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msinfo32 opens Help and Support Center

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6 replies

by smokinjoe30

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Everytime I try to run System Information either by the start menu or by typing MSINFO32 in the RUN dialog box, Windows Help and Support Center launches on my machine. No specific topic already displayed, just the "main" screen. What is going on? I am running Windows XP Media Center Edition on a laptop. When I try this command on other XP Professional machines or other Media Center Machines, it works and opens System Information. Any ideas? Thanks.

6 replies

by hal 9000

If you run either System File Checker or do a Repair Installation from the original CD that comes with the system that should fix the problem. However you are going to loose any Patches that you have applied since the system first went into service.

Also if this unit didn't come with SP2 already installed it will break Outlook Express and your Address Book at the very least till SP2 is applied then after a few reboots everything should work OK. But you'll have to make sure that your AV Product isn't disabled in the process as this can cause problems if it isn't addressed before logging onto the MS Live Update Site.

If you have Media Centre with SP2 there should be nothing broken by either SFC or a Repair Install.

Col

by pierrejamme

Is the file there? Should be at:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSInfo32.exe
Like Hal said try running sfc /scannow first.

by blad3runn69

hey pierrejamme try this.
Copy text below & paste into notepad and save as a batch (.bat) file. Run the batch file which should fix your msinfo32.exe problem. (from http://windowsxp.mvps.org/rebuildhelp.htm)
----------------------------------------
net stop helpsvc
cd /d %windir%\pchealth\helpctr
rd packagestore /s /q
rd installedskus /s /q
cd binaries
start /w helpsvc /svchost netsvcs /regserver /install
start /w helpsvc /register
-----------------------------------

by stefdk

Works great - nothing more to say. Thanks.

by beeuuem1

I ran into this problem today, ran this fix - cured. Wonderful!

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