Can't access System Information

[Ken]

Hi guys. I've XP Home.

When I go to Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System
Information, a message tells me: 'Can't collect information. Failed
connection to this computer. Check to see that the Winmgmt service is
running.'

Well, I used Start/Run/services.msc to bring up the Services (Local)
screen, and it shows that the Windows Management Instrument is started
(Startup Type: Automatic).

I can't use System Restore to restore Windows to an earlier time (in the
hope that doing so would solve the problem) as my computer recently had
Windows re-installed and is virtually starting over. Besides, I've just
spent a lot of time putting back data on the D: drive, and a
computers-savvy friend has likewise spent a lot of time on, for example,
restoring my Mozilla folder on the C: drive.

What to do, please?

Thanks - Ken

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Please try the following link to Kelly's web site:

Line 221 - right hand side
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[Ken]

Hi

Please try the following link to Kelly's web site:

Line 221 - right hand side
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Thanks for your prompt response, Will Denny. This kellys-korner item
looks promising. Unfortunately I'm confused about what exactly I have
to do with the script concerned, called 'Restore System Information
(Msinfo32)'.

I have copied it to my desktop as a .rtf (Word) file. Now what do I do,
please? kellys-korner says something about double-clicking and
answering yes to the import prompt. But nothing like that happens when
I double-click on the (closed OR open) file.

Do I have to put it in something caled RegEdit, or similar? If so, I
know nothing about using such a program!

Thanks again - Ken

P.S. Please, what are VBS Files - as also mentioned by kellys-korner?

 

[Wesley Vogel]

The file from Restore System Information (Msinfo32) should be a .reg file.
msinforestore.reg to be exact. Change the name to msinforestore.reg or
download it again.

[[To use the Regedits: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click it
and answer yes to the import prompt. ]]

Or right click msinforestore.reg, click on Merge and answer yes to the
import prompt.

Then reboot.

P.S. Please, what are VBS Files - as also mentioned by kellys-korner?

Visual Basic Script. Run by CScript.exe or WScript.exe

Also if the tweak didn't fix the problem...
<quote>
"Can't collect information Access denied to Windows Management
Instrumentation server on this computer. Have an administrator change your
access permissions."

Suggestions and Checkpoints:

Go to Start/Run and type in: services.msc. Scroll down to: Windows
Management Instrumentation and make sure the Service is set to Automatic.

Go to Start/Run/CMD and type in: net stop winmgmt. Then delete the
%windir&\system32\wbem\repository directory. Once done go back to
Start/Run/CMD and type in: net start winmgmt

If that doesn't help, try this:

Open a Command Prompt and type "winmgmt /clearadap" to clear prior
WMI/resyncperf information from the registry.
Then type "winmgmt /resyncperf" to register the system performance libraries
with WMI again.
<quote>
from...
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_m.htm

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Richard]

Suggestions and Checkpoints:

Unbelievable...where do you get this from?

Richard

The file from Restore System Information (Msinfo32) should be a .reg file.
msinforestore.reg to be exact. Change the name to msinforestore.reg or
download it again.

[[To use the Regedits: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click
it
and answer yes to the import prompt. ]]

Or right click msinforestore.reg, click on Merge and answer yes to the
import prompt.

Then reboot.

P.S. Please, what are VBS Files - as also mentioned by kellys-korner?

Visual Basic Script. Run by CScript.exe or WScript.exe

Also if the tweak didn't fix the problem...
<quote>
"Can't collect information Access denied to Windows Management
Instrumentation server on this computer. Have an administrator change your
access permissions."

Suggestions and Checkpoints:

Go to Start/Run and type in: services.msc. Scroll down to: Windows
Management Instrumentation and make sure the Service is set to Automatic.

Go to Start/Run/CMD and type in: net stop winmgmt. Then delete the
%windir&\system32\wbem\repository directory. Once done go back to
Start/Run/CMD and type in: net start winmgmt

If that doesn't help, try this:

Open a Command Prompt and type "winmgmt /clearadap" to clear prior
WMI/resyncperf information from the registry.
Then type "winmgmt /resyncperf" to register the system performance
libraries
with WMI again.
<quote>
from...
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_m.htm

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Thanks for your prompt response, Will Denny. This kellys-korner item
looks promising. Unfortunately I'm confused about what exactly I have
to do with the script concerned, called 'Restore System Information
(Msinfo32)'.

