https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40899 says WinHlp32.exe is required to display 32-bit Help files that have the ".hlp" file name extension.  To view .hlp files on Windows 8.1, you need to install this application. So I clicked on download and save as. and ran Windows8.1-KB917607-x64.msu. It did it's little Installation window, and now I can't find any sign of the winhlp32.exe the download page said was in it. The installation file can be read as a compressed archive by compression programs, so I had one take a look inside and found no file named Winhlp32.exe. There is a file called Winhlp32.exe in C:\WINDOWS, but I think it was there before the installation and it just gives the error message I got before when I tried to open a HLP file.

The error message:

Why can't I get Help from this program?

The Help for this program was created in Windows Help format, which depends on a feature that isn't included in Windows 8.1 or  Windows RT 8.1. For more info, go to the Microsoft Support website

I did a search of my entire hard drive and there are files named winhlp32.exe in subdirectories under C:\Windows\WinSxS, but none of them appear to work.

Hi hacjwrench,

The main issue is that it is not available to open a .hlp file and we want to install the KB 917607 to resolve the issue, right?

Before we install the KB, we can try to run "dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth" and then open the .hlp file again to have a check.

If the issue persists, we can refer to the following link to have a fix. I noticed you have downloaded the KB before, please ensure you have downloaded the right version and downloaded it again to have a check. We may need to turn off the antivirus software temporarily before we try to download the package in case the package will be blocked by the antivirus software.
Error opening Help in Windows-based programs: "Feature not included" or "Help not supported"
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/917607

The KB include the feature to read the .hlp file and we should get a program called "winhlp32.exe " (C:\Windows\)after we install the KB.

Best r

dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

The restore operation completed successfully. The component store corruption was
 repaired.
The operation completed successfully.

Opening the .hlp failed.

I redownloaded the update and it said it was already installed.

Hi hackwrench,

Is there a .exe program called "winhlp32.exe" located in C:\Windows?
If it has been installed, we can check the default program configurations.
Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Default Programs\Associate a file type or ptotocol with a program.

We could re-configure it to have a check.

Best r

ran Windows8.1-KB917607-x64.msu.

That's the old one.  Supposedly there is a new one for W8.1.2 users...

Hmm... my understanding was that there was going to be a new number.  I guess not.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-windows_update/november-update-kb3000850-breaks-legacy-hlp/8f88acc0-192e-4ec7-86fe-d0e60ef68972?page=3&tm=1435250343473

Ah.  My mistake.  It was "a newer build number" that I had read about (same thread previous page)

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-windows_update/november-update-kb3000850-breaks-legacy-hlp/8f88acc0-192e-4ec7-86fe-d0e60ef68972?page=2&msgId=e4ff805c-9285-4435-967c-d415607361e5 

I checked to make sure it was assigned to C:\WINDOWS\WINHLP32.EXE and the message still comes up.

Okay I uninstalled the KB and redownloaded and reinstalled it, and now it works. Previously it was real close to the date they said they would update the KB.

Okay I uninstalled the KB and redownloaded and reinstalled it, and now it works. Previously it was real close to the date they said they would update the KB.

• Proposed as answer by MeipoXuMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator 5 hours 36 minutes ago

Okay I uninstalled the KB and redownloaded and reinstalled it, and now it works. Previously it was real close to the date they said they would update the KB.

• Proposed as answer by MeipoXuMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Monday, June 29, 2015 1:47 AM

Okay I uninstalled the KB and redownloaded and reinstalled it, and now it works.

Me too.   Looks like it is a real LDR update (20470) but the Product Version has also changed (16411 from base Win8.1).  My test of it was SysInternalsSuite Hlp files.

Heh.  The last version I had of it though, the "stub" was supposedly 17415.  The new one is still being stored as if it was  winhstb.  Consistency?