Windows Help files not supported in Vista

Filed under: Developer, Finance, OS Updates, Utilities, Windows, Microsoft

Windows Help files not supported in Vista

by Jason Clarke Feb 27th 2007

Microsoft, you move in strange ways. I can't believe we missed this the first time around.

For all the effort they put into building operating systems that are backwards-compatible, they then go and choose not to include support for Help files that are built to use the old WinHlp32.exe program. This probably will not affect a huge number of Vista users, but the ones that it does affect are two important demographics, in my opinion. The people that are most likely to be relying on a program that still uses that old style help file are power users, and the not-so-savvy "nervous Nelly" users.

For example: a power user might have some utility that they absolutely can't live without. In Vista, they may find that the utility still works, but they can no longer view the contextual help for that program. This class of user can probably fend for themselves though; they can still go and download WinHlp32.exe from Microsoft and get access to those old help files.

But what about the proverbial elderly person who is happy with some ancient version of some program, and isn't willing to switch to a new or different one? When they buy that new computer, they will be completely lost when they can't get the help they need.

Okay, maybe it's not so big as all that, but it's definitely a pain in the ass. So there.

[Via Chris Pirillo]

Tags: help, Help file, HelpFile, Microsoft help, MicrosoftHelp, vista, Vista help, VistaHelp, Windows Help, WindowsHelp

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

JasonClarkeJr said 11:22AM on 2-27-2007

Come on. Help files are hopelessly outdated. I do not recall actually being helped by one in years, if ever. People now use either online documentation from the website or Google. Most help files are just glorified tutorials with all the useful information left out.

ronmoses said 1:08PM on 2-27-2007

Gee, I don't know... I consult a Help file probably once a week at least, and I'm usually able to find what I need in them. Of course most of the apps I use have HTML Help files, but I would hardly agree that nobody uses Help anymore.

JasonClarkeJr said 8:44PM on 2-27-2007

Well you're wrong.

hazard said 9:30PM on 2-27-2007

it's a real shame .. I use help files almost every week too. what's worse is that so often HTML help is badly formatted, hopelessly indexed and practically unsearchable - without a browser's find!

haven't had to make the jump to Vista for work just yet but it's looming .. so thanks for the heads up.

LordDaMan said 11:06AM on 2-28-2007

What's funny is there's a nice dilaog that pops up, tells you winhelp isn't loaded, then procedes to give you the link to download it.

So much like every other vista story, this is a very minor issue that ca be fixed wihin a few seconds and never bother you again

Featured Time Waster

Civiballs is a beautiful, soothing physics puzzle Time Waster

I have an absolute weakness for physics games, and while Civiballs isn't the strongest physics-based game, what it lacks in the physics department it makes up for a few times over in style and fun.

In Civiballs, you are presented with a few colored balls, and your goal is to get those balls into the same-colored urn on the level. The "civi" part of Civiballs is that there are 3 sets of levels to play, each representing a different civilization. While the civilization doesn't affect gameplay, the artwork for each level is beautifully themed to it's appropriate era.

To play the game, you are given only one tool - a sword with which to cut the chains that are holding the balls. The puzzle part of the game is in figuring out what order, and with what timing to cut each chain. Do it right, and all the right balls end up in the right urns, with no stray balls entering an urn (a no-no). Do it wrong, and you get to start over again.

Civiballs is not terribly deep on gameplay; the entire game can be completed in about 15 minutes. But if you enjoy this type of game, it will be a very enjoyable 15 minutes.

View more Time Wasters