msinfo32.exe (XPPSP1)

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Entering msinfo32 at ‘Run…’ should bring up the ‘System Information Tool’ as well should the shortcut in ‘Accessories’ or even directly running the executable from the system ‘dll cache’ directory, yet I get the XP Pro ‘Help & Support’ window.

What gives? Am I missing something here?

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Works for me, what have you done to your system?

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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Hi, Dave ~

Nothing. Apparently there are others with which the experience is the same.

I wrote to Kelly that the keys laid out still lead to the ‘msinfo32.exe’ file that still open the XP Pro ‘Help & Support’ window rather than the ‘System Information Tool.’ Same goes for the executable in the system ‘dll cache’ directory.

‘winmsd’ & ‘msinfo32’ both open the same ‘Help & Support’ window – this occurs on all the machines now. Is this a MS faux pas?

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This is interesting. Read the msn thread. Check Administrative Tools>Services and make sure that your WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) is set to started and automatic– probably is (I think its a default– but you know well that all kinds of factors can change settings in Windows). This has to be on for msinfo32 to collect information. 323209 msninfo32.exe Generates a Can’t Collect Information Error Message is different from an msinfo32 command starting Help and Support, but it does make the point that if WMI isn’t started, msinfo32 won’t collect.

1) Also did you see thread 1 message 5:
_____________________________
“I have used the command line, msinfo32 /categories +all -loadedmodules
this works ok.”
_____________________________

2) And in this thread running “sfc /scannow”
fixed the probem. You might try that.

You might also put “msinfo32” in the search of Help and Support and pull up its switches and try some from the dos prompt including “msinfo /show categories” to see if the switches are working. Don’t know that it makes a difference, probably not, but you can try “msinfo.exe” in the run box.

SMBP

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Additionally, 319101: Error Message: WMI Might Be Corrupted further suggests corruption in WMI and recreating the files in its system root folder may fix msinfo32. From Kelly’s Korner misinfo:

__________________________________________
Can’t Open Msinfo32

Checkpoints: Go to Start/Run and type in: winmsd and/or click here: hcp://system/sysinfo/sysInfoLaunch.htm or
Go to Start/Run and type in: msinfo32 /categories +all -loadedmodules (exactly as written)

If the last one worked for you, and you prefer to use a batch file, download it from here ,save and run from your Desktop. Manual settings: Create a batch file containing the following lines:

C:
cd C:Program FilesCommon FilesMicrosoft SharedMSInfo
msinfo32 /categories +all -loadedmodules

Verify your settings here: Start/Run/Regedit

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftShared ToolsMSInfo
Path value = C:Program FilesCommon FilesMicrosoft SharedMSInfomsinfo32.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionApp Pathsmsinfo32.exe

Default value = C:Program FilesCommon FilesMicrosoft SharedMSInfoMSInfo32.exe
Path value = C:Program FilesCommon FilesMicrosoft SharedMSInfo

Fix for Help and Support and System Information
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/fixwinxphelp.htm

Error Message: Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Might Be Corrupted (Unable to view System Information (MSinfo32) http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?…kb;en-us;319101

To correct this error: Go to Start/Run/CMD and type in: net stop winmgmt. Then delete
the %windir&system32wbemrepository directory. Once done go back to Start/Run/CMD and type in: net start winmgmt

Or:

To resolve this issue, delete and then re-create the files in the %SystemRoot%System32WbemRepository folder. To do this, follow these steps:

Click Start, and then right-click My Computer.
On the shortcut menu, click Manage.
In the left pane of the Computer Management console, double-click Services and Applications.
Under Services and Applications, click Services.
In the right pane of the Computer Management console, locate and then right-click Windows Management Instrumentation.
On the shortcut menu, click Stop.
Start Windows Explorer, and then locate the %SystemRoot%System32WbemRepository folder.
Delete all of the files in the %SystemRoot%System32WbemRepository folder.
Restart the computer.

The files that were deleted are re-created when the computer restarts. NOTE: The Windows Management Instrumentation service starts automatically when you restart the computer.
If none of the above helps, replace your Boot.ini. In most cases it has to do with more than one OS being listed.

Go to Start/Run and type in: msconfig. Then go to the Boot.ini Tab and click on Check All Boot Paths. If you receive a warning about a duplicate path: Do you want to remove, choose yes.

Or…

Right click the My Computer icon/Properties/Advanced/Startup and Recovery/Settings/System Startup/Edit.

