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September 25, 2006

Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1403 days ago on September 25, 2006

It's lucky that Borland brought out a decent version of Delphi in 2006; because Delphi 7 on Vista has issues. Like, here's what you get when you try and install:

So in the interests of research I ran the install anyway. The installer wanted admin rights, naturally, but even after installation I had problems. Maybe this is why it isn't compatible?

Unable to rename Delphi32.$$$

So it appears Delphi 7 likes to write to Program Files. If that's the issue I have a hunch that a couple of things might fix it. One, install outside Program Files; I haven't tried this but it might well do the trick. Two, turn off UAC, maybe just temporarily. I tried the latter. UAC off, restart, run Delphi 7 - it worked - turn UAC back on, restart. We're away:

Delphi 7 running in Vista

Delphi now works though I don't know when it might trip again; installing outside Program Files would be much safer. There is another little snag. Create a new application and by default it won't run, because Delphi 7 keeps its default Projects folder in Program Files. You have to save the project outside Program Files; then it runs OK. Since I always do this anyway, that's no big deal. This is though:

Vista saying it won't run winhelp

I love the bit about "was this information helpful". That's right, Vista no longer supports Winhelp, the old help engine little changed from Windows 3.1 days. To be honest it was dated even when Delphi 7 came out (I remember complaining about it); but it was fast and effective and some people never took to .chm. Apparently it is not quite as bad as it first appears. Microsoft is going to offer winhlp32.exe for download.

In the meantime, you can do what I did, which is to copy winhlp32.exe from Windows XP. It works:

Delphi 7 help in Vista

Conclusion: Delphi 7 doesn't run by default in Vista, but there might not be much wrong with it if you take a few manual steps.

Then again maybe all the Delphi 7 (or 6 or 5) diehards will stick to XP or Windows 2000.

PS: I don't blame anyone for still running Delphi 7, the last version to run without any .NET overhead.

Update

Instead of fiddling with UAC you could just run Delphi 7 with elevated permissions - right-click, "Run As Administrator"; or set it always to run that way. Not so secure, requires an account with local admin rights, and you'll get a prompt every time it runs; but it may be the most practical option if there are other permission issues.

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Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1403 days ago by alex_t • • www • Reply

I think it will be better to run it in the VM ;-)

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1403 days ago by Dennis Landi • • • Reply

Good man, Tim!

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1402 days ago by Rob... • • www • Reply

I still don't like CHM, but I suppose I'd better move with the times.

The trouble is, winhelp is just so much faster and easier to use :)

Regards,

Rob...

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1401 days ago by Tim Anderson • • • Reply

I don't mind .chm - the thing that causes me grief is the Microsoft Document Explorer a.k.a. HTML Help 2.0.

Unfortunately, Delphi 2006 help is in the MDE.

Tim

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1389 days ago by Anton • • • Reply

So I guess Delphi 5 & 6 won't install either. I'm still using 5, as it does what I want. So I guess I'll be sticking with XP.

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1387 days ago by Laura • • • Reply

My company has some legacy help (.hlp) that we need to run on Vista. I'm patiently waiting for the winhlp32.exe to be available on the Microsoft download site.

However, in the meantime I attempted to copy over the winhlp32.exe from a Windows XP machine like you suggested. It didn't seem to work for me. Is there anything else you did to make it work? I keep getting the silly "Why can't I get Help from this program?" screen.

Thanks.

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1387 days ago by Tim Anderson • • • Reply

Laura,

Copying winhlp32.exe doesn't set up the file association - so to open a help file, you have to double-click winhlp32.exe and then open the file you want. However I believe you can set up the association quite easily if you need to.

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1386 days ago by Laura • • • Reply

Thanks for the quick response. I've tried to copy the winhlp32.exe file from a variety of xp machines on our network, but I continue to get the following error when I double-click the exe:
"The winhlp32.exe binary in the Windows directory is corrupt, please reinstall."

Of course I've looked all over Microsoft Download Center to see if I can install it from there, but no luck locating the download yet. I also tried to associate .hlp files to the exe but this doesn't seem to be working either because it doesn't seem to take when I choose it from the system32 folder.

