Keks (XP) 27th March
http://i.imgur.com/zVPiWSV.jpg

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT http://i.imgur.com/f4y9UI0.jpg
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp\OpenWithList http://i.imgur.com/u5cDnEv.jpg
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp\OpenWithProgids http://i.imgur.com/MiaUX4b.jpg







































HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp\UserChoice















http://i.imgur.com/cD7mrtT.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/oJ0in2l.jpg
I finally end up with these ( new ) registry entries
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.hpl http://i.imgur.com/wz8jVsr.jpg
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp\OpenWithList http://i.imgur.com/ulLwM3T.jpg
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp\OpenWithProgids http://i.imgur.com/INpVZNE.jpg



*** Using unassoc.exe https://eileenslounge.com/viewtopic....281746#p281746 , https://app.box.com/s/e7dd2hopzyinrrb2fdkk72scikw4rr6n
https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/u...ndows-7-vista/

An alternative for disassociating …
Vista: I examined the two entries, HKEY_CURRENT_USER ….. and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT , in the registry before and then after below.
Using the software , unassoc.exe , I only had the the second delete option : http://i.imgur.com/mEB7aLo.jpg , http://i.imgur.com/QkXP0Ip.jpg , http://i.imgur.com/jJWVIXP.jpg
The .hlp no longer appears in the list after taking that delete option
The software seemsed to take off the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.hlp only: Even after a computer restart, the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp is still there
After following the usual way to re associate, the .hlp reappears in the list, but the removed entry does not re appear for HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT … so I have no HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT Here is the after for the other
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp\OpenWithList http://i.imgur.com/1npC9iP.jpg
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp\OpenWithProgids http://i.imgur.com/Y4uRKQi.jpg

Initially I seemed to have success.
The icon was blue suddenly. Double clicking stopped working and instead resorted back to the help that’s no help window.
After following the usual way to re associate, the icon turned yellow, the automatic opening worked, and an entry re appeared at
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT http://i.imgur.com/nJzZYn7.jpg


Windows 7: The two entries appeared to be the same as in Vista
On running the software, I appear to have both options available. http://i.imgur.com/UUjBg8L.jpg
So I tried the first option first http://i.imgur.com/wiFxg7M.jpg , after which the first option became greyed out, http://i.imgur.com/fJGSmfN.jpg
The .hlp still appears in the list , and both entries are still in the registry, and the right click-Open With-Browse-Select/Open- my downloaded winhlp.exe association thing does not result in a successful opening of the .hlp file on double clicking on it. ( Note: the right click-Open With-Browse-Select/Open- my downloaded winhlp.exe association thing brings back the first option
Taking the second option, http://i.imgur.com/IO2MxTj.jpg , http://i.imgur.com/msWhKn5.jpg , removes the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.hlp only and removes the .hlp in the unassoc.exe list.
After this we lose the blue question mark icon, and have no rightclick OpenWith option, and on double clicking on the, now plain, icon, we get the new window. http://i.imgur.com/ZnFx1xx.jpg
Following the browsing from this new window appears to have no effect, other than strangely bringing back the blue question mark icon and the right click OpenWith option
The newly re available route of right click-Open With-Browse-Select/Open- my downloaded winhlp.exe association appears to have no effect.
At this point the situation is that in the Registry we have nothing in no HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and no entry for .hlp in the unassoc.exe list.
Strangely we have now three entries in HKEY_CURRENT_USER …..
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp\OpenWithList http://i.imgur.com/AxiJxxE.jpg
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp\OpenWithProgids http://i.imgur.com/efTpjNQ.jpg
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp\UserChoice http://i.imgur.com/C5p0aKn.jpg

So I now delete the registry HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp … , which effectively leaves me with now no Registry entry.
Initially the .hlp file icon is blue , we have no OpenWith option and a double click leads to the new window. On a Computer restart , the blue question mark icon is replaced by no icon. unassoc.exe list has no .hlp and a single entry has appeared in the registry
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp\OpenWithList http://i.imgur.com/Jz8zPFi.jpg
After double clicking I get the new window, and taking that route to make a new association , it takes some time before I get the window from which to browse. http://i.imgur.com/0GPeTGc.jpg
After this, all is OK, and note that the icon is yellow. http://i.imgur.com/W4TUt61.jpg
Here are the final Registries
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT http://i.imgur.com/O3lKV4b.jpg
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp\OpenWithList http://i.imgur.com/jVacdaq.jpg
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp\OpenWithProgids http://i.imgur.com/hwpbLdq.jpg

( a .gid File also appeared )
unassoc.exe has a .hlp , the first option is greyed out, and after trying the second option, the yellow ? on the icon disappeared., we are back to the new window only after double click option… etc…
In the registry I have these
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp\OpenWithList http://i.imgur.com/A0Y7cbY.jpg
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp\OpenWithProgids http://i.imgur.com/I3D3XEP.jpg

I repeat the new window associate route, finally all is yellow ? well and Registry entries again
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT http://i.imgur.com/JS1AjEJ.jpg
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp\OpenWithList http://i.imgur.com/FjEcyC1.jpg
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.hlp\OpenWithProgids http://i.imgur.com/jnxXxd0.jpg