Thanks for the info kane but as you can see it now looks as though I have successfully disabled help and support but am now stuck in that position
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\John Kearns>net stop helpsvc
The Help and Support service is stopping.
The Help and Support service was stopped successfully.


C:\Documents and Settings\John Kearns>cd/d%windir%pchealth\helpctr
The system cannot find the path specified.

C:\Documents and Settings\John Kearns>cd /d%windir%pchealth\helpctr
The system cannot find the path specified.

C:\Documents and Settings\John Kearns>rd packagestore /s /q
The system cannot find the file specified.

C:\Documents and Settings\John Kearns>rd packagestore/s/q
The system cannot find the file specified.

C:\Documents and Settings\John Kearns>rd installedskus/s/q
The system cannot find the file specified.

C:\Documents and Settings\John Kearns>rd installedskus /s /q
The system cannot find the file specified.

C:\Documents and Settings\John Kearns>cd binaries
The system cannot find the path specified.

C:\Documents and Settings\John Kearns>start /w helpsvc /svhost netsvcs /regserve
r /install
The system cannot find the file helpsvc.

C:\Documents and Settings\John Kearns>start /w helpsvc /register
The system cannot find the file helpsvc.

C:\Documents and Settings\John Kearns>