I have copied it to my desktop as a .rtf (Word) file. Now what do I do,
please? kellys-korner says something about double-clicking and
answering yes to the import prompt. But nothing like that happens when
I double-click on the (closed OR open) file.

Do I have to put it in something caled RegEdit, or similar? If so, I
know nothing about using such a program!

Thanks again - Ken

P.S. Please, what are VBS Files - as also mentioned by kellys-korner?

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Richard,

It was attributed or credited to Kelly in my first post.

<quote>
from...
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_m.htm


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Unbelievable...where do you get this from?

Richard

The file from Restore System Information (Msinfo32) should be a .reg
file. msinforestore.reg to be exact. Change the name to
msinforestore.reg or download it again.

[[To use the Regedits: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click
it
and answer yes to the import prompt. ]]

Or right click msinforestore.reg, click on Merge and answer yes to the
import prompt.

Then reboot.

P.S. Please, what are VBS Files - as also mentioned by kellys-korner?

Visual Basic Script. Run by CScript.exe or WScript.exe

Also if the tweak didn't fix the problem...
<quote>
"Can't collect information Access denied to Windows Management
Instrumentation server on this computer. Have an administrator change
your access permissions."

Suggestions and Checkpoints:

Go to Start/Run and type in: services.msc. Scroll down to: Windows
Management Instrumentation and make sure the Service is set to Automatic.

Go to Start/Run/CMD and type in: net stop winmgmt. Then delete the
%windir&\system32\wbem\repository directory. Once done go back to
Start/Run/CMD and type in: net start winmgmt

If that doesn't help, try this:

Open a Command Prompt and type "winmgmt /clearadap" to clear prior
WMI/resyncperf information from the registry.
Then type "winmgmt /resyncperf" to register the system performance
libraries
with WMI again.
<quote>
from...
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_m.htm

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Will Denny wrote:
Hi

Please try the following link to Kelly's web site:

Line 221 - right hand side
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Thanks for your prompt response, Will Denny. This kellys-korner item
looks promising. Unfortunately I'm confused about what exactly I have
to do with the script concerned, called 'Restore System Information
(Msinfo32)'.

I have copied it to my desktop as a .rtf (Word) file. Now what do I do,
please? kellys-korner says something about double-clicking and
answering yes to the import prompt. But nothing like that happens when
I double-click on the (closed OR open) file.

Do I have to put it in something caled RegEdit, or similar? If so, I
know nothing about using such a program!

Thanks again - Ken

P.S. Please, what are VBS Files - as also mentioned by kellys-korner?

 

[Ken]

The file from Restore System Information (Msinfo32) should be a .reg file.
msinforestore.reg to be exact. Change the name to msinforestore.reg or
download it again.

[[To use the Regedits: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click it
and answer yes to the import prompt. ]]

Or right click msinforestore.reg, click on Merge and answer yes to the
import prompt.

Then reboot.

P.S. Please, what are VBS Files - as also mentioned by kellys-korner?

Visual Basic Script. Run by CScript.exe or WScript.exe

Also if the tweak didn't fix the problem...
<quote>
"Can't collect information Access denied to Windows Management
Instrumentation server on this computer. Have an administrator change your
access permissions."

Suggestions and Checkpoints:

Go to Start/Run and type in: services.msc. Scroll down to: Windows
Management Instrumentation and make sure the Service is set to Automatic.

Go to Start/Run/CMD and type in: net stop winmgmt. Then delete the
%windir&\system32\wbem\repository directory. Once done go back to
Start/Run/CMD and type in: net start winmgmt

If that doesn't help, try this:

Open a Command Prompt and type "winmgmt /clearadap" to clear prior
WMI/resyncperf information from the registry.
Then type "winmgmt /resyncperf" to register the system performance libraries
with WMI again.
<quote>
from...
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_m.htm

Unfortunately, none of those would-be fixes has worked for me, Wesley.
In the last case, typing "winmgmt/ clearadap" (without the quotes)
simply caused the same line-prompt to be repeated on the next line.
(Typing the phrase WITH the quotes - just in case! - yielded a message
saying something like 'The system cannot find the path specified.')

So, I'm wondering where do I go from here?!

Thanks - Ken

 

[Ken]

The file from Restore System Information (Msinfo32) should be a .reg
file.
msinforestore.reg to be exact. Change the name to msinforestore.reg or
download it again.

[[To use the Regedits: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double
click it
and answer yes to the import prompt. ]]

Or right click msinforestore.reg, click on Merge and answer yes to the
import prompt.

Then reboot.

