Question

HELPSVC.EXE using 90+% CPU Utilization

Asked by: VSACIT

I have a user whos HELPSVC.EXE loads itself (he is not opening Windows Help) and starts maxing out his CPU.  Normally happens everyday after machine has been on for a few hours.  I have not been able to establish any possible causes.


Thank you,
Ben (VSACIT)

-------------------------------------------------
Machine Specs:
MPC T2000 2.5G Laptop
1 Gig RAM
Windows XP SP1
Updates recent from 1 month ago

Common apps:
  Office 2002
  IBM Client Access V5R2
  IBM WDSC Suite (v5.0)

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Asked On
2004-03-25 at 05:58:15ID20931757
Topic

Windows XP Operating System

Participating Experts
4
Points
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Comments
9

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Answers

 

by: LucFPosted on 2004-03-25 at 06:05:17ID: 10677010

Hi VSACIT,

I would like to find out if this is the legal helpsvc.exe or something different. Can you use this tool and post the logfile:
http://209.133.47.200/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe

Greetings,

LucF

 

by: sunray_2003Posted on 2004-03-25 at 06:09:41ID: 10677055

Looks like it is part of help and support in xp

http:Q_20822905.html

 

by: VSACITPosted on 2004-03-25 at 06:35:38ID: 10677310

LucF,

Can you explain this HijackThis applications?  I work for a business and I personally find that application to be "shady" at the least.  Can you define how HelpSVC could be illegal?  I thought it was was related to the Windows Help service.

Sunray,

Thanks for the suggestion, but I have looked through http:Q_20822905.html and found serveral attempts and no real resolution.  I have tried all of them and am waiting for the user to let me know when it breaks again.

Thanks,
Ben (VSACIT)

 

by: LucFPosted on 2004-03-25 at 06:42:21ID: 10677386

Here you can see what hijackthis is for:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/htlogtutorial.html

also 209.133.47.200 is the IP address of spywareinfo.com but I'm giving the IP-address as spywareinfo is being blasted by a DDoS at the moment. You can also download (if you don't trust it) hijackthis from here:

http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe

LucF

 

by: sunray_2003Posted on 2004-03-25 at 06:45:02ID: 10677418

VSACIT,

Try fixing help and support using this http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/fixwinxphelp.htm

and I donot think helpsvc.exe is a bad one.

 

by: VSACITPosted on 2004-03-26 at 05:31:55ID: 10686813

Thank you, I was able to use the HijackThis utility to find a new application that was doubly installed and loading 2 services and 2 executables.

Ben (VSACIT)

 

by: LucFPosted on 2004-03-26 at 05:36:56ID: 10686857

Glad to help Ben.

LucF

 

by: BlazerManPosted on 2004-08-28 at 18:44:02ID: 11924005

This issue was resolved with SP1.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=839017

Or you can simply turn off the Help and Support service from Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services

 

by: ntwrkadmnPosted on 2005-09-10 at 17:02:47ID: 14857763

I have the same exact problem, just started out of no where. What a crock of....

So what is it I do when this happens, my server is running so slow it's hard to be productive.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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