MSInfo32 has lost it's marbles...

[george]

Hi all,

I'm having an issue with the System Information tool msinfo32.exe.
(XP-Pro SP2, but that's not the reason, it was already like that before SP2)
When trying to access it through Help and Support, use Tools to...., click
on Advanced System Information (left column), View detailed System
information (MSinfo32.exe) it just takes me straight back to Help and
Support.

If I run msinfo32 directly from its C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft
Shared\MSInfo location, it just takes me straight back to Help and Support.

When I try to run it through any Office 2003, Help, About...., System
Info... button, it just takes me straight back to Help and Support.

I'm about to start screeming...........

The only way I can get it somewhere halfway decent to do what I expect it to
do is by running it on the commandline with the /showcategories option.

No joy.

Does any of you have a clue as to what might have messed this up?
KB wasn't all too helpful either.

Thanks for your insight.

George

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

First, be sure your antivirus software has the latest definitions and run a
virus scan.

Second, download, install and run Ad Aware:
www.lavasoftusa.com

Try checking event viewer for possible corresponding errors. Start\All
Programs\Administrative Tools\Event Viewer, check all sections for errors
that correspond to when you attempt this procedure. If you find any, double
click the error, the information within may give a clue as to the source of
the issue.

If that fails to resolve it, try System File Checker. The following assumes
you have an actual XP CD as opposed to a restore CD or
restore partition supplied by your PC manufacturer.

Go to Start, type sfc /scannow in the run box and press enter. Note, there
is a space between sfc and the forward slash. You will be asked for your XP
CD. Be aware, upon inserting the CD the XP setup screen may appear, this is
not a part of sfc /scannow, rather it is being invoked by autorun. Simply
minimize the screen and allow sfc to continue.

 

[george]

Thanks Michael,

-Ad Aware is up-to-dat and reports nothing 'fancy' (just cookies)
-Eventviewer has no recording with reference to this.
-HiJackThis is happy too.
-as is SpySweeper
-CWShredder reports clean.
-sfc /scannow also does not clear it up.

Any other suggestions?

George

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

Try this, go to the following website,
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm, scroll to line 221 and click
"Restore System Information (Msinfo32)" in the right column and see if that
resolves the issue.

 

[DJS0302]

Hi all,

I'm having an issue with the System Information tool msinfo32.exe.
(XP-Pro SP2, but that's not the reason, it was already like that before SP2)
When trying to access it through Help and Support, use Tools to...., click
on Advanced System Information (left column), View detailed System
information (MSinfo32.exe) it just takes me straight back to Help and
Support.

If I run msinfo32 directly from its C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft
Shared\MSInfo location, it just takes me straight back to Help and Support.

When I try to run it through any Office 2003, Help, About...., System
Info... button, it just takes me straight back to Help and Support.

I'm about to start screeming...........

The only way I can get it somewhere halfway decent to do what I expect it to
do is by running it on the commandline with the /showcategories option.

No joy.

Does any of you have a clue as to what might have messed this up?
KB wasn't all too helpful either.

Thanks for your insight.

George

You didn't happen to delete all your index.dat files did you? I've heard
people say you can delete all the index.dat files on your computer and Windows
will rebuild them but that's not entirely true. I know because I tried it and
I started experiencing the same thing as you. Not all index.dat files are
related to internet history or cookies. If you search the newsgroups you'll
find many others have the same problem. I've discovered a repair install does
not work. I ended up modifying the shortcut for the system information
program. I right-clicked on the program shortcut in the start menu, chose
properties, and clicked on the shortcut tab. In the target box after the end
quotation mark I entered a space and then /categories +all. It still brings up
Help and Support but at least I can view the system information.

 

[=?Windows-1252?B?1L/UIE13cw==?=]

George the last poster is correct about your index.dat files. Msinfo32.exe needs
the index.dat file in folder C:\Windows\Pchealth\Helpctr\Offlinecache
Can you recover it somehow? I don't know if it is interchangeable, or I send you
mine.

Mo