Where did windows help go? Vista ate it.


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Where did windows help go?  If you are using Vista it will happen to you eventually, you will need to read the directions on how to use a piece of software and it might not be there.  Microsoft in their infinite wisdom decided to axe their perennial Microsoft help system because “it wasn’t Vista compatible”.  Hello Microsoft, its your own software, make it compatible.  So rather than update their own software they decided to abandon the legions of software titles out there that rely on their Microsoft Help system to provide documentation.  However weeks after Vista was a gold master they somehow reversed their assertion and allowed users to download the help system from their website (so was it Vista compatible?).  So you now have a option to get the old version of Microsoft help from their website (you can also copy over a version from your XP), but wait there has to be other options right?

A company called HelpExplorer has created a free for single user title called Help Explorer Viewer which essentially installs a high powered version of help that can read .hlp, chm, and Microsoft Help 2.0 (.hxs) files.  Featuring a super fast search engine and a customizable interface this is help documentation on steroids.  Several of my previous help files didn’t even have a search function and I found this so much more useful than the old flat file I had to navigate.  If you are software developer you can also redistribute this version and bypass Microsoft’s flipfloppy software distribution and know that your users will always have a robust help section.  If your old software’s help no longer works Help Explorer Viewer is a must have.

Check it out

Read more posts by Christopher Carey

September 11, 2007 | Filed Under Microsoft 

Comments

2 Responses to “Where did windows help go? Vista ate it.”

  1. Emily on MyAvatars 0.2 November 15th, 2007 8:26 pm

    I have to say, this was the first thing on the whole page that caught my fullest attention when I clicked your link in blog communities.

    I have personally seen some of the strange quirks and weird screen effects a friend had from his Vista software, and I decided that there was NO WAY that I would upgrade until Microsoft had their bugs fixed.

    If you think about it, when they put out Vista, they were and are still sending out upgrade and software fixes and patches for the XP software…. so…Why would you switch to a bug infested system?

    Did they only put it out to make more money?

    I have to laugh at the fact that they “left out” the “incompatible” HELP SOFTWARE!?!?!?! What were they thinking?

    And so this Help Explorer compnay cam to the rescue and have this software that is “Featuring a super fast search engine and a customizable interface this is help documentation on steroids.” I love that, made me laugh so hard!!!

    Your a good writer, I like your descriptive comments on the product.

    Thanks,
    Emily

    http://www.aqualightphoto.com

  2. Anonymous on MyAvatars 0.2 December 15th, 2007 9:36 am

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