totalcmd.hlp file

[petermad]

The new help files for TC 11.55 are available now:

Thanks

[Horst.Epp]

2Horst.Epp

Are you saying that using this version of winhelp32.exe: https://tcmd.madsenworld.dk/winhlp32_5.1.2600.5512.zip to open the .hlp file does not work anymore in Windows 11?

No, this version works fine

[petermad]

2Horst.Epp
Thanks for verifying - it is the version I bundle with my Extended Menu, but I cannot test windows 11 myself.

[white]

Version 50.0.6000.16387 (version info) works fine too, but then you need 2 files:
en-US\winhlp32.exe.mui
winhlp32.exe

[nsp]

you can get latest version from official 8.1 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=47667
follow the instruction from https://github.com/knuth-konrad/winhlp32-on-windows10 to get winhlp32.exe and the corresponding mui for your language.

[ghisler(Author)]

I'm using the script Install.cmd together with winhlp32.exe and winhlp32.exe.mui which still works on Windows 11:
https://github.com/d-holguin/OllyDbgV1.10-plugins-and-Hlpfile/tree/master/Hlp32Fix_Win10

[Horst.Epp]

you can get latest version from official 8.1 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=47667
follow the instruction from https://github.com/knuth-konrad/winhlp32-on-windows10 to get winhlp32.exe and the corresponding mui for your language.

There was no problem using this for Windows 10
but for the actual Windows 11 it didn't work for me.

As I don't need a system-wide solution,
I'm satisfied with the version from Petermad.

[white]

If you have the ftsrch.dll file as well, the full text search will be enabled.

Personally, I don't think it is wise to install the program in the windows folder. I placed it in the TC folder and use an internal association in TC:

Code: Select all

"%COMMANDER_PATH%\Tools\winhlp32\winhlp32.exe" "%1"

I have compiled some information:

Information about the Windows Help program (winhlp32)

When downloading .hlp files from internet, you need to unblock the file via properties or you'll get the error:

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.

Program:
winhlp32.exe

Full-Text Search:
ftsrch.dll

Japanese and Thai word breaker libraries:
ftlx041e.dll
ftlx0411.dll

Language files:
en-US\winhlp32.exe.mui
en-US\ftsrch.dll.mui

Latest official download links are mentioned here:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/error-opening-help-in-windows-based-programs-feature-not-included-or-help-not-supported-3c841463-d67c-6062-0ee7-1a149da3973b

Download links latest official versions:
Windows 8.1 32-bit: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=47667
Windows 8.1 64-bit: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=47671
Windows 8: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35449

Windows Help is not supported in Windows 10 and up, but you can extract the files and use them.
* Take the 32-bit package "Windows8.1-KB917607-x86.msu", because the winhlp32 files are the same.
* Put "Windows8.1-KB917607-x86.msu" in a folder together with this batch file and run the batch file:

Extract-winhlp32.cmd

Code: Select all

@echo off
:: 
:: Extract Winhlp32 from Windows8.1-KB917607-x86.msu
:: 
:: Put "Windows8.1-KB917607-x86.msu" in the same folder as this script
:: Winhlp32 will be copied to subfolder "winhlp32" in the same folder as this script
:: 
setlocal
:: Tell purpose
echo:
echo Batch file to extract Winhlp32 files from "Windows8.1-KB917607-x86.msu"
echo:
:: Change current folder to script folder
pushd "%~dp0"
:: Create temp folder
set "temp_folder=%temp%\$$tmp$$Windows8.1-KB917607-x86"
md "%temp_folder%"
:: Extract cab file from msu file
echo - Extracting "Windows8.1-KB917607-x86.cab" from "Windows8.1-KB917607-x86.msu" to temp folder
expand Windows8.1-KB917607-x86.msu -F:Windows8.1-KB917607-x86.cab "%temp_folder%" >nul
:: Extract all files from Windows8.1-KB917607-x86.cab
echo - Extracting all files from "Windows8.1-KB917607-x86.cab" to temp folder
expand "%temp_folder%\Windows8.1-KB917607-x86.cab" -F:* "%temp_folder%" >nul
:: Copy Winhlp32 files to winhlp32 folder
echo - Copying Winhlp32 files from temp folder
xcopy /q "%temp_folder%\x86_microsoft-windows-winhstb_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.20470_none_be363e6f3e19858c\*" "winhlp32\"
xcopy /q "%temp_folder%\x86_microsoft-windows-winhstb.resources_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.20470_en-us_678b07b66290c35f\" "winhlp32\en-US\"
:: Delete temp folder
echo - Deleting temp folder
rd /s/q "%temp_folder%"
:: End
echo - Finished
echo:
echo Winhlp32 files are in:
echo "%CD%\winhlp32"
echo:
popd
endlocal
pause
exit /b

