Error Message: Cannot Display the Help Information

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you click the Start button and then click Help, you may receive the following error message:

   Cannot display the help information. The file Winhelp.exe may
   be missing or damaged.

CAUSE

This error can occur if the Winhlp32.exe file in the Windows folder is missing or damaged.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Use Windows Explorer or My Computer to rename the Winhlp32.exe file, if it exists, in the Windows folder to Winhlp32.xxx.

2. Extract a new copy of the Winhlp32.exe file from your original Windows 95 disks or CD-ROM to the Windows folder. For information about using the Extract tool, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

         ARTICLE-ID: Q129605
         TITLE     : How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files
   
   

3. Try to use Help again.

MORE INFORMATION

The Winhelp.exe file referred to in the error message is a 3K file in the Windows folder. This file is used for compatibility with 16-bit Windows- based programs. The Winhelp.exe file calls the Winhlp32.exe file to handle Help files. The Winhelp.exe file is not actually required to run Help files, and it is incorrectly referenced by the error message.