P.S. Please, what are VBS Files - as also mentioned by kellys-korner?

Visual Basic Script. Run by CScript.exe or WScript.exe

Also if the tweak didn't fix the problem...
<quote>
"Can't collect information Access denied to Windows Management
Instrumentation server on this computer. Have an administrator change
your
access permissions."

Suggestions and Checkpoints:

Go to Start/Run and type in: services.msc. Scroll down to: Windows
Management Instrumentation and make sure the Service is set to Automatic.

Go to Start/Run/CMD and type in: net stop winmgmt. Then delete the
%windir&\system32\wbem\repository directory. Once done go back to
Start/Run/CMD and type in: net start winmgmt

If that doesn't help, try this:

Open a Command Prompt and type "winmgmt /clearadap" to clear prior
WMI/resyncperf information from the registry.
Then type "winmgmt /resyncperf" to register the system performance
libraries
with WMI again.
<quote>
from...
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_m.htm

Unfortunately, none of those would-be fixes has worked for me, Wesley.
In the last case, typing "winmgmt/ clearadap" (without the quotes)
simply caused the same line-prompt to be repeated on the next line.
(Typing the phrase WITH the quotes - just in case! - yielded a message
saying something like 'The system cannot find the path specified.')

So, I'm wondering where do I go from here?!

Thanks - Ken

Sorry, I meant to thank Will Denny as well as Wesley Vogel for their
offered advice.

- Ken

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Set the DCOM Server Process Launcher service to Automatic and start the
service.

I forgot that with XP SP2 that service needs to be running in order for
several things to work properly. I apologize that I forgot. I do not have
SP2, so I tend to forget.

<quote>
Note the following things will fail if this service is not running:
* The builtin defrag will fail to work, and if running defrag from the
command line one gets this error:
Windows cannot connect to the Disk Defragmenter engine

* System Information (MsInfo32) will fail to work and give this error:
Can't Collect Information
A network error occurred in connecting to Windows Management
Instrumentation. Ensure that your network connection is
functioning properly.

* If Windows Firewall is enabled, then it will fail to start and all
incomming traffic will be blocked. More Info MS KB 892199
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892199

* Disk Management will fail and give this error:
The RPC server is unavailable

* The install of new applications will fail and give this error:
The InstallShield Engine (iKernel.exe) could not be launched.
The RPC server is unavailable.
<quote>
from...
DCOM Server Process Launcher
http://smallvoid.com/tweak/winnt/service/def.html

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

The file from Restore System Information (Msinfo32) should be a .reg
file.
msinforestore.reg to be exact. Change the name to msinforestore.reg or
download it again.

[[To use the Regedits: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double
click it
and answer yes to the import prompt. ]]

Or right click msinforestore.reg, click on Merge and answer yes to the
import prompt.

Then reboot.


P.S. Please, what are VBS Files - as also mentioned by kellys-korner?



Visual Basic Script. Run by CScript.exe or WScript.exe

Also if the tweak didn't fix the problem...
<quote>
"Can't collect information Access denied to Windows Management
Instrumentation server on this computer. Have an administrator change
your
access permissions."

Suggestions and Checkpoints:

Go to Start/Run and type in: services.msc. Scroll down to: Windows
Management Instrumentation and make sure the Service is set to
Automatic.

Go to Start/Run/CMD and type in: net stop winmgmt. Then delete the
%windir&\system32\wbem\repository directory. Once done go back to
Start/Run/CMD and type in: net start winmgmt

If that doesn't help, try this:

Open a Command Prompt and type "winmgmt /clearadap" to clear prior
WMI/resyncperf information from the registry.
Then type "winmgmt /resyncperf" to register the system performance
libraries
with WMI again.
<quote>
from...
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_m.htm

Unfortunately, none of those would-be fixes has worked for me, Wesley.
In the last case, typing "winmgmt/ clearadap" (without the quotes)
simply caused the same line-prompt to be repeated on the next line.
(Typing the phrase WITH the quotes - just in case! - yielded a message
saying something like 'The system cannot find the path specified.')

So, I'm wondering where do I go from here?!

Thanks - Ken

Sorry, I meant to thank Will Denny as well as Wesley Vogel for their
offered advice.

- Ken

 

[Ken]

Set the DCOM Server Process Launcher service to Automatic and start the
service.

I forgot that with XP SP2 that service needs to be running in order for
several things to work properly. I apologize that I forgot. I do not have
SP2, so I tend to forget.

