Windows Err Msg: This is Not a Valid Help File

Last reviewed: May 1, 1995
Article ID: Q58258

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows operating system 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.

KBCategory: kbusage kbinterop
KBSubcategory: win30 win31
Additional reference words: 3.00 win30 3.00a 3.10 3.11 winhelp

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Last reviewed: May 1, 1995
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