Can't get msinfo32 to function.
I have tried to get the msinfo32 to run from the Start, run and it either can't find the information or the program is not finding what it needs. Is there a download to fix this? Where?3 people need an answerI do too
April 10th, 2010 6:49am

Try runing msinfo32.exe from start->run. If that doesn't work, look for msinfo32.exe in the folder c:\program files\common files\microsoft shared\msinfo, and run it from there.
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April 10th, 2010 5:10pm

It says "Can't Collect Information" "Cannot access the Windows Management Instrumentation software. Windows Management files may be moved or missing." What now?
April 11th, 2010 3:27am

Perhaps this Microsoft Knowledge Base Article will be of interest: Msinfo32.exe Generates a "Can't Collect Information" Error Message
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April 11th, 2010 6:02am

I appreciate the referral. My problem is wading through the tech talk to find out what I need to do. I quit doing technical writing over 25 years ago for the Army. I was finally able to get things up and running again. Haven't tried the msinfo32 yet, but I did fiind it where you said. Right now, since I was able to get the Net stuff reinstalled, I am in the process of doing another C Drive backup. When that is accomplished, then I will try to use the msinfo32 utility. First, I wanted to save what I have already accomplished where I can get it back. I have 3 500gb hard drives in this old machine. Two of them are internal and the third is external usb. What I have accomplished in the past two days is running 5 different anti-virus, anti-trojan, anti-spyware, and anti-adware programs on my machine. Hopefully it is clean again. I ran into 3 Trojans, 8 viruses, and over 50 spyware and adware problems. And I NORMALLY have 2 or 3 of them running at the same time in the protection mode! Anyway, that is where I am at the present time. Ray
April 11th, 2010 9:41am

Do note that having multiple AV software packages installed, with real-time scanning enabled (sometimes, that is not even necessary to cause problems), is generally associated with system performance and stability issues. If you're still having that problem with msinfo32 - can you go into the Services Management Console (start->run->services.msc->OK) and see if the "Windows Management Instrumentation" service is running?
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April 11th, 2010 5:44pm

I have gone there. It is running (or it indicates Started, actually.) I checked the other 3 that someone said to check and they were also started. As far as running multiple AV programs, I run them separately, real time, to check if something has invaded or not. I don't leave them up. The only "protections" I have up are the Essentials and the Defender on an on going basis. They usually notify me when they are not working (pop ups.) My worry is that I really don't know if they are doing their jobs. Certainly, the msinfo32 isn't functioning like it should. I feel like I've crashed and burned. At least I got the NET 2 & 3.5+ up and running again so that I can use my Quicken 2010 for our bank accounts. That seem to be the only thing I can get going properly. I even had to reinstall IE8 again because it had some problems, too. If I have to re-install XP again, it will be the 14th time. This is really getting old, fast, and I don't have 24 hours non-stop to do the re-install again. GRRRRRRRRRRR
April 11th, 2010 5:57pm

If you check the Event Logs ( Event Viewer in Administrative Tools folder ), are there any events that took place about the same time as when you tried to run msinfo32? Any events relating to WMI?
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April 12th, 2010 1:34am

I have gone there. …and I don't have 24 hours non-stop to do the re-install again. GRRRRRRRRRRR I have experienced this same problem (msinfo32 fail after re-install of WinXP Pro) and the same frustration, I did however find a fix that worked for me. It worked even though it does not appear to be the solution on the face of it. You will find it at http://windowsxp.mvps.org/rebuildhelp.htm It would seem that msinfo32.exe is a part of Help and Support (PCHealth) . Signed: oldtimer2keepitsimpleengr
April 30th, 2010 9:44pm

I am no expert but when I first got this XP machine, I had nothing but trouble when using Defender. That was in the days it was up under a test mode, but lots of fixes were installed and I think I had to reinstall my OS 6 times. I went ahead and got the package from my ISP and haven't had trouble since. Except when I was told to install PREVX and then some malware got in here that the free Windows scan cannot fix. I made a mistake and deleted .net software and it was after that I got attacked. I'm trying to reload it w/help from MS but now there is some confusion about the -32 bit software. Auto updates was uploading -64 and I didn't think I had that. I cannot get MSINFO32 to run any more either. All it gives me is the Help & Support screen. This is no answer, but just to let you know that Defender caused me nothing but trouble. Good luck
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July 14th, 2010 2:10am

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