If you try to use the Help option in an older application while using Windows 7 you will get a message that Help does not work in Windows 7. Microsoft has changed the format that Help programs are written in with Windows 7 and did not make it backward compatible.

However, Microsoft offers a program that you can download and install in Windows 7 and Help will work. You would think they would have built this in Windows 7 but they chose not to.

You will go to the Microsoft website and get the program to be able to use Help. Go to microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=91. You will have a choice when you get there to get the 64 bit or 32 bit (also called x86) version. When I tried it the page determined the version I am running and only marked Continue on it. If you are not sure of your version of Windows, right click Computer and choose Properties and it will show you on that page.

You may then get a message asking permission to install Genuine Windows Validation. You will have to install it to get the Help program. You may get a message asking permission to make changes to your computer, answer “yes” since you are doing these changes. If it never does anything then choose the alternate validation method. You should then end up back at the Help file download screen and you can choose the appropriate copy. I had to do alternate method. Microsoft did not make this customer friendly.

After choosing file, choose to open it when the yellow bar at top of the bottom screen asks. Answer “yes” to install Windows update. Read and accept the license. Now wait while it installs. Click close when finished.

Now you can use the Help features in your new and old programs.

Send your questions to Dwight Watt at dwight@dwightwatt.com. He teaches at a technical college in northwest Georgia and does consulting work for businesses and individuals. His website is dwightwatt.com.