Cannot Use System Infomation Function

[Sam]

I have a Dell Dimension 8200 computer with windows XP Prof (SP2). Up until
a month ago, I could open System Information (Start/All
Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Information) without any problems.
However, yesterday when opening the program, I received the following
message in the right pane:

"Can't Collect Information
Access denied to Windows Management Instrumentation server on this computer.
Have an administrator change your access permissions."

My profile has administrator privileges. Any suggestions would be very much
appreciated, Sam.

P.S Don't know if the additional problem I just noticed has any connection
to the above problem, but will relate it just in case. If I open the Local
Users and Groups function (LUSRMGR.MSC), then select and double click on my
profile name in the Users folder, I will see three tabs, General, Member of,
and Profile. If I select the Member of tab, I will receive the following
error message:

"The following error occurred while attempting to read properties for the
user (my name):
The server service is not started."

I wonder what server the above is being referred to??

 

[Kelly]

Hi Sam,

Msinfo32 Batch File - To Gain Access (Line 172)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Troubleshooting Msinfo32 - System Information
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_m.htm#msinfo32

Restore System Information (Msinfo32) - Line 221
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Here's a work-around for the msinfo32 problem:
Create a batch file containing the following lines:
cd C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSInfo
msinfo32 /categories +all -loadedmodules
OR:

Go to Start/Run/ and type: msinfo32 /categories +all -loadedmodules
(Don't overlook those three spaces!)

This seems to bypass whatever bug is causing this problem.
Note: Some interesting background info can be found in the MS
Knowledge Base article Q300887.

"Can't collect information Access denied to Windows Management
Instumentation server on this computer. Have an administrator change your
access permissions."

--
Happy Holidays,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[Sam]

Kelly, many thanks for your reply. Unfortunately for me, I tried the files
from Line 172 and 221 and still get the same error message. I also copied
and pasted the actual command (Go to Start/Run/ and type: msinfo32
/categories +all -loadedmodules) and it still did not solve the problem. I
should mention also that when I close the System Information program, I
receive the following error:

Title of dialog box: Internet Explorer Script Error

A yellow exclamation mark with the wording: An error has occurred in the
script on this page.

Line 60
Char: 3
Error: Object required
Code: 0
URL: hcp://system/sysinfo/msinfo/htm

Any further help would be very much appreciated. Thanks, Sam.

 

[Kelly]

Most welcome, Sam.

Go to Start/Run and type in: services.msc
Scroll down to Server and make sure it is started.

--
Happy Holidays,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com