Windows Err Msg: This is Not a Valid Help File

ID: Q58258

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11

SYMPTOMS

When you are attempting to receive help from a Windows application, such as Microsoft Excel, running under Microsoft Windows, one of the following error messages is displayed:

This is not a valid helpfile

-or-

This is not a Windows help file

CAUSE

These errors occur because your WIN.INI file [extensions] section contains the following entry:


   [extensions]
   hlp=winhelp.exe ^.hlp

This entry allows help files to be opened in Windows Help by running them in File Manager. However, Windows applications that use a help module with the extension .HLP (such as EXCELHLP.HLP) do not function correctly with this entry present.

Additional query words: 3.00 win30 3.00a 3.10 3.11 winhelp

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :