try this link first http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;839017 is it dose not work then do the following start -> run -> net stop helpctr.exe start -> run -> net stop helpsvr.exe you must also then Rebuild the Help Centre service. Help and Support Update: This issue can occur if one or more of the PCHealth components in your computer are damaged. To resolve this issue: 1. It is important to note if you have recently made alterations to your computer before this problem occurred, or if the Help and Support Center ever worked correctly. If you have recently made alterations to your computer before this problem occurred, try to undo the changes you made or uninstall the hardware or software that could have caused the issue. After you do so, test to determine if the issue is resolved, and if it is, skip the remaining steps. If the issue is not resolved, continue to the next step. 2. Remove the .cab files from the Packagestore folder, and then rebuild the original Help and Support Center: a. Click Start, click Run, type "cmd" (without the quotation marks), and then click OK to open a command prompt. Type "net stop helpsvc" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER. b. Type "cd /d windir\pchealth\helpctr" (without the quotation marks), where windir is the Windows folder, and then press ENTER. c. Type "rd packagestore /s /q" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER. d. Type "cd binaries" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER. e. Type "start /w helpsvc /svchost netsvcs /regserver /install" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER. f. If any of the following processes are running, stop them: helpsvc.exe helphost.exe helpctr.exe To stop a process, right-click the taskbar, and then click Task Manager. Click the Processes tab, click the process you want to stop, and then click End Process. g. At the command prompt, type "net start helpsvc" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER. 3. If the Help and Support Center has not been customized by an OEM, skip to the next step. If the Help and Support Center has been customized by an OEM, completely refresh the Help and Support Center: a. Click Start, click Run, type "cmd" (without the quotation marks), and then click OK to open a command prompt. Type "net stop helpsvc" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER. b. Type "cd /d windir\pchealth\helpctr" (without the quotation marks), where windir is the Windows folder, and then press ENTER. c. Type "rd packagestore /s /q" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER. d. Type "rd installedskus /s /q" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER. e. Type "cd binaries" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER. f. Type "start /w helpsvc /svchost netsvcs /regserver /install" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER. g. Type "start /w helpsvc /register" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER. h. If any of the following processes are running, stop them: helpsvc.exe helphost.exe helpctr.exe To stop a process, right-click the taskbar, and then click Task Manager. Click the Processes tab, click the process you want to stop, and then click End Process. i. At the command prompt, type "net start helpsvc" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER. NOTE: The preceding procedure should not negatively affect an OEM-customized Help and Support Center. However, it does remove any other .cab files from the Packstorage folder, such as the Windows XP support tools (which adds their table of contents into the Help and Support Center). 4. If the preceding steps do not resolve the issue, use the Windows XP CD-ROM to start your computer, and then run a repair (in-place upgrade) installation. Please be aware that even with SP2, the problem may still exist (40% chance of this). contact microsoft give them this case# SRQ050625600160 The problem still may exist because of problems with the Help file in c:/windows/prefact/ (cant remember the file name but its help sumin .exe) as well as problems in c:/windows/inf folder and the c:/windows/ime there are 4 causes for problem... 1 - when installing pc o.s. the setup installed wrong code 2 - corruption of files 3 - windows xp no sp and windows xp sp1 upgraders to sp2 may have had a configuration error when updating causing conflicts 4 - the svchost is corrupted or damaged