HP Support Assistant
What is HP Support Assistant? (from Hewlett-Packard)
HP Support Assistant helps you maintain your PC and avoid or resolve problems using automated updates and self-help options. One simple menu guides you to expert support should you need it. And it’s ready to go when you turn on your new HP PC with Windows® 7 or Windows® 8. HP Support Assistant is pre-installed on every... Read more
Overview
HP Support Assistant is a software program developed by Hewlett-Packard. It is typically pre-installed with most new Hewlett-Packard computers. The most common release is 4.1.11.3, with over 98% of all installations currently using this version. During setup, the program registers itself to launch on boot through a Windows Schedule Task in order to automatically start-up. Upon being installed, the software adds a Windows Service which is designed to run continuously in the background. Manually stopping the service has been seen to cause the program to stop functing properly. It adds a background controller service that is set to automatically run. Delaying the start of this service is possible through the service manager. A scheduled task is added to Windows Task Scheduler in order to launch the program at various scheduled times (the schedule varies depending on the version). The primary executable is named HPSF.exe. The setup package generally installs about 30 files and is usually about 14.25 MB (14,944,798 bytes). Relative to the overall usage of users who have this installed on their PCs, most are running Windows 7 (SP1) and Windows 7. While about 65% of users of HP Support Assistant come from the United States, it is also popular in France and Italy.
HP Support Assistant has been found to be bundled with 3rd party software. If you have not purposefully installed this, you should be safe uninstalling it.
This program is pre-installed on HP PCs
Pre-installed software such as this is usually included by default on the manufacturer's PC. Many OEM (original equipment manufacture) software that is included with a new PC is useful and in many cases required for the PC to function properly as in the case of various software drivers. However, some pre-installed software is optional and can be safely removed.
Some users and experts alike have reported that this program is considered bloatware or bundleware. Such software is optional and can be safely removed if you do not utilize the features of the progam.
HP like most PC manufacturers engage in the pre-installation of various types of bloat and trialware. Recently, HP released a new service when purchasing a PC (typically for business customers) called HP Premier Image.
- It is usually licensed for use only on the HP PC on which it was pre-installed.
- It sometimes difficult for users to remove via the 'Uninstall a Program' feature in Windows.
Program details
URL: www.hp.com
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Support Framework\
Uninstaller: "C:\Program Files\InstallShield Installation Information\{495A8A3C-8FD0-4C46-9979-95C26181A1AB}\setup.exe" -runfromtemp -l0x0409 -removeonly
Estimated size: 14.25 MB
Language: English (United States)
Files installed by HP Support Assistant
| Program executable: | HPSF.exe |
| Name: | HP Support Assistant |
| Path: | C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Support Framework\HPSF.exe |
| MD5: | acb856fe8856e8091f5ef0adb6450a55 |
| HP Support Assistant Updater is the software updater program which runs in the background of Windows and automatically starts up when your PC boots. It checks for software udpates and automatically downloads and installs them if found. |
Additional files:
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HelpDTICO.dll - HelpDTICO Dynamic Link Library
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HPSF_Utilities.dll - HP Support Framework Utilities
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HPSF_Utils.exe
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Hpqpm.dll - Hpqpmdll Dynamic Link Library
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HP.SupportAssistant.UIController.dll - HP Support Assistant (HP Support Assistant View Model)
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HPSA_Service.exe - HP Support Assistant Service
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HPSF.exe
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HPSF_Tasks.exe
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hpupdatecomponent.dll - HP Update Component
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HPSFConfigReader.dll - HPSFConfigReader
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Configurator.dll - Configurator
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HPSF_Mode.exe - HPSF Mode
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CASLExec.exe - CASLExec
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Feedback.exe - Feedback
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HPTuneUp.exe - HPTuneUp
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HPWSD.exe - HPWSD
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HPSF.resources.dll
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Interop.HpUpdateComponentLib.dll - Assembly imported from type library 'HpUpdateComponentLib'.
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BackgroundCopyManager.dll - Assembly imported from type library BackgroundCopyManager
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Interop.HelpPane.dll - Assembly imported from type library 'HelpPane'.
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Extract.exe
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hpWireless.dll
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SIDUtilities.dll
Behaviors exhibited
4 Scheduled Tasks
- HPSF.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{AEC773CB-6E1C-449E-9D6B-515D4ED6580F}' (runs on registration).
- HPSF_Tasks.exe is scheduled as a task named 'Get HPU Packages'.
- HPSF_Utils.exe is scheduled as a task named 'First Boot' (runs daily at 10:51 p.m.).
- HPTuneUp.exe is scheduled as a task named 'HP Total Care Tune-Up'.
2 Scheduled Tasks (Boot/Login)
- HPSF.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named HP Assistant Restart.
- HPSF_Utils.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named Opt-in For HP Support Assistant Quick Start.
Service
- HPSA_Service.exe runs as a service named 'HP Support Assistant Service' (HP Support Assistant Service) "HP Support Assistant Service".
Resource utilization averages
Show technical details
| HPSA_Service.exe |
| Memory: | 32.14 MB | |
| Total CPU: | 0.0106138322% | |
| Kernel CPU: | 0.00597245% | |
| User CPU: | 0.00464138% | |
| CPU cycles/sec: | 951,451 | |
| Switches/sec: | 1 | |
| I/O reads/min: | 17.62 KB | |
| I/O writes/min: | 14.21 KB | |
| HPSF.exe |
| Memory: | 70.96 MB | |
| Total CPU: | 0.0894255724% | |
| Kernel CPU: | 0.07088343% | |
| User CPU: | 0.01854214% | |
| CPU cycles/sec: | 6,413,546 | |
| Switches/sec: | 3 | |
| I/O reads/min: | 27.41 KB | |
| I/O writes/min: | 8 KB | |
How do I remove HP Support Assistant?
You can uninstall HP Support Assistant from your computer by using the Add/Remove Program feature in the Window's Control Panel.
- On the Start menu (for Windows 8, right-click the screen's bottom-left corner), click Control Panel, and then, under Programs, do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall a Program.
- Windows XP: Click Add or Remove Programs.
- When you find the program HP Support Assistant, click it, and then do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall.
- Windows XP: Click the Remove or Change/Remove tab (to the right of the program).
- Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove HP Support Assistant.
PC BRAND OF CHOICE
100%
Hewlett-Packard
|
|
OS VERSIONS
Win 7 (SP1) 76%
Win XP 0%
|
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HOW IT RUNS
Windows Service? Yes
(Installs a service)
|
Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
| Windows 7 |
91.17% |
|
| Windows 10 |
7.88% |
|
| Windows Vista |
0.85% |
|
| Windows XP |
0.11% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
| Windows 7 Home Premium |
79.21% |
|
| Windows 10 Home |
6.59% |
|
| Windows 7 Professional |
5.92% |
|
| Windows 7 Starter |
3.15% |
|
| Windows 7 Home Basic |
1.51% |
|
| Windows 7 Ultimate |
1.32% |
|
Geography
64.96% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
| United States |
64.96% |
| France |
4.58% |
| Italy |
3.69% |
| United Kingdom |
3.68% |
| Canada |
3.14% |
| Germany |
2.41% |
| Spain |
1.75% |
| Australia |
1.12% |
| Netherlands |
1.03% |
| Mexico |
0.82% |
| Belgium |
0.80% |
| Sweden |
0.80% |
| Brazil |
0.78% |
| India |
0.64% |
About Hewlett-Packard
HP provides products, software solutions and services to consumers, from enterprises to consumers including customers in the government, health and education sectors.
Publisher URL: www.hp.com