Dwight Watt - Newspaper Article #145 4/11/2012


Question: How do I get Help to work in Windows 7?

Answer:

If you try to use help in an older application while using Windows 7 you will get a message that Help does not work in Windows 7. Microsoft has changed the format that Help programs are written in with Windows 7 and did not make it backward compatible.

However Microsoft offers a program that you can download and install in Windows 7 and the older programs Help will work. You would think they would have built this in Windows 7 but they chose not to.

You will go to the Microsoft website and get the program to be able to use Help. Go to http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=91 You will have a choice when you get there to get the 64 bit or 32 bit (also called x86) version. When I tried it the page determined the version I am running and only marked Continue on it. If you are not sure your version of Windows right click Computer and choose Properties and it will show you on that page.

You may then get a message asking permission to install Genuine Windows Validation. You will have to install it to get the Help program. You may get a message asking permission to make changes to your computer, answer Yes since you are doing these changes. If it never does anything then choose the Alternate validation method. You should then end up back at the Help file download screen and choose appropriate copy. I had to do alternate method. Microsoft did not make this customer friendly.

After choosing file choose to open it when yellow bar at top of bottom screen asks. Answer yes to install Windows update as that is what we want to do. Read and Accept the license. Now wait while installs. Click Close when finished.

Now you can use the Help features in your new and old programs.