Help and Support Additions
Overview
Help and Support Additions is a program developed by Hewlett-Packard. Upon installation and setup, it defines an auto-start registry entry which makes this program run on each Windows boot for all user logins. The software is designed to connect to the Internet and adds a Windows Firewall exception in order to do so without being interfered with. The programs's main executable is helpctr.exe and has been seen to consume an average CPU of less than one percent, and utilizes about 17.78 MB of memory. The software installer includes 14 files and is usually about 7.72 MB (8,098,393 bytes). In comparison to the total number of users, most PCs are running the OS Windows XP as well as Windows 7 (SP1). While about 87% of users of Help and Support Additions come from the United States, it is also popular in Australia and New Zealand.
Program details
URL: www.hp.com
Installation folder: C:\windows\pchealth\helpctr\binaries
Uninstaller: WScript.exe C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Vendors\CN=Hewlett-Packard,L=Cupertino,S=Ca,C=US\eHelpSetup.jse eHelpUninstall
Estimated size: 7.72 MB
Files installed by Help and Support Additions
| Program executable: | helpctr.exe |
| Name: | Microsoft Help and Support Center |
| Microsoft® Windows® Operating System |
| Path: | C:\windows\pchealth\helpctr\binaries\helpctr.exe |
| MD5: | b32a4db8fa8ba07afb1e86f8c9fb852e |
| The Help and Support Center in the Windows® XP operating system represents a significant milestone in delivering a single resource for Online Help, support, tools, how to articles, and other resources. |
Additional files:
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msinfo.dll - System Information Control
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helpsvc.exe (by Microsoft) - Microsoft Help Center Service
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hscupd.exe (by Microsoft) - Microsoft Help and Support Center
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msconfig.exe - System Configuration Utility
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pchshell.dll - Microsoft Help Center Shell
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brpinfo.dll - BRPINFO Module
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HCAppRes.dll - PC Health Help Center Resource Only DLL
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HelpHost.exe - Microsoft Help Center Hosting Server
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notiflag.exe - Microsoft PSS Notification Flag
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pchsvc.dll - Microsoft PCHealth Service Holder
Behaviors exhibited
Startup File (All Users Run)
- msconfig.exe is loaded in the all users (HKLM) registry as a startup file name 'MSConfig' which loads as C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\MSConfig.exe /auto.
2 Windows Firewall Allowed Programs
- helpsvc.exe is added as a firewall exception for '%WINDIR%\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\Helpsvc.exC:*:EnableC:Offer Remote Assistance'.
- helpctr.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\WINXP\pchealth\helpctr\binaries\HelpCtr.exe'.
Resource utilization averages
Show technical details
| helpctr.exe |
| Memory: | 17.78 MB | |
| Total CPU: | 0.0047094203% | |
| Kernel CPU: | 0.00194991% | |
| User CPU: | 0.00275951% | |
| Switches/sec: | 22 | |
| I/O reads/min: | 2.06 MB | |
| I/O writes/min: | 538.48 KB | |
| helpsvc.exe |
| Memory: | 5 MB | |
| Total CPU: | 0.0002737889% | |
| Kernel CPU: | 0.00020646% | |
| User CPU: | 0.00006733% | |
| Switches/sec: | 1 | |
| I/O reads/min: | 134.64 KB | |
| I/O writes/min: | 240.63 KB | |
How do I remove Help and Support Additions?
You can uninstall Help and Support Additions 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 Help and Support Additions, 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 Help and Support Additions.
OS VERSIONS
Win XP 75%
Win 7 (SP1) 25%
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HOW IT STARTS
Automatically starts? Yes
(Found in the run registry)
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USER ACTIONS
 |
Uninstall it 7%
Keep it 93%
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Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
| Windows XP |
75.00% |
|
| Windows 7 |
25.00% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
| Microsoft Windows XP |
66.67% |
|
| Windows 7 Home Premium |
16.67% |
|
| Windows 7 Ultimate |
16.67% |
|
Geography
86.67% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
| United States |
86.67% |
| Australia |
6.67% |
| New Zealand |
6.67% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
| American Megatrends |
60.00% |
|
| Hewlett-Packard |
40.00% |
|
Common models |
| MSI MS-7592 |
16.67% |
|
| HP Pavilion 061 PY063AA-A... |
16.67% |
|
| HP Pavilion 061 PU131AV-A... |
16.67% |
|
| Compaq Presario 061 PY059... |
16.67% |
|
| Compaq Presario 061 PX796... |
16.67% |
|
| Compaq Presario 061 EL445... |
16.67% |
|
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