helpctr.exe runs on background multiple times

[- -]

someone please help,

My computer starts out fine after restart, then sometime later, it loads
HELPCTR.EXE
by itself and then loads it again, and again. I am not even using windows
Help at
all.

When I use ctrl-alt-delete, it doesn't show at all, but I discovered it
through norton
utilities system information under memory, and also shows under
programs-accesories-system tools-system info-running tasks, it is listed
about 10-15 times using up ram until eventually, my computer locks up.
Please help!!!

I have dones full virus scans, with newest definitions, norton says system
is clean,
I update through windows update frequently, I have no clue how to fix this.
I even
changed helpctr.exe to helpctr.exe.old and still happens, LOL. I need tons
of help.

my problem is not related to the easycleaner issue

Thank you all in advance

[Noel Paton]

While unusual, this is not a terribly uncommon problem!
The usual cure is to turn off PCHEALTH in MSCONFIG.

Here's Mike Maltby's explanation of what PCHealth is, and does.
"The PCHealth entry in MSConfig | Startup and also in the Task Scheduler,
refers to the PCHealth Scheduler for Data Collection routine (pchschd.exe)
which launches winmgmt.exe to collect software and hardware configuration
data
that can be accessed using Help & Support's System Information's History
view.
In other words it allows you to see changes over a period of time to your
system
such as drivers. The details collected are contained in the files
CollectedData???.xml files in the folder
..\windows\pchealth\helpctr\DataColl.

Note that all that pchschd.exe is doing every ten minutes is checking if the
system is idle or not. If idle it launches winmgmt.exe to collect the
information and sets itself to run again in 6 hours, if not it continues to
run
at ten minute intervals until it finds the system is idle.

As to whether you need this historic data or not, only you can decide. A
number of us have long since decided to disable pchschd.exe having no use
for the collected data. It should be noted that if you contact MS or an
OEM for help that it is possible that they might request you send them these
files. If you do choose to disable pchschd.exe it is ESSENTIAL to
delete/disable it from both MSConfig | Startup and the Task Scheduler as
otherwise the startup entry will recreate the Task Scheduler entry when the
system is rebooted.

Note also that disabling these entries does NOT affect either System Restore
or
System File Protect, nor AutoUpdate or your ability to use Help & Support,
all
part of what Microsoft call "PCHealth"."

In short, turning off PCHealth will not affect the health of your PC - and
will probably speed things up noticeably!

--

Noel Paton

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
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