Help and Support Service
The service supports the Help and Support client application and enables requests from the client application to Microsoft's Help and Support Center.

Note by default when using Help and Support it will try to access the Internet, to search the Microsoft Knowledge Base articles. This can be annoying for dialup users, but it can be turned off in the Help and Support Center, click Options -> Search Options, and disable the option to search the MS Knowledge Base.

If having problems with the Help and Support then one can try repair it:
  • Re-Install the Help and Support service:
    1. Right this file and in the context menu select "Install" (Remember to enable hidden files and folders):
      %windir%\inf\pchealth.inf
  • Re-initialize the Help and Support data storage:
    1. Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC to start the Task Manager (TaskMgr.exe)
    2. Select the Process-tab and stop the following processes (If they exist):
      helpsvc.exe
      helphost.exe
      helpctr.exe
       
    3. Open a command prompt (Press Start-button, Run... and open cmd) and perform the following commands:
      1. net stop helpsvc
      2. rmdir %windir%\pchealth\helpctr\packagestore /s /q
      3. rmdir %windir%\pchealth\helpctr\installedskus /s /q
      4. start /w %windir%\pchealth\helpctr\binaries\helpsvc /svchost netsvcs /regserver /install
      5. start /w %windir%\pchealth\helpctr\binaries\helpsvc /register
 
HTTP SSL / SSL for HTTP.SYS
This service implements the secure hypertext transfer protocol (HTTPS) for the HTTP service, using the Secure Socket Layer (SSL). SSL is a proposed open standard for establishing a secure communications channel to prevent the interception of critical information, such as credit card numbers.

Note if this service is disabled then any HTTP request aimed for the Internet Information Services (IIS) will not be handled.
 
Human Interface Device Access
Provides a generic interface to Human Interface Devices (HID) like keyboard, mouse and joystick for accessing, configuring and maintaining hotkeys.

This service can become important if fx. having a keyboard with extra buttons/hotkeys for controlling sound volume, or if using USB Speakers.

Note if getting the error below when starting the service, then one have to open the archive <install-cd>\i368\Drivers.cab and extract the following files to %SystemRoot%\System32:
  • hidserv.dll
  • mouhid.sys
  • mouclass.sys
Event ID: 7023

Could not start the Human Interface Device Access service on Local Computer.
Error 126: the specified module could not be found.
 
IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service
Supports the burning of CD-ROM/RW through the IMAPI (Image Mastering Applications Programming Interface) without the need of 3rd party burning software. (Can be extended with WinXP PowerToy ISO Burner)

Note to enable the builtin CD Burner for a limited user, one have to enable the setting "Devices: Allowed to format and eject removable media":
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \Software \Microsoft \Windows NT \CurrentVersion \Winlogon]
AllocateDASD = 2 (0 = Administrators only, 1 = Power Users, 2 = Normal Users)

More Info MS KB Q256592
 
Note if trying to burn/write a DVD-RAM in a DVD-RAM/CD-RW-Combo-Drive, then one have to open My Computer, right click the DVD-drive and select Properties, select Recording-tab and uncheck Enable CD recording on this drive, or else one will get this error (Because it tries to access the DVD as a CD-ROM):
The disc in the drive is not a writable CD or it is full.

Please insert a blank, writable CD into drive D:\, or insert a disc with enough free space to hold all the files you have selected for writing to CD.
 
IIndexing Service
Indexes contents & properties of files on local & remote computers; provides rapid access to files through flexible querying language.
File searches are slow when done without an index as it requires a lot of disk activity, because one had to open all file scan them entirely. With an index one only have to scan once and then use the optimized index file for future file searches.
The Indexing Service maintains the index by detecting when the computer is idle, and then checks whether any new files have arrived or existing files have been changed.

Note if using the indexing service, then one should make sure that:
  • Index only NTFS partitions as the journal filesystem makes maintenance of the index quick. FAT partitions requires that the Indexing Service scans the entire partition every time to maintain the index.
  • Exclude Directories containing temporary files from the index (Like TEMP and Temporary Internet Files)
 
Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) / Internet Connection Sharing
Provides network address translation (NAT), addressing and name resolution services for all computers on your home network, so they can access the Internet through the shared network- or dial-up- connection.

This service is mainly intended for home networks, and it includes its own DNS- and DHCP-Server, and makes use of the NAT module. If on a corporate network with own DNS-, DHCP-, RASS-Server, then ICS might conflict with these. One should instead use Routing And Remote Access or ISA-Server for providing access to the Internet.

In WinXP+ this service has been extended to include a software firewall, though it is not recommended to use this firewall. Instead one should acquire a 3rd party firewall.
 
Intersite Messaging
Allows sending and receiving messages between Windows Advanced Server sites. This service is used for mail-based replication between sites. Active Directory includes support for replication between sites by using SMTP over IP.
 
IPSEC Policy Agent Service
Manages the Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) policy & starts the Internet Security Association Key Management Protocol (ISAKMP) / Oakley Internet Key Exchange (IKE) & the IP security driver.

The IP Security driver captures/examines IP traffic and uses the IPSec policies to decide whether to block/filter, permit or encrypt (F.ex. Layer Two Tunneling Protocol - L2TP) the traffic. When changing a policy the IPSec Policy Agent is responsible for updating the IP Security Driver. The service listens on UDP port 500.

The IP Security driver can be used with the Remote Access Connection Manager (Rasman), to provide secure VPN connections.

Note in Win2k if not having installed "Client for Microsoft Networks" for the Network Adapter (Don't need to be bound), then the service will not start and instead give the following error without any entries in the Event Log:
Could not start the IPSEC Policy Agent service on Local Computer.
The service did not return an error. This could be an internal Windows error or an internal service error. If the problem persists, contact your system administrator.
Note if IPSec Policies are corrupted (Reload from .ipsec file), or a 3rd Party IPSec/VPN software is installed (Uninstall it), then it might give the following error in the Event Log:
IPSEC PolicyAgent Service couldn't be started: Driver failed to start.
Source: PolicyAgent
EventID: 321

IPSEC PolicyAgent Service couldn't be started: Oakley failed to start.
Source: PolicyAgent
EventID: 319
 
 

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