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Windows 8 64bit can't open chm files

Anonymous
2013-03-22T17:34:27+00:00

Hi,

I have a user who can't display any .chm help files on their Windows 8 64bit machine. These are help files that reside on the local hard drive (C:\Program Files...) and NOT on a server share. Upon opening them (either by double clicking the .chm file or opening it with F1 in the application) they are displayed with a "Navigation to the webpage was cancelled" message.

This appears to be the same issue that tons of people have on their shared or downloaded .chm files, but for this one user it is for ALL local .chm files.

Things I have tried:

  1. Using HHReg application to change the MaxAllowedZone to 2 (which I wouldn't expect to have any effect since it's the LOCAL files that won't work)
  2. Using HHReg application add the path to the .chm file to the UrlAllowList.

To further complicate matters, my own Windows 8 64bit machine can open .chm files perfectly without any problems. Granted I am a software developer so I have a ton of programs installed (including the HTMLHelp Workshop) that might be fixing this problem for me? I'm really not sure why it works for me and not for this one user.

So, anyone have any ideas?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-03-22T22:33:19+00:00

    Alright, I solved my problem. I re-registered the HTMLHelp dll and ocx files and everything seems to be working properly now. Just open up a command prompt (with admin rights) and run the following commands:

    regsvr32 hhctrl.ocx

    regsvr32 itss.dll

    regsvr32 itircl.dll

    You'll get a "success" dialog after each one. That's all there is to it! No reboot required and everything was magically working as it should.

    50+ people found this answer helpful.
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  1. Anonymous
    2013-04-11T10:31:29+00:00

    The only thing that worked for me was to Uncheck the box "Always ask...when opening this file..." when you first open the file. Afterwards, the popup no longer appears and you can read the CHM file's contents.

    20+ people found this answer helpful.
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  1. Anonymous
    2013-08-02T07:45:03+00:00

    Right click / Properties then select Unblock works for me

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2013-06-03T16:17:00+00:00

    For the first time when you open a chm file, it asks for permission. Uncheck it, i.e., let Windows don't ask again. If this didn't solve the problem, right click on the file and go to the properties at the bottom of the menu, then click on the Unblock at the bottom of the General tab. If again you have the problem, after right click and properties, instead of the General tap go to Details tab, and at the bottom, click on Remove Properties and Personal Information, then at what opens choose "Create a copy with all possible properties removed". You will have a copy of the file at the same folder you saved your chm file. Hopefully the new copy of the file works. Good luck!

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2013-04-20T01:50:40+00:00

    The only thing that worked for me was to Uncheck the box "Always ask...when opening this file..." when you first open the file. Afterwards, the popup no longer appears and you can read the CHM file's contents.

    and i solved it by downloading chmdecoder and "decompiling" the help into plain HTML.

    good old microsoft - a different solution for everyone

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