Any further suggestions? I'm working on RC2 Vista

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1386 days ago by Tim Anderson • • • Reply

Vista has a dummy winhlp32.exe in the Windows directory. Have you tried copying the XP one somewhere else, say to your desktop?

If its any help, I'm also running RC2, and the winhlp32.exe I'm using is:

Size 283648 bytes
File version 5.1.2600.2180

Tim

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1386 days ago by Laura • • • Reply

Thanks for your help. I'm not sure what combination of things got it to work, but it's fine now. The version information helped.

Thanks again. Good to see we are not going to have to redo our help system just deliver the old winhlp32.exe during the installation of our software.

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1380 days ago by Anonymous • • • Reply

Laura said:
"Good to see we are not going to have to redo our help system just deliver the old winhlp32.exe during the installation of our software."

That of course will be illegal. Microsoft prohibit you from redistributing winhlp32.exe
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917607/EN-US/

Mark Horridge

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1326 days ago by Steve • • • Reply

Hi,

I am having the same error ("The winhlp32.exe binary in the Windows directory is corrupt, please reinstall.") when I try to execute winhelp from my desktop. I can't replace winhelp in System32 folder because Vista seems to prevent me from writing over this file.

Any hint ?

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1224 days ago by Ray • • • Reply

I have version 5.1.2600.2180 but it is only 8,192 bytes. Why is yours different. Can you e-mail your copy. Thanks.

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1373 days ago by Mike • • • Reply

those trying winhlp32.exe from XP on Vista - it only works with RC2 and higher. I previously got the "corrupt" message on earlier builds.

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1224 days ago by Ray • • • Reply

Where do i determine if I have RC2 or not.
I show Version 6.0 (Build 6000) and have Windows Vista Home Premium.

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1352 days ago by Gaz • • • Reply

I actually installed Delphi 5 & 7 on Vista Beta, RC1 & 2 with no issues.

Solution (1)
Use a little tool clled Tweakvista to get rid of some the security then it works fine.

Solution (2)
Run the setup by right-clicking and selecting "Run as Adminsitrator"

When you have installed Delphi 5,6 or 7 the next step is to right clck the shortcut that you use to launch the IDE and select the compatibility tab. Select "Run as Administrator" and it will wlays execute with full admin rigths (which is what you nee for debuggin anyway).

And copying the winhlp32.exe from XP works a treat for me too.

If you are having problems simply right click a help file and select "Open With". Then simply browse to where you copied the winhlp32.exe and sorted.

:)

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1334 days ago by Bob Swart • • www • Reply

I just set the "modify" permission on the Delphi7\Bin and Delphi7\Projects directory.

See http://www.drbob42.com/examines/examin84.htm for details.

Groetjes, Bob Swart

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1266 days ago by Mike Soulliere • • • Reply

Hi there,

We copied the Winhelp32.exe from XP to Vista as you suggested and everything worked fine, included the context-sensitive help hooks with our application. However, the Search tab is completely blank. In other words, it does not build the database of terms and
there is no way to search the WinHelp system on Vista.

Has anyone else stumbled on this and if so, is there a workaround?

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 246 days ago by Anonymous • • • Reply

Yes, I don't have the search tab either. I didn't notice that it was missing until the other day when a message box popped up while I sought help and told me that some .dll was missing. Stupidly, I didn't note the name of the .dll because I was in the middle of doing something else. IIRC it did have some name like srchXXX.dll or some such. Don't have an XP box to look

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1237 days ago by Aaroe • • • Reply

What is the opinion of running applications made with WINXP/Delphi7 running on VISTA?

Simple "Check Cashing" program I wrote with BLOB fields in an "Access" database using ADO.

My customers say there are issues... but sorry don't have details at this time

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1235 days ago by Tim Anderson • • • Reply

There are some issues, but they are mostly cosmetic.

Most likely problems are with UAC, if you app writes to its application directory, for example.

Tim

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1230 days ago by Sanjay Kanade • • www • Reply

Well, Microsoft has now released the official WinHelp download for Vista:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid =6ebcfad9-d3f5-4365-8070-334cd175d4bb&displaylang=en

Doesn' t seem to work for RC2 though, only RTM.

Not working yet..

Posted 1229 days ago by Nuno Brito • • www • Reply

Tried with RTM portuguese version and we can't write c:\windows??

