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Helpsvc.exe

  • 12-02-2006 04:26PM
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 36,634 ✭✭✭✭


    My computer suddenly slowed down last week to a grinding halt so i opened up task manager and found that helpsvc.exe was eating up most of the resources itself! When i googled around i found out it was for Help and Support Services and a good couple of places said to just disable it. My computer has been noticeably faster now. Anyone else have any ideas what its used for, does it send info to MS or something? thanks in advance


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,132 ✭✭✭✭is_that_so


    Have you got the latest service packs?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 36,634 ✭✭✭✭Ruu_Old


    No im on XP service pack 1, there is a patch available to fix it but you have to contact Microsoft directly to get it


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,148 ✭✭✭angelofdeath


    http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;839017
    i've the service disabled anyway, there was nothing there that i couldn't get to by other means, never had any real need for it


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,226 ✭✭✭hopeful


    Depending on which service pack you are using apparently helpsvc can run amok. (Though I have read that if affects even those SP2 packs that are supposed to be immune. Generally happens during a windows update or install of a program that goes awry.

    If you want to shut it down and not have it continue to restart do the following:

    Create a DWORD entry called Headlines and give it the value of 0, for the following Registry Key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ PCHealth \ HelpSvc \

    There is a side effect to this solution however: This disables the Headlines feature which simply means that your Help and Support Center headlines are never updated.


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