files that are stored on intranet sites. Two group policies, a local computer Group Policy setting and a current user Group Policy setting, are provided as a workaround for each feature. You can also use a user registry setting to manage each feature.

For each feature, precedence is given in this order:

1. Local computer Group Policy
2. Current user Group Policy
3. User registry setting

If a policy has not been set for a feature, and the user registry setting for the feature has not been set, the features will behave as described in the "Known issues" section.

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

• How to enable macros
  
  Network administrators can use the Allow programmatic macros in WinHlp32.exe policy to turn on or to turn off macros in .hlp files. Administrators can use the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) to manage this Group Policy setting. For more information about Group Policy, see the "References" section.
  
  If neither the Local computer Group Policy nor the Current user Group Policy for this feature has been set, users can modify the user registry setting for this feature to turn on or to turn off macros in .hlp files. To change this setting, users must first add the following new subkey to the registry:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WinHelp
  Then, users must add a DWORD value that is named AllowProgrammaticMacros to this subkey. If the value for AllowProgrammaticMacros is set to 1, the macros will be turned on. If the value is set to 0, the macros will be turned off. If this registry value does not exist, the macros will be turned off.
• How to unblock .hlp files that are stored on the intranet
  
  Network administrators can use the Allow WinHlp32.exe to access .hlp files stored on intranet sites policy setting to unblock .hlp files that are stored on the intranet. Administrators can use the GPCM to manage this Group Policy setting. For more information about Group Policy, see the "References" section.
  
  If neither Group Policy for this feature has been set, users can modify the user registry setting for this feature to block or to unblock .hlp files that are stored on intranet sites. To change this setting, users must first add the following new subkey to the registry:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WinHelp
  Then, users must add a DWORD value that is named AllowIntranetAccess to this subkey. If the value for AllowIntranetAccess is set to 1, the .hlp files that are stored on intranet sites will be available. If the value is set to 0, the .hlp files that are stored on intranet sites will be blocked. If this registry value does not exist, the .hlp files that are stored on intranet sites will be blocked.

Starting with the release of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, third-party software developers are no longer authorized to redistribute WinHlp32.exe with their programs.

The WinHlp32.exe technology will not be supported in its current form in future Windows releases. Therefore, we strongly recommend that software developers do not use this Windows Help program any longer in Windows Vista or in Windows Server 2008. Software developers who ship programs that rely on .hlp files are encouraged to transition their Help system to an alternative Help file format, such as .chm, .html, or .xml. They will also have to change their calls from the WinHelp API to the new content source. Several third-party tools are available to help software developers convert Help content from one format to the other format.

Note Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 do still support WinHelp.exe for 16-bit .hlp files. The WinHelp.exe program is a version of Windows Help for 16-bit .hlp files. The WinHelp.exe program is still included in Windows Vista.

For more information about Group Policy, visit the following Microsoft Web sites:

• Group Policy collection
  http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc779838.aspx (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc779838.aspx)
• Group Policy Object Editor
  http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc776139.aspx (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc776139.aspx)
• Core Group Policy tools and settings
  http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc784165.aspx (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc784165.aspx)