Petard:

Didn't work. Did exactly as you directed. When I clicked on Help & Support in the "Services - Local" window, it said "Service Status: Started" and I noticed that the startup type was 'automatic'. So I went Start --> Help and support. The entry "? Help and support" I now clicked on appeared as a tiny window reading "? Help and support". This vanished in 1/2 second or less and that was that. I tried accessing Help and Support again--nothing. I checked everything re your instructions but that also changed nothing.

Do I have other options?

wumply