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Problem installing winhelp

Discussion in 'Legacy Windows' started by wildfire, 2013/01/21.

  1. 2013/01/21
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old Thread Starter

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    I need to access a few old help files (.hlp) and tried installing winhlp32 from the download center Download WinHlp32.exe for Windows 8.

    Unfortunately after Windows Update Standalone Installer starts I get a popup which states "The update is not applicable to your computer. "

    Although I've a 64 bit system I've tried both the 64bit and 32bit download with the same results.

    Anybody have any idea how I can install this?
     
    wildfire,
    #1
  2. 2013/01/21
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Those downloads seem to be for Windows RT

    So they won't install on an x86 compatible platform.

    Guess they goofed (once) again.
     
    Arie,
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  4. 2013/01/21
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old Thread Starter

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    Thanks Arie, I never spotted that in the file name :(

    I don't suppose you know of any MS link where I can download the windows 8 version or even a 3rd party .hlp reader?
     
    wildfire,
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  5. 2013/01/21
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Well, it was good I said "seem to be for Windows RT ", as the 64-bit version installed on my system without a hitch.

    So I'd try again if I were you.
     
    Arie,
    #4
  6. 2013/01/21
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old Thread Starter

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    I've tried several times over the last couple of months, always the same error.
     
    wildfire,
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  7. 2013/01/22
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Try deleting your temporary files (TIF & Tmp) and try downloading again, or use another machine to download the update.
     
    Arie,
    #6
  8. 2013/01/22
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old Thread Starter

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    No good, same error.

    I'm not sure why that would make a difference, I can download the update easily enough (save file rather than open with), it's installing it that brings up the error.

    I only have the one Win 8 system, if you think it'll make a difference could I download to an XP system and transfer the msu file across to this system?
     
    wildfire,
    #7
  9. 2013/01/22
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    I suggested to use another machine to exclude any chance of a corrupted download / cached version.

    What's the size of your downloaded version? The 64-bit should be 919,485 bytes, the 32-bit 732,360 bytes.
     
    Arie,
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  10. 2013/01/22
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    I get the same error if I try to install the 32-bit version on my 64-bit Windows 8.
     
    Arie,
    #9
  11. 2013/01/22
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old Thread Starter

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    Yep, that's the exact size, (MD5 Checksum: e0bc71b886612328238e3be28a177d10), I didn't bother checking the 32bit version.
     
    wildfire,
    #10
  12. 2013/01/22
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Yes, e0bc71b886612328238e3be28a177d10 is my files MD5 too.

    Something weird/wrong with your system. I dunno, maybe run System file checker?
     
    Arie,
    #11
  13. 2013/01/22
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old Thread Starter

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    This brought up a ray of hope, output from sfc /scannow

    Alas, trying to install winhelp brought up the same error :(

    I have found winhlp32 for Win8 "not applicable to your computer " in the Microsoft Community though.

    I'll try the fixes suggested there tomorrow and get back to you.

    Thanks for your assistance so far.
     
    wildfire,
    #12
  14. 2013/01/22
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old Thread Starter

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    OK following on from that link I posted earlier...

    I reviewed update history and the only failure was KB2770917 on the 28th Nov 2012.
    This update was successful on 1st Dec 2012

    I see no other failures up to and including 22nd Jan 2013.

    So I went on to following instructions for the System Update Readiness Tool fixes...
    Output from DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /scanhealth
    Even though the results suggested the following wasn't required I done it anyway.

    Output from DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

    As advised I ran windows update again and also retried installing winhlp32.

    The error remains :(, so onward to next suggestion...

    Restarted with clean boot...

    No change, same error :(

    I gave up at this point, I'm pretty sure that windows update is not at fault but these proposed fixes suggest that it is to blame.

    I'll follow up on this later but I'm beginning to think HP or MS themselves are the only ones that can help.
     
    Last edited: 2013/01/22
    wildfire,
    #13
  15. 2013/01/23
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Yes, since Microsoft offers free support for Windows updates, I would contact them. Sounds like something is wrong with the detection mechanisms in the update package. Could be language related.
     
    Arie,
    #14
  16. 2013/02/01
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old Thread Starter

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    Just a wee shout out for everybody interested in this thread.

    I still haven't found a solution so it's either buy or write (sorry to clarify, I mean translation software) ;)

    Fortunately I still have an XP system which can read the files, unfortunately it's not a laptop :(
     
    wildfire,
    #15
  17. 2013/03/05
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Any update to this issue?
     
    Arie,
    #16
  18. 2013/04/09
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old Thread Starter

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    Sorry for the late reply Arie, other more important things interrupted and this went clean out my head.

    Anyway something you mentioned earlier "language related ", makes me wonder.

    When I set up any new systems I have a habit of removing any English(US) after selecting English(UK).

    I'll try reinstalling English(US) but keeping English(UK) as default and post back later today with results.

    A bit of a long shot but you never know.
     
    wildfire,
    #17
  19. 2013/04/10
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old Thread Starter

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    OK, I don't know why but installing the US language pack worked.

    Thanks for pointing me in the right direction Arie, care to shed any light as to why this is language related?
     
    wildfire,
    #18
  20. 2013/04/11
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    I wish I remembered :confused:
     
    Arie,
    #19

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