UAC disabled, but the permissions won't allow you to carry the action of overwriting the file.

I've upgraded from my XP install, so I had to cab expand winhlp32.ex_ from the I386 folder inside an install CD.

Also tried to set the file association to another folder and still delphi goes to the dummy vista version..

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1226 days ago by Anonymous • • • Reply

Microsoft now has an official download for winhelp on Vista. I used this and it worked fine for me.

Tim

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1224 days ago by Ray • • • Reply

Has anyone been able to use the Borland Database Engine with Windows Vista. I have an old database that has worked fine for years, but it doens't work with Vista.

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1046 days ago by Gary Hoban • • • Reply

Thanks. After months of trying to install my beloved Delphi 5 on my new Vista laptop, your site came up on Google I tried both your suggestions at once; they worked. Thanks again. Gary

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 1044 days ago by Jann • • • Reply

This is a much easier way and it works in both OS (Vista & XP):

http://www.xpize.net/downloads/takecontrol/TakeControlb2.zip

1. Save to desktop
2. Create folder in C:\Program files called 'Take Control'
3. Cut and paste to the folder you created.
4. Unpack and create a shortcut of the .exe file on you desktop (or wherever)
5. Run the program

This solves the registry problems that do not always work in every version.

Cheers and good luck.

Re: Delphi 5 App not running in vista

Posted 1017 days ago by William • • • Reply

Hi all

I have created a delphi 5 exe for a piece of sotware. This exe was origionally created in XP and i copied it over to my laptop and set up the sql ODBC connection to the database. When i click on the icon to run the program i get an error message saying "[program] has encountered a problem, windows will look for a solution....." Has anyone any ideas?

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 845 days ago by Robert Thompson • • • Reply

I never successfully got Delphi 7 to install on Vista. The install started to run then died. I don't remember the error message, but I will try installing it outside of 'program files' and running it as administrator (I thought that was the default!).

I am a Delphi 7 diehard not by choice. I bought a new computer and have no choice but to use Windows Vista. The reason I still use Delphi 7 is because I don't want to pay the million dollar price tag Borland asks for upgrading to their latest products! Can anyone honestly say they would spend $900 on development software for their own personal, hobby use? My wife would have a heart attack --- and that's after she threw me out of the house for spending it!

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 816 days ago by Giovanni • • • Reply

I totally agree with this:
I am a Delphi 7 diehard not by choice. I bought a new computer and have no choice
but to use Windows Vista. The reason I still use Delphi 7 is because I don't want to pay
the million dollar price tag Borland asks for upgrading to their latest products!
Can anyone honestly say they would spend $900 on development software for their
own personal, hobby use?

This also puts a brick wall in front of new users - there's no reasonable way to try the software or have a "cottage industry" developers.

Compare this with Microsoft's Visual Studio Express (and for example C#) where the licensing specifically states you can use it for commercial development - it's simply no contest.

I remember Turbo Pascal coming out at $49.95 when all the other Pascal compilers were >$300. A year later most of them were history. Having used Turbo Pascal since v3 and Delphi since version 1, I don't particularly want to change but staying with Delphi 7 forever doesn't seem like a good idea ... especially comparing it to the IDE in Visual Studio with its keyword completion which includes user variables not just system defined ones ...

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 782 days ago by Hayden • • • Reply

hey.
maybe i'm being completely blond (no offense to clever blonde people), but how do you copy winhlp32.exe from XP to Vista???? cuz i cannot copy it to the Windows directory folder cuz the "pretend" winhlp32 for vista is there and Vista doesn't allow you to delete or rename it. so if i save it elsewhere, Delphi doesn't see it and when i click on help in delphi, it brings up that stupid "Why can't i get help" dialog. please post steps on getting this to work for me.

thanks a mil

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 781 days ago by Tim Anderson • • • Reply

Why not use the official download:

<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?Famil yID=6ebcfad9-d3f5-4365-8070-334cd175d4bb&displaylang=en>

Tim

Re: Delphi 7, Winhelp: not compatible with Vista

Posted 771 days ago by shawn • • • Reply

thanx so much guys..this has been so helpful for me.i'm new to delphi and i have delphi 2007 on vista, just have to have my way to get started with dlephi 5 on vista...i owe alot..

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