Msinfo32 will not open dammit!

[Tim.T]

I've had this issue for a while: MSInfo32.exe just will not open when I
click on it directly in the folder, or the shortcut in the
Accessories>System Tools group. It's like it's dead! Two things happen:
either nothing at all, or Help & Support suddenly loads in its place! I've
checked the Environment Variables - the path is correctly set to C:\Program
Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSInfo. The file is there. How the hell
is Help & Support involved???

I have tried every VBS, BAT file, command line switch available to fix this
and still nothing. I am NOT reinstalling XP for this, that would be a
headache and no guarantee of success. I use Microsoft Antispyware, Ad-Adware
SE, Spybot, Norton AV 2004, and on all counts I cannot find any spyware or
virus that may have damaged the file. My system is clean. Are there any
Services I may have disabled which control or allow MSinfo to run? I would
try extracting a new copy from the XP CD but I'm not sure where the file is,
what folder, etc. Or is that even possible with XP? It was under win98se.

Any input on this annoying little issue would be appreciated! I miss using
MSinfo, it's handy for system checks.

Tim

 

[Patti MacLeod]

Hi Tim,

The problem that you're experiencing can be caused by the index.dat file in
the C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\OfflineCache folder having been deleted.
Following these instructions, provided by Pearson Peng, to rebuild the
original Help and Support Center will re-create the needed index.dat file:
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/899525641805b8f4



Regards,

 

[Tim.T]

Amazing! Thankyou, it works.

Cheers!

Tim

The index.dat file may be missing from >>
C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\OfflineCache

First. Set Hidden files and folders to display.

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab
Check:
Display the contents of system folders
Show hidden files and folders
UNCheck:
Hide protected operating system files
Apply | OK

[[Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not
typical items.]]

Second. Paste this in the Start | Run box...

C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\OfflineCache

Click OK.

Look for a file called index.dat. Is one there?

If not, save the attached zip file and unzip it to ...

C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\OfflineCache

The zip file contains the appropriate index.dat file.


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

I've had this issue for a while: MSInfo32.exe just will not open when I
click on it directly in the folder, or the shortcut in the
Accessories>System Tools group. It's like it's dead! Two things happen:
either nothing at all, or Help & Support suddenly loads in its place! I've
checked the Environment Variables - the path is correctly set to
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSInfo. The file is there.
How the hell is Help & Support involved???

I have tried every VBS, BAT file, command line switch available to fix
this and still nothing. I am NOT reinstalling XP for this, that would be a
headache and no guarantee of success. I use Microsoft Antispyware,
Ad-Adware SE, Spybot, Norton AV 2004, and on all counts I cannot find any
spyware or virus that may have damaged the file. My system is clean. Are
there any Services I may have disabled which control or allow MSinfo to
run? I would try extracting a new copy from the XP CD but I'm not sure
where the file is, what folder, etc. Or is that even possible with XP? It
was under win98se.

Any input on this annoying little issue would be appreciated! I miss using
MSinfo, it's handy for system checks.

Tim

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Keep having fun.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Amazing! Thankyou, it works.

Cheers!

Tim

The index.dat file may be missing from >>
C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\OfflineCache

First. Set Hidden files and folders to display.

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab
Check:
Display the contents of system folders
Show hidden files and folders
UNCheck:
Hide protected operating system files
Apply | OK

[[Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not
typical items.]]

Second. Paste this in the Start | Run box...

C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\OfflineCache

Click OK.

Look for a file called index.dat. Is one there?

If not, save the attached zip file and unzip it to ...

C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\OfflineCache

The zip file contains the appropriate index.dat file.


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

I've had this issue for a while: MSInfo32.exe just will not open when I
click on it directly in the folder, or the shortcut in the
Accessories>System Tools group. It's like it's dead! Two things happen:
either nothing at all, or Help & Support suddenly loads in its place!
I've checked the Environment Variables - the path is correctly set to
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSInfo. The file is
there. How the hell is Help & Support involved???

I have tried every VBS, BAT file, command line switch available to fix
this and still nothing. I am NOT reinstalling XP for this, that would
be a headache and no guarantee of success. I use Microsoft Antispyware,
Ad-Adware SE, Spybot, Norton AV 2004, and on all counts I cannot find
any spyware or virus that may have damaged the file. My system is
clean. Are there any Services I may have disabled which control or
allow MSinfo to run? I would try extracting a new copy from the XP CD
but I'm not sure where the file is, what folder, etc. Or is that even
possible with XP? It was under win98se.

Any input on this annoying little issue would be appreciated! I miss
using MSinfo, it's handy for system checks.

Tim