Msinfo Program Problems

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The last two times I tried to use System Information (msinfo.exe) I got an error message (I forgot exactly what it said) but the result was it wouldn’t open. I solved the problem both times by copying the file from another computer (running the same Win98SE)and replaced the one that wouldn’t open, and that solved the problem.
By the way each time I renamed the old file just to keep it around in the same directory to see if they would ever work again by some miracle, but NOT. But my dilemma is: Will this happen again? The first time it happened I suspected file corruption so I scanned the hard drive with Norton Scandisk – no problems found. I rearranged my hard drive with Norton speed disk just so the file would be located somewhere else on the disk. I can’t remember if I ever tried to use the program between the two crashes (I don’t use System Info much). But when it happened today for the second time it really suprised me. Is it possible for a file to keep being corrupted. Can a file corrupt itself? How does a file get corrupted? Wouldn’t other files get corrupted too? I don’t think it can be a virus. I’ve got Norton Anti-Virus and keep it updated, and run it anytime something weird like this happens on my computer which is very rare.
Any suggestions and/or help would be highly appreciated.

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A couple of things, in Win98, the msinfo file is msinfo32.exe not msinfo.exe (it was that in 95). So first, are you sure you are using the right one? And entering the right command?

Also, what file does not open? Do you have the exact error message?

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Thanks for your response. Sorry about the name of the file, yes it is msinfo32.exe. I just forgot to add the “32” sorry. As far as entering the right command it’s just clicking on Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Information. The exact error message is: “This program has preformed an illegal operation and will be shut down. If the problem persists contact the program Vendor”. Here’s some additional strange information: The first file that crashed was dated 9/20/00 size:140K at the time of the crash – The second file that I used (same name) was dated 2/8/01 size:140K at the time of the crash, The file I’m using now (same name)is dated 5/26/99 size:130K and is still operating fine. All three have the same version # 4.10.222 By the way since I’m in the U.S. my dates reflect mo./date/yr. Question: How can a Microsoft executable file have different dates than the date of creation? Since all three files started out being the exact same file, how can they have different dates? How can one be 10k larger than the others? If one updates some hardware does this information get written to the file and therefore the date changes? If one, as I have, replaces a file with one of the exact same name, from the exact same ver. of the exact same OS of a different computer, confuse the function of that program? Is it because the program DOES write information about the system it is on to it’s exe file and therefore if it’s transported to another computer it get’s confused? Maybe I’m getting a little far fetched, but this seems to be a bit strange to me. It almost makes me think that there is a virus on my computer, but it sure must be hidden because as I said I use Norton Anti-Virus and have run several “ALL FILES checks” not just “EXE PROGRAM” checks. Sorry if I’ve gotten a little extra winded here. Thanks again for responding, and hope to here from you again soon.

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I show the file that comes with Win98SE as:

Windows 98 Second Edition 143,360 4/23/1999 win98_46.cab

This does not mean your version is incorrect. It is rare that an exe file gets corrupted, several times like you say, but could happen. Also, if you’ve run your virus checker on it, then it is probably fine. There are several versions of msinfo32 around, including one that ships with MS Office. If you perform a filefind for:

msinfo*.* you may see several folders and versions of the program.
Msinfo also uses several files in the background, that could be the problem, but if replacing the EXE file worked, at least temporarily, then I doubt it. My best guess is there may be some sort of software conflict, you might try the following:
To Run System File Checker:
(You will need your Windows 98 CD for this process)

With your mouse, Goto
Start
Run
Type “sfc” (No Quotes)
Click OK

Select “Scan for Altered Files”
Click Start.

This will verify all your windows files, and fix any potential file conflicts in msinfo.

Since the problem does not occur a lot, you may need to see how things run after this.

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Thanks again for your comeback. I only have one working copy of msinfo32.exe on my computer. It’s in C:Program FilesCommon FilesMicrosoft SharedMSinfo. And I do have MS office Pro 97. I also have the other 2 copies in the same folder (where they where originally) but I have renamed them just to keep them for reference. Since the date you gave me in your response for the file was 4/23/1999, I right clicked on each of my copies and selected “Properties” and found the following curious info. Present working file Created: 2/22/2001 – Now since I know that 2/22/2001 is the date I copied this file to my computer, the Modified: 9/26/1999 date must represent the actual date of the file, right? Well the ORIGINAL file (the 1st one that crashed) reads: Created: 9/15/1999 Modified: 9/20/2000. And the 2nd file that crashed reads: Created: 10/24/00 Modified: 2/8/2001. Now I do know that this file crashed on 2/8/2001. So what does it all mean? How does anyone ever know the actual date of the file? By the way I was way ahead of you on the System File Checker suggestion. But since I was the one that re-copied and re-named the files I wasn’t sure what to expect or to do. I find that program to be a little disconcerting. Everytime I have used it I have found files with newer dates but older version numbers have replaced files with older dates but newer version numbers AND VISA-VERSA. And I’m never really sure what to do about it. I once threw caution to the wind and disregarded all file dates and made sure all the copies I was using had the latest version numbers, crossed my fingers, rebooted, and all turned out well. But I was never really content with what I had done. Wind-bag me thanks you for your suggestions and help. (You do know that we are conversing on two seperate posts, right?) Thanks again. See you on the other side.

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I’m not sure how you should proceed from here. The reinstall of msinfo32.exe is the MS recommended procedure for this error.
Error Message Running the System Information Tool

Since you have now done this, it might be best to wait, and see if the error recurs again. If it is still occurring regularly, let me know, and we can try some other things (just not sure what those other things are right now )

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Hi James:

You got me thinking when you said to check for more than one msinfo32.exe. I found two of them on my machine. The correct one at

C:Program FilesCommon FilesMicrosoft SharedMSINFOMSINFO32.EXE

& another at

C:Program FilesCommon FilesMicrosoft SharedMsInfoRfMSInfo32.exe

The strange thing is that the latter one lists the system as Windows 95. I have Win 98SE, which is what I bought; I never upgraded. Now I’m wondering whether Micron “upgraded” the machine before selling it.

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Phil,
I’ve seen that version get installed before, maybe this applies:

Encarta World English Dictionary 2000: Setup Installs an Earlier Version of Microsoft System Information

Either way, you are probably safe renaming the older one, and testing to see if you have any problems, before removing it.

It seems MS is not very good about checking for older versions of msinfo, or, installing the newest.

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Ah, hah. Thanks for tracking that down. So that’s where I got it…at least I shouldn’t blame Micron.

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