Symptom
After opening Mac Help, a spinning disc pointer and the status message "Retrieving..." appear for several seconds.
Solution
Wait until Mac Help has finished downloading online content. If Mac OS X 10.2 was recently installed, this may require several seconds and more than one use of Mac Help. Mac Help will open more quickly in the future, after content has been downloaded .
If Mac Help continues to be slow, you may try this workaround: Create a new network location, which you may name "Mac Help" for easy reference. In this location, turn off all port configurations that are not for the primary, in-use Internet connection. If you need help doing this, see technical document 106653, "
Mac OS X: How to Use Locations".
Example: If the computer is connected via Built-in Ethernet to a DSL or cable modem, then you would disable AirPort, IrDA, USB Bluetooth Modem Adaptor, and Modem port configurations in the new location that you create (AirPort, USB Bluetooth Modem Adaptor, and IrDA appear only on computers that contain that hardware).
After using Mac Help successfully, you should try switching back to your original location.