How to convert HLP files to CHM files

I see two or more solutions depending on your requirements:

• Converting WinHelp (HLP) to HTMLHelp (CHM) or PDF
• Running WinHelp files on Windows 10

Convert WinHelp (HLP) to HTMLHelp (CHM):

The tutorial on my site gives a step-by-step description of how to convert WinHelp (HLP) to HTMLHelp (CHM) at free / shareware and low budget. The sample conversion project from the download section includes a working structure and sample files.

You can of course use a Help Authorization Tool (HAT) like Help + Manual , HelpScribble, or any other HAT to convert your existing WinHelp projects to HTMLHelp.

Run WinHelp on Windows 10:

The WinHelp format (.hlp) has been around since the early 1990s and is being replaced by HTML Help 1.x (.chm). Microsoft strongly encouraged you to move away from WinHelp about ten years ago. But for a test app, it works on my Windows 10 machine like a charm.

But some hard steps to fix the departed WinHelp Viewer. Note that I am not talking about the HTMLHelp viewer for the * .chm help files here.

Solution steps vary depending on your Windows 10 version (32-bit or 64-bit). Hold Windows+ to see your system type (32-bit or 64-bit) R. Type Run msinfo32

in the msinfo32

dialog box and press Enter.

You know trying to open the help file (* .hlp) results from the Microsoft support page. Error opening Help in Windows programs: "Feature not enabled" or "Help not supported . "

You will find a download link for Windows 8.1, but for Windows 10 you need to install it in a special way (Windows8.1-KB917607-x64.msu).

1. Run Command Prompt as Administrator (please note - German samples are here)!

2. Extract the downloaded MSU file to a temporary directory

   md msu-extracted
   
   

   expand Windows8.1-KB917607-x64.msu/f:*.\msu-extracted
   
   

3. Extract the contained CAB file with 279 files in it.

   cd msu-extracted
   
   

   md cab-extracted
   
   

   expand Windows8.1-KB917607-x64.cab/f:*.\cab-extracted
   
   

4. Find the appropriate MUI file depending on your language settings, for example use "cs-", "de-" or "en-". People using the x86 variant should run "dir x86 * de- *".

   cd cab-extracted
   
   

5. Navigate to the specified path for your language "... de- de ...", for example:

   cd amd64_microsoft-windows-winhstb.resources_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.20470_de-de_1ab8cd412c1028d0
   
         
   
           
           
           
         
   
       

6. Here we will find "winhlp32.exe.mui". Now we need to replace, for example,% SystemRoot% \ de- de \ winhlp32.exe.mui with our new file:

   takeown /f "%SystemRoot%\de-de\winhlp32.exe.mui"
   icacls "%SystemRoot%\de-de\winhlp32.exe.mui" /grant "%UserName%":f
   ren %SystemRoot%\de-de\winhlp32.exe.mui winhlp32.exe.mui.w10
   copy winhlp32.exe.mui %SystemRoot%\de-de\winhlp32.exe.mui 
   takeown /f "%SystemRoot%\winhlp32.exe"
   icacls "%SystemRoot%\winhlp32.exe" /grant "%UserName%":f
   ren %SystemRoot%\winhlp32.exe winhlp32.exe.w10
   cd ..
   dir *.exe /s
   
         
   
           
           
           
         
   
       

7. Find the correct path starting with amd64 or x86 and navigate to it:

   cd "amd64_microsoft-windows-winhstb_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.20470_none_1a54d9f2f676f6c2"
   copy winhlp32.exe %SystemRoot%\winhlp32.exe 
   
         
   
           
           
           
         
   
       

Edit:

You don't need to replace _none_

commands in the last step cd

(all individual steps are tested on 2017-09-01 and 2018-08-24 and work in Windows 10).

After a major Microsoft Windows update, the above workaround is reset.

Edit: (copied the form comments, thanks @dxiv)

An alternative to the last two steps is to copy the winHlp32 files entirely to another location, like C: \ etc [\ de- de], and then reassign ftype hlpfile = C: \ etc \ winHlp32% 1 in an elevated command prompt. avoid clashes with sfc and future window updates, and HLPs will still work when opened by association (double click in explorer or run old.hlp at cmd prompt).