How to Edit the BOOT.INI File in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/ar…s/Q289/0/22.asp

How to Use System Information (MSINFO32) Switches

MSINFO32 displays a comprehensive view of your hardware, system components, and software environment. This article provides an overview of the available switches that can be used with the MSINFO32 command.

Using these switches, MSINFO32 can be used to:

Use System Information from a batch file
Create .nfo or .txt files that contain information from specified categories.
Open System Information and display only specific categories.
Save a file silently (without opening System Information).
Start System Information connected to a remote computer.
Create a shortcut that opens System Information in a commonly used configuration.

To open System Information in History view, type: msinfo32 /pch
To create an .nfo file in the folder C:TEMP with a name of TEST.NFO, type: msinfo32 /nfo C:TEMPTEST.NFO
To create a .TXT file in the folder C:TEMP with a name of TEST.TXT, type: msinfo32 /report C:TEMPTEST.NFO

To view System Information from a remote computer with a UNC name of BIGSERVER, type:
msinfo32 /computer BIGSERVER

To list the available category IDs, type: msinfo32 /showcategories

To start System Information with all available information displayed, except Loaded Modules, type:
msinfo32 /categories +all -loadedmodules

To create an .nfo file called SYSSUM.NFO in the C:TEMP folder that contains information in the System Summary category, type: msinfo32 /nfo C:TEMPSYSSUM.NFO /categories +systemsummary

To create a .NFO file called CONFLICTS.NFO in the C:TEMP folder that contains information about resource conflicts, type: msinfo32 /nfo C:TEMPCONFLICTS.NFO /categories +componentsproblemdevices+resourcesconflicts+resourcesforcedhardware

Msmsgs.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
Ole32.dll May Cause an Error Message in Windows XP

msmqocm.inf – Setup was unable to open information file msmqocm.inf. Contact your system administrator.

Go to Windowsinf. In the right pane scroll down to msmqocm.inf. Right click it and choose install.

If it isn’t listed …

Go to Windowsinf. In the right pane scroll down to sysoc.inf. Open it in Notepad and remove this line:
msmq=msmqocm.dll,MsmqOcm,msmqocm.inf,,6
____________________________________________

SMBP

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WMI is a-ok. Reg keys already verified per previous post referencing coresspondence w/ Kelly. MsInfo32 is dependent on a series of dlls as indicated by direct opening of the executable in the ‘Microsoft Shared’ folder or ‘dllcache’ directory.

Am toying w/ the ‘%1’ switch and the index files held in the ‘C:WINDOWSPCHEALTHHELPCTROfflineCache’ folder.

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I understand this is a known problem from threads on web. Where did you get the connnection to the PC Health file? And did you try putting the command Kelly and one of the threads I linked suggest typing into the run box: “msinfo32/categories +all -loadmodules”[/i] no quotes space between categories/+all and between all and -loadmodules? This worked for an msn thread with your same problem. It also brings up system information in my run box.

SMBP

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Hi, SMBP ~

If you enter msinfo32 /? at the ‘Run…’ you get some brief info. There is a reference there to the PCHealth. The ‘msinfo32/categories +all -loadmodules’ produces the same results as ‘msinfo32 /showcategories’ which I got from there as well. It does bring up the system info tool, but something is askew to keep it from properly loading by ‘msinfo32’, the ‘Accessories’ shortcut, command line and either executable directly from ‘Microsoft Shared’ or ‘dllchcache’.

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Bruce, do you still have this index.dat file?

C:WINDOWSPCHEALTHHELPCTROfflineCacheindex.dat

Edit – sorry, just saw your other thread

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Hi, Telo ~

No, I do not have th index file. I just asked a fellow Lounger to provide one in this thread. I am on to a lead w/ that connection and am gonna try a few things. Do you know about this connection?

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When you tried to open msinfo32 before you were getting Help and Support; don’t know since you say it tries to load or partially comes up if you’re still getting Help and Support. But Help and Support and PC Health may be symptoms of a corrupt file(s) or dll(s) rather than PC Health being a part of any useful information that will help you fix. So if you haven’t, take a few minutes and run SFC–use “sfc /purgecache” then “sfc /scannow” from the dos prompt rather than the run box–I’m thinking that you might be able to replace corrupt file(s)/dll(s) giving you the problem with intact ones particularly since you say that
____________________________________________________

“MsInfo32 is dependent on a series of dlls as indicated by direct opening of the executable in the ‘Shared Tools’ folder or ‘dllcache’ directory.”
____________________________________________________

SMBP

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I discovered that appending “%1” to msinfo32 at ‘Run…’ forces it to open. So, rather than use a batch file or clutter the desktop w/ an infrequently used icon, I did change the path of the ‘System Information’ shortcut in ‘Accessories’ > ‘System Tools’ to “C:Program FilesCommon FilesMicrosoft SharedMSInfomsinfo32.exe” “%1”

So, for now, the ‘Accessories’ shortcut or entering msinfo32 “%1” at ‘Run…’ is the easiest workaround, but I certainly would like to determine why it improperly loads to begin with and apply the proper remedy.

