diff --git a/src/helper_startup.py b/src/helper_startup.py
index c18c1a88..13b4f0d2 100644
--- a/src/helper_startup.py
+++ b/src/helper_startup.py
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
+"""Helper Start performs all the startup operations."""
+
 import ConfigParser
 from bmconfigparser import BMConfigParser
 import defaults
 import sys
 import os
-import locale
-import random
-import string
 import platform
 from distutils.version import StrictVersion
 
@@ -14,7 +13,10 @@ import paths
 import state
 import helper_random
 
-storeConfigFilesInSameDirectoryAsProgramByDefault = False  # The user may de-select Portable Mode in the settings if they want the config files to stay in the application data folder.
+storeConfigFilesInSameDirectoryAsProgramByDefault = False  # The user may
+# de-select Portable Mode in the settings if they want the config files to
+# stay in the application data folder.
+
 
 def _loadTrustedPeer():
     try:
@@ -27,15 +29,16 @@ def _loadTrustedPeer():
     host, port = trustedPeer.split(':')
     state.trustedPeer = state.Peer(host, int(port))
 
+
 def loadConfig():
     if state.appdata:
         BMConfigParser().read(state.appdata + 'keys.dat')
-        #state.appdata must have been specified as a startup option.
+        # state.appdata must have been specified as a startup option.
         try:
             BMConfigParser().get('bitmessagesettings', 'settingsversion')
             print 'Loading config files from directory specified on startup: ' + state.appdata
             needToCreateKeysFile = False
-        except:
+        except Exception:
             needToCreateKeysFile = True
 
     else:
@@ -45,16 +48,16 @@ def loadConfig():
             print 'Loading config files from same directory as program.'
             needToCreateKeysFile = False
             state.appdata = paths.lookupExeFolder()
-        except:
-            # Could not load the keys.dat file in the program directory. Perhaps it
-            # is in the appdata directory.
+        except Exception:
+            # Could not load the keys.dat file in the program directory.
+            # Perhaps it is in the appdata directory.
             state.appdata = paths.lookupAppdataFolder()
             BMConfigParser().read(state.appdata + 'keys.dat')
             try:
                 BMConfigParser().get('bitmessagesettings', 'settingsversion')
                 print 'Loading existing config files from', state.appdata
                 needToCreateKeysFile = False
-            except:
+            except Exception:
                 needToCreateKeysFile = True
 
     if needToCreateKeysFile:
@@ -110,7 +113,6 @@ def loadConfig():
         BMConfigParser().set('bitmessagesettings', 'maxuploadrate', '0')
         BMConfigParser().set('bitmessagesettings', 'maxoutboundconnections', '8')
         BMConfigParser().set('bitmessagesettings', 'ttl', '367200')
-        
          #start:UI setting to stop trying to send messages after X days/months
         BMConfigParser().set(
             'bitmessagesettings', 'stopresendingafterxdays', '')
@@ -145,9 +147,9 @@ def loadConfig():
 
 def isOurOperatingSystemLimitedToHavingVeryFewHalfOpenConnections():
     try:
-        if sys.platform[0:3]=="win":
-            VER_THIS=StrictVersion(platform.version())
+        if sys.platform[0:3] == "win":
+            VER_THIS = StrictVersion(platform.version())
             return StrictVersion("5.1.2600")<=VER_THIS and StrictVersion("6.0.6000")>=VER_THIS
         return False
-    except Exception as err:
+    except Exception:
         return False