<quote>
Note the following things will fail if this service is not running:
* The builtin defrag will fail to work, and if running defrag from the
command line one gets this error:
Windows cannot connect to the Disk Defragmenter engine

* System Information (MsInfo32) will fail to work and give this error:
Can't Collect Information
A network error occurred in connecting to Windows Management
Instrumentation. Ensure that your network connection is
functioning properly.

* If Windows Firewall is enabled, then it will fail to start and all
incomming traffic will be blocked. More Info MS KB 892199
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892199

* Disk Management will fail and give this error:
The RPC server is unavailable

* The install of new applications will fail and give this error:
The InstallShield Engine (iKernel.exe) could not be launched.
The RPC server is unavailable.
<quote>
from...
DCOM Server Process Launcher
http://smallvoid.com/tweak/winnt/service/def.html

The DCOM Server Process Launcher already appears to be started and
running in Automatic, Wes.

Thanks - Ken

 

[Ken]

Ken here again.

At this point, guys, I'm wondering: can I re-install something? If so,
I'll probably have to get it from my hard drive, as my Acer Aspire 3620
laptop didn't come with a separate Windows disc.

Speaking of Acer, I'm also wondering: could my problem of System
Information not working be related to another problem whereby when I
click on Acer's 'eSettings Management' (part of Acer's 'Empowering
Technology' toolset), a message says, 'Cannot connect to service.
Application will be terminated'?

I'm hoping that if I can solve the System Information problem the
successful outcome will also solve my 'eSettings' problem!

Thanks - Ken

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Well, shoot, Ken. I would have bet money on the DCOM deal.

I don't know anything about Acer's eSettings Management. And apparently not
much about msinfo32.exe. However, I wouldn't be surprised if eSettings
Management has done something to foul things up.

See this.

Repairing and re-registering the WMI
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/repairwmi.htm

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Wesley Vogel]

[[Acer eSettings Management makes changing settings and configurations easy
and convenient. It consists of three system settings: Security, Boot Options
and System Information.]]
http://www.efytimes.com/fullnews.asp?edid=10300&www.dailytech.com

Acer eSettings Management looks to me like just another layer to access
settings that you can already access without Acer eSettings Management.

I did look at
http://websupport.acer.com.tw/upload/info/120/Acer eSettings Management.pdf

Acer eSettings Management Main Page
From the main page, you can choose to:
• Set boot up passwords and configure your SmartCard (if installed).
• Set your boot up options and BIOS settings.
• View system information.

It looks like it has a few neat things, like boot up options and BIOS
settings from Windows. On the whole I am not impressed.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Ken]

Well, shoot, Ken. I would have bet money on the DCOM deal.

I don't know anything about Acer's eSettings Management. And apparently not
much about msinfo32.exe. However, I wouldn't be surprised if eSettings
Management has done something to foul things up.

See this.

Repairing and re-registering the WMI
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/repairwmi.htm

I may have misled you about the DCOM Server Process Launcher, Wes.

I don't know if I have that - isn't it an XP Pro thing? (I have XP
Home.) I simply went to Start/Run, as you said I should, and typed in
services.msc

That brought up a screen headed Services (Local)

That screen currently indicates that Windows Management Instrumentation
is started and is of the Startup Type: Automatic

Also, all of the things in your earlier post I did, as follows:

Go to Start/Run and type in: services.msc. Scroll down to: Windows
Management Instrumentation and make sure the Service is set to Automatic.

Go to Start/Run/CMD and type in: net stop winmgmt. Then delete the
%windir&\system32\wbem\repository directory. Once done go back to
Start/Run/CMD and type in: net start winmgmt

If that doesn't help, try this:

Open a Command Prompt and type "winmgmt /clearadap" to clear prior
WMI/resyncperf information from the registry.
Then type "winmgmt /resyncperf" to register the system performance libraries
with WMI again.

Okay, now I'm off to read and study your latest sugestion:

Repairing and re-registering the WMI
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/repairwmi.htm

I'll report back, Wes.

Thanks - Ken

 

[Ken]

I may have misled you about the DCOM Server Process Launcher, Wes.

I don't know if I have that - isn't it an XP Pro thing? (I have XP
Home.) I simply went to Start/Run, as you said I should, and typed in
services.msc

That brought up a screen headed Services (Local)

That screen currently indicates that Windows Management Instrumentation
is started and is of the Startup Type: Automatic

Also, all of the things in your earlier post I did, as follows:



Okay, now I'm off to read and study your latest suggestion:



I'll report back, Wes.