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Yes, if you’ve used Spider to clean in XP it deletes that file. msinfo32.exe will be back to normal once you replace that index.dat

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(Edited by brucekrymow on 03-May-03 11:15. )

Got it.

Tried creating one – nope – but simply copying one from another Lounger here and placing it in the ‘C:WINDOWSPCHEALTHHELPCTROfflineCache‘ folder allowed ‘msinfo32‘ to open properly. If renamed or removed, unable to open properly and when placed back, all was well!

So something in the ‘index.dat‘ file triggers something to be called to allow the msinfo32.exe to properly open, but do not know exactly what yet. I am trying to find a good .dat viewer. What could it possibly contain that would enable msinfo32 to properly open?

Any way to create a fresh, new ‘index.dat‘ file?

—————————————————————————–

Edit: The Spider has bitten! The ‘index.dat’ at that location is flagged by Spider v1.16. It can also be removed by other privacy utilities and registry cleaners. All other ‘index.dat’ files are rebuilt automatically – why not this one?

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See this thread and Index.dat Suite Help Files: View and Remove and Delindex. If you google mixing up index.dat, msinfo32, viewing, replacing there are hundreds of long threads; you may be more attuned to wading through them than I am.

SMBP

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[indent]

---

there are hundreds of long threads; you may be more attuned to wading through them than I am

---

[/indent]What’s good for the goose…

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Bruce,

I’m having the same problem I think you had. I do not have the index.dat file in ‘C:WINDOWSPCHEALTHHELPCTROfflineCache’ folder. How can I get one? Your “%1” works perfectly for me and I’ll use that if I can’t fix the problem as I think you did but I can’t figure out how to get or create that index.dat file.

Thanks.

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Hi ~

I really don’t remeber it has been so long…I thought it was recreated. I will have to look into this and get back when I get a free moment.

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Hi ~

I really don’t remeber it has been so long…I thought it was recreated. I will have to look into this and get back when I get a free moment.

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As Bruce solved his problem by “borrowing” the index.dat of HansV., I think every index.dat file, provided it comes from PCHEALTHHELPCTROfflineCache, will help. I can post mine, if you like.
By the way, from now on before you run Spider you’ll have to rename that specific index.dat to say, index.da_, because Spider deletes it and, contrary to other index.dat files, it doesn’t get rebuilt. After Spider does its job you can rename it back and msinfo32 will function normally.
Cheers, Oana

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As Bruce solved his problem by “borrowing” the index.dat of HansV., I think every index.dat file, provided it comes from PCHEALTHHELPCTROfflineCache, will help. I can post mine, if you like.
By the way, from now on before you run Spider you’ll have to rename that specific index.dat to say, index.da_, because Spider deletes it and, contrary to other index.dat files, it doesn’t get rebuilt. After Spider does its job you can rename it back and msinfo32 will function normally.
Cheers, Oana

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Oana,

Yes please post the index.dat file and I’ll give that a try.

Thanks.

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Oana,

Yes please post the index.dat file and I’ll give that a try.

Thanks.

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Here it is.

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Oana,

Thanks very much.

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Oana,

Thanks very much.

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Oana,

That fixed it. Thanks again.

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Oana,

That fixed it. Thanks again.

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Here it is.

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Bruce,

I’m having the same problem I think you had. I do not have the index.dat file in ‘C:WINDOWSPCHEALTHHELPCTROfflineCache’ folder. How can I get one? Your “%1” works perfectly for me and I’ll use that if I can’t fix the problem as I think you did but I can’t figure out how to get or create that index.dat file.

Thanks.

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Did everything on your two pages of post. In my case RUN/MSINFO32 would make the computer grumble/mumble like it was gathering the data. Then nothing: no error messages, no summary graphic, nothing. The cure was your suggestion that WMI may have the wrong parameter. Changed that to START AUTOMATIC and rebooted. Nothing, BUT..after the machine was turned off and then restarted the darned thing came up with all the system information, like it knew what it was doing.
Thanks much for the advice and education.

Andy

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