Help icon in the finder

Hi I'm a newbie in the Mac world. I just bought a PB 15'' (Mac OS 10.4 Italian)
I never used a Mac and I come from PC world.
Well my problem is: after I installed Office 2004 for Mac, the "help" in Finder is not working properly. By clicking on the "help" label a blank "help" page is shown; then I need to type my question in the box (top right) and scrolling the list on the second option, which is "search in the whole help", while the first option (checked by default) is a blank line. Moreover the help icon shown in the dock is a Black and White doughnut with a question mark inside. Shouldn't it have red stripes instead of grey?
What can I do to restore the normal and simple working of the help function?
thank you, sorry for my poor english.

Hi, Foucault. I (and many others) have also had problems with Mac OS Help.
Try this site for some good tips. I recall something on that page worked for me.
You correctly describe the Help icon, by the way, no red stripes. I think it's meant to be a lifebuoy basically - the sort of thing that is thrown to someone having difficulties in the sea.
And your English is fine!

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