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Cannot View the Help File in Vista

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. To be able to read these files you must install the Windows Help program (WinHlp32.exe) for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 manually.

This was done supposedly due to security reasons and according to MS does not meet the standards for current Microsoft bloatwa.. I mean software.

Here is a brief description of the file directly from the MS Downloads site:

"WinHlp32.exe is required to display 32-bit Help files that have the ".hlp" file name extension. To view .hlp files on Windows Vista, you need to install this application."

The link provided above should get you to the file if not try here. You will have to authenticate your installation of Windows through the Windows Genuine Advantage program. If you use Internet Explorer it should zoom right through it, but if you use another application like FireFox then you might have to download the WGA plug in for it.

After you jump through the WGA hoop you will be able to download two versions of the file... Choose which one is right for you:

Windows6.0-KB917607-x64.msu coming in at 611 KB (Vista, S2008 64-bit)

or

Windows6.0-KB917607-x86.msu coming in at 601 KB (Vista, S2008 32-bit)

Once you choose your download and run the program just follow the "I accept" prompts and then the Finish Button. It will install to the default location for MS software.

If you would like more in depth information about this file please check the KB (knowledge base) article #917607 directly from Microsoft.