"Help and Support" won't run

[crazyray]

WinXP Home otherwise running OK. Ran anti-virus scan and Adaware. I am unable to start "Help and Support". Looking in Services, I find this as the path to the executable:

"C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs"

Under Dependencies, it shows Remote Procedure Call (RPC).

Does that look correct?

Any help getting "Help and Support" going would be appreciated.

[Scott Tiger]

This "C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs" won't start the GUI portion of Help and Support. Are you saying the shortcut on the start menu isn't working?

[crazyray]

Yes, Scott, that's correct. I hit the shortcut but the application does not run. I was looking in services for a reason why it might not be working.

[Scott Tiger]

Warning! Dumb Suggestion Ahead:

Open "My Computer" then head to "Help" then "Help and Support Center".

Any luck?

[crazyray]

NOT a dumb suggestion!

Unfortunately, that didn't work either...

[Scott Tiger]

Okay, another question:

Have you tried logging in as someone else to see if this problem clears up? I'd choose someone with admin priviledges.

[trueman]

This happened to me and I was told to try the following.

You should really run a repair:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

You can try running SFC /SCANNOW from a command prompt first.

Scan for viruses too:

http://www.pandasoftware.com/active...n_principal.htm

And also this

Go to your Start button and choose run. Type services.msc and hit enter. Look for a service called Help and Support. Right-click to enable it - set it to Manual, or Automatic if you prefer. You may need to start it from there as well (Choose Start in the menu).

however neither worked and the repair install went horribly wrong and I had to format and re-install but you might have more luck.

[crazyray]

FIXED!!

I found this most useful page:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top10faqs.htm

It mentioned the specific problem I was having and related it to a registry cleaner called "Easy Cleaner" from toniarts.com. This was recently recommended on TechTV...

Anyway, it corrupts the Help and Support registry. You must exclude that area if you are going to use this program. I was able to repare by using the "Undo" option from my registry cleaning job.

Consider yourselves warned.

It gets EVEN BETTER! This registry cleaner is now $19.95. You cannot correct the problem without updating to the new (not free) version. Just so you know...

[Scott Tiger]

OUCH!

Glad to hear ou got it working though.

[GeorgesPC]

So A 'free' program screws your registry, then in order to get the problem resolved you have to buy the retail version?

That's nice.