Windows Help File

File Extension: .chm Developer: Microsoft Views: 36362 Updated: 2011-02-09 22:20:40 Hex: 49 54 53 46 ASCII: ITSF

Many programs use .chm files for there Help files, these you can tell because the icon shown for the file is usually a document with a yellow question mark in the top right hand corner. These files are HTML files that have been compiled then linked to a table of contents which acts as an index.

Normally when you open a CHM file by double clicking on it, the Microsoft HTML Help Executable will open the help file so that you can view it.

Microsoft Windows 7

If you choose "Open with" in the context menu when you do a right mouse click on the CHM file you should see the Microsoft HTML Help Executable being shown as the default, if it is not shown you will need to click on Browse and navigate to the Windows folder and look for the hh.exe file which is usually found in c:\windows\hh.exe.

Micrsoft Windows Vista

If you choose "Open with" in the context menu when you do a right mouse click on the CHM file you should see the Microsoft HTML Help Executable being shown as the default, if it is not shown you will need to click on Browse and navigate to the Windows folder and look for the hh.exe file which is usually found in c:\windows\hh.exe.

Microsoft Windows XP

If you choose "Open with" in the context menu when you do a right mouse click on the CHM file you should see the Microsoft HTML Help Executable being shown as the default, if it is not shown you will need to click on Browse and navigate to the Windows folder and look for the hh.exe file which is usually found in c:\windows\hh.exe.

On Windows XP the security update KB896358 makes changes to how files downloaded from the Internet behave and in the case of CHM files it blocks them, to be able to use the file you will need to right mouse click on the files then choose Properties, under the General tab you should see an area that shows attributes and Security, there are two buttons Advanced and Unblock, click on Unblock and you will be able to use the file.