Is there any specific interaction between BOINC and the Microsoft process "helpsvcs.exe"?

Often, when I let the BOINC screensaver run for an extended period of time I will return to my PC and discover that it is running slowly and intermittently. When I manage to get the Win-XP Task Manager open I will inevitably see that Microsoft's helpsvcs.exe has grabbed 72% or more of CPU resources. Helpsvcs.exe has preempted every other running process. When this occurs I will highlight the helpsvcs.exe process and "kill" it to recover control of my PC.

This only occurs when BOINC is running and the screensaver is active. It makes no difference if I have other programs active in the background or not.

It has occurred with various versions of the BOINC client from at least 5.xx upwards.

Is there any way to stop this takeover from happening?

Thanks

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Have you ever updated Windows XP?
As there is this: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;839017 that explains exactly what you are seeing and that it has been fixed in "the latest service pack".

Else, disable the service in the Services applet: go there by opening Control Panel (Can access from Windows Explorer) and opening "Administrative Tools" --> there is a Services icon in there where you can find and disable "Help and Support" (Helpsvc.exe).

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Jord,

Windows-XP Pro is up to date at SP3, with everything updated except for MSIE. I am still running IE7 instead of IE8, on those occasions when MSIE is necessary, such as Microsoft Update. For all other web browsing I use Firefox.

I will revisit the Microsoft knowledgebase and read the article about helpsvcs.exe. I had considered disabling it, but did not because I believe there are other applications in use which still require it.

My puzzlement arose because it only seems to cause problems after BOINC has run uninterrupted for a long period of time, never at any other time.

Thanks,
SG

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