help center opens by itself

[mooseye]

Here's a good on for someone.
On an hp laptop ze5470us xp sp2 the windows help and support center will open by its self. Sometimes as many as 258 instances will try to open at one time. If I bring up the task manager, the task manager help window will also open and closing this window also closes the task manager. I have spybot s&d loaded and if it is running the spybot help window will also open. If I exit this help window it will immediately reopen until I close spybot s&d. I have tried system restore to earlier date and it still occurs. This happens with Internet connect or not.
I have Mcafee virus software running and have updated and scanned with nothing found. I had this same problem a while back but it had stopped happening and has been fine for several months then yesterday it started again. Running spybot s&d usually finds one or two problems but have fixed them in the past with no problem.
Does anyone have an idea how to fix this problem or what may be causing it?
If more information is need please let me know.

[Miz]

To check the easiest thing first...is the F1 key (top row of keys on the keyboard) stuck down or partially down or have something stuck under it? That key does open the Windows Help & Support window.

[mooseye]

Originally Posted by Miz

To check the easiest thing first...is the F1 key (top row of keys on the keyboard) stuck down or partially down or have something stuck under it? That key does open the Windows Help & Support window.

I do have a suspicion that it may be keyboard related. I had a problem in the past with keys not working an it seemed to be the ribbon cable but it worked fine for several months.

[w1che]

Copy text below & paste into notepad and save as a batch (.bat) file. Run the batch file which should fix your problem. Go to this link first .. http://windowsxp.mvps.org/rebuildhelp.htm
----------------------------------------
net stop helpsvc
cd /d %windir%\pchealth\helpctr
rd packagestore /s /q
rd installedskus /s /q
cd binaries
start /w helpsvc /svchost netsvcs /regserver /install
start /w helpsvc /register

[mooseye]

It won't let me type into a notepad for the notepad help window opening.

Originally Posted by w1che

Copy text below & paste into notepad and save as a batch (.bat) file. Run the batch file which should fix your problem. Go to this link first .. http://windowsxp.mvps.org/rebuildhelp.htm
----------------------------------------
net stop helpsvc
cd /d %windir%\pchealth\helpctr
rd packagestore /s /q
rd installedskus /s /q
cd binaries
start /w helpsvc /svchost netsvcs /regserver /install
start /w helpsvc /register

[w1che]

Then you'll have to do it the hard way like it says on the link.. Sorry about that>. If this doesn't fix it you may have to do a windows repair if you have a windows cd..

Also in spybot click on the Immunize button and uncheck the two that Lock IE

[mooseye]

Okay, I was able to type all the info in at the command prompt. I will reboot and see what happens.

[mooseye]

the help center has seemed to stop for now but stll get help windowwhen opening the task manager and internet exporer. Also any text help that is available opens.

[mooseye]

Well, I have began to think virus. This thing is crazy. I was running a s&d scan and when it finished the help file page for spybot was open and it would not let me get to the fix problem button. Every time I minimised the help page it would pop back up. I shrunk the help page down to a sliver so it could not cover the spybot page and then it wouldn't let the cursor go to the spybot page. I could move the cursor and it would snap back to the help page even though it was only an inch wide. It would also do this on the task manager and task manager help page.
I updated and ran a virus scan with Mcafee and it showed nothing. Spybot S&D, when I was finally able to get to click the fix button, had only 4 tracking cookies which it deleted.
Any one?

[w1che]

Just to be sure you don't have Malware/virus run a HiJackthis & post it over in cyber safety..

Download HiJack into it's own folder & run it. You will get a log file.. Post that log file here.. http://www.cybertechhelp.com/forums/...splay.php?f=25

Get Hijack here... http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en...ols/hijackthis

[mooseye]

thnks wiche, I posted the hj log and got a green light on it. I have a keyboard ordered and will post the results when it arrives.
^5 and thanks again for your assistance.