Thanks - Ken

Sorry, Wes. I'm not a professional computers administrator! The
Windows documentation is written for one! Besides, when I attempted to
run the suggested 'Comprehensive rebuild method' (from 'Ramesh's Site',
to which you referred me, and which in turn cited the Windows
documentation), I was asked for dlls that were inaccesible (the usual
problem with Acer not providing a Windows disc, so that you're reliant
on stuff stored on one's hard drive, resulting in 'could not be found'
messages and other complications).

Is there another way to make System Information work on my computer?!

Thanks - Ken

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Ken,

DCOM Server Process Launcher service is an SP2 (Service Pack 2) thing, not
XP Pro or Home. It should exist whether you have Home or Pro, if you have
Service Pack 2.

DCOM Server Process Launcher service does not exist with SP1 (Service Pack
1).

Open Services...
Start | Run | Type: services.msc | Click OK |
Scroll down to and double click DCOM Server Process Launcher |
Set Startup type to Automatic | Click OK | Close Services |
Reboot

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Ken]

Ken,

DCOM Server Process Launcher service is an SP2 (Service Pack 2) thing, not
XP Pro or Home. It should exist whether you have Home or Pro, if you have
Service Pack 2.

DCOM Server Process Launcher service does not exist with SP1 (Service Pack
1).

Open Services...
Start | Run | Type: services.msc | Click OK |
Scroll down to and double click DCOM Server Process Launcher |
Set Startup type to Automatic | Click OK | Close Services |
Reboot

Thanks, Wes. DCOM Server Process Launcher on my computer was already
set to Automatic when I checked just now.

- Ken

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Rebuilding the WMI Repository
------------------
Click Start, Run and type CMD
Type this command and press Enter:

net stop winmgmt

Using Windows Explorer, navigate to %systemroot%\system32\wbem directory and
delete the Repository directory. By default, the repository folder is
located in the C:\Windows\system32\wbem directory.

Switch to Command Prompt window, and type:

net start winmgmt

To re-register the WMI components, run the following commands at the command
prompt:

Type this command and press Enter:

cd /d %windir%\system32\wbem

Type this command and press Enter:

for %i in (*.dll) do RegSvr32 -s %i

Type this command and press Enter:

for %i in (*.exe) do %i /RegServer

Reboot.

from...
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/repairwmi.htm

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Ken]

Rebuilding the WMI Repository
------------------
Click Start, Run and type CMD
Type this command and press Enter:

net stop winmgmt

Using Windows Explorer, navigate to %systemroot%\system32\wbem directory and
delete the Repository directory. By default, the repository folder is
located in the C:\Windows\system32\wbem directory.

Switch to Command Prompt window, and type:

net start winmgmt

To re-register the WMI components, run the following commands at the command
prompt:

Type this command and press Enter:

cd /d %windir%\system32\wbem

Type this command and press Enter:

for %i in (*.dll) do RegSvr32 -s %i

Type this command and press Enter:

for %i in (*.exe) do %i /RegServer

Reboot.

from...
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/repairwmi.htm

No, none of that worked, Wes. Still can't access System Information.

Was I supposed to proceed to Comprehensive Rebuild Method on 'Ramesh's
Site', to which you referred me?

If so, I tried entering in Search "%Windir%\ServicePackFiles\i386", to
get updated DLLs required during WMI repair (as I don't have a Windows
XP CD), but was told that the information re Service Pack was
unavailable - may be on a different part of computer. (This could refer
to how Acer doesn't provide a Windows disc but puts stuff on the hard
drive for you to find if you can. At present, I don't think I can.)

Thanks - Ken

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Ken,

I wanted you to stop before you got that far.

%Windir%\ServicePackFiles\i386

Search will not find %Windir%. If you happen to have a document with
Windir in the name, it will find that. But the Run command will find
%windir%.

Search will find ServicePackFiles if it exists.

%windir% is an environment variable that is the location of the system
folder.

Typing or pasting %windir% into the Start | Run box opens to the Windows
folder on whatever drive it is located. I.e. C:\WINDOWS or C:\WINNT.

Windows XP can be installed in either WINDOWS or WINNT.

I do not have a ServicePackFiles folder. I do not have SP2 and SP1 was
installed with XP, so no ServicePackFiles folder.

You may not have that folder either if SP2 was installed along with XP and
not installed later.


Paste: %Windir% into the Start | Run box and click OK.

Paste: %Windir%\ServicePackFiles\i386 into the Start | Run box and click
OK.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In