[petermad]

As far as I remember the winhlp32.exe version that I provide here: https://tcmd.madsenworld.dk/winhlp32_5.1.2600.5512.zip is from Windows XP - I remember that I chose that one, because it worked with Windows 10, while newer versions didn't.

Here are some old post about it:
https://www.ghisler.ch/board/viewtopic.php?p=299763#p299763
https://www.ghisler.ch/board/viewtopic.php?p=427056#p427056

[white]

As far as I remember the winhlp32.exe version that I provide here: https://tcmd.madsenworld.dk/winhlp32_5.1.2600.5512.zip is from Windows XP - I remember that I chose that one, because it worked with Windows 10, while newer versions didn't.

What exactly does "doesn't work with Windows 10" mean?

On my Windows 11 system, the installer for the Windows 8.1 version does not work. If I unpack winhlp32 from the package and use it (without installing it in the windows folder), it seems to work fine. I opened a bunch of old .hlp files I still have without problems. I only get an error if the .hlp file was downloaded from internet and not unblocked.

[Dalai]

The newer versions of winhlp32.exe require the presence of their appropriate MUI file(s), either in the OS's language and/or the en-US fallback. Newer in this context means 'starting with Vista'. Older versions from XP don't need them since XP didn't have MUI files (except XP x64).

PS: The same applies to other programs like Calculator, Paint, Task Manager (legacy, i.e. versions before Win8) and so on. All of them need MUI files to even launch.

[petermad]

2white

What exactly does "doesn't work with Windows 10" mean?

It is a long time ago that I tried it, but as far as I remember, Windows 10 reported something like "This version is not supported". But maybe that was because of missing .mui files.

I just tested running winhlp32.exe on Windows 10 over my network from both my Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 computer and they both worked in Windows 10.

But still I find it easier just using the XP version that does not need a .mui file installed.

[nsp]

Windows 10 reported something like "This version is not supported".

This is typically the error when trying to install wrong update file Windows8.1-KB917607-x64.msu i.e 8.1 on 10 or 11 or wrong architecture will not work ! i
File can only be installed if you use recursive expand msu and cab then choose exe and mui file corresponding to your windows os default language. To have it system wide, you must use the install.cmd srcipt or equivalent as administrator.
IT Dpt is distributing a powershell script downloading and deploying dedicated cab on many W11 machine without any issue to support old pgm with hlp files.

[white]

I adjusted my earlier post, because using the .ps1 script to extract the msu file is not necessary in this case.

But still I find it easier just using the XP version that does not need a .mui file installed.

But you don't have search if you don't include ftsrch.dll.

File can only be installed if you use recursive expand msu and cab then choose exe and mui file corresponding to your windows os default language.

I tried the mui files for my local Windows language (Dutch), but that didn't work correctly. It looked as though the texts in Winhlp32 did not change, but were displayed with the wrong codepage.

[petermad]

2white

But you don't have search if you don't include ftsrch.dll.

You are right. I have now updated https://tcmd.madsenworld.dk/winhlp32_5.1.2600.5512.zip (and https://tcmd.madsenworld.dk/winhlp32.zip = both English and Danish version) with the XP versions of ftsrch.dll. It works fine when just placing winhlp32.exe and ftsrch.dll in TC's program directory.