msinfo32 says "can't collect information

[supertech365]

hello. i'm running xp sp2 and whenever i attempt to view my system information, it get a message indicating, "cannot access the Windows Management Instrumentation software.
Windows Management files may be moved or missing." my system is working fine, and there is no emergency. i'm just curious because it seems strange and i have attempted to manually start the windows management instrumentation, but it always fails. Again this post is not an emergency, only for you who enjoy a challenge or like being patted on the back.

thanks guys!

[SCDVD]

One possibility is that you have been a victim of a virus or some form of malware. If you haven't done so, it would be a good idea to do a virus scan as well as a malware scan with something like AdAware or Spybot Search and Destroy.

You may also need to do an OS repair. You will need your XP installation disc to do this.

[supertech365]

thanks for the reply. i've already ran search and destroy, ad-aware, symantec version 10, and windows xp OS repair. i also tried system mechanic 6 program to manually start the file. all to no avail. all of these usually work. i've repaired this problem for others, but can't for myself.

[SCDVD]

Sometimes when a virus or malware is removed, something important to the OS is irrecoverably damaged or removed and reinstalling the OS is the only recourse. If you have tried OS repair and have done a registry repair, you may be at that point.

[supertech365]

say it ain't so. well, i guess i will ride this thing until it runs out or starts giving me problems. thanks for everything.

[Soopafresh]

WMI services running ?

[supertech365]

WMI services running ?

that is a negative. when i try to start, it says error 2: can't find file

[Soopafresh]

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/topics/help/wmidiag.mspx