OFF97: MsInfo 2.51 Does Not Start After You Install Windows NT 4.0 SP-6 (275916)

SYMPTOMS

The Microsoft System Information (MsInfo) window does not appear the first time that you start MsInfo after you start one of the operating systems listed in the "Applies To" section of this article. Msinfo32.exe does appear in the list of processes on the Processes tab in Task Manager.

This problem occurs the first time that you start MsInfo by any method, including clicking About Office product name and then clicking System Info from the Help menu of any Microsoft Office 97 for Windows program.

RESOLUTION

Click the link below to download System Information 4.20. Installing MsInfo 4.20 resolves the problem of the MsInfo window not appearing the first time you start MsInfo after starting Windows NT.

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Msinfo420.exe

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file. NOTE: MsInfo 4.20 depends on MsInfo extensions (OCXs) written for specific programs to provide information for display. No such OCX exists for Office 97. If you install MsInfo 4.20, you will no longer see any information for Office 97 programs in the System Information Tree under Applications.

WORKAROUND

If you choