Add an HelpProvider control from the toolbox.
Select the control you want add help to.
In the properties window
ShowHelp on HelpProvider1 Set to true to show help
HelpString on HelpProvider1 This is the message to show.
If you have an helpfile
HelpProvider.HelpNamespace Set to the Filepath of the helpfile.
HelpNavigator on HelpProvider1 What to show when F1 is pressed
HelpKeyword on HelpProvider1 The keyword to look for in the helpfile.
Opening the helpfile directly
vb
System.Windows.Forms.Help.ShowHelp(Me, <HelpFile>, HelpNavigator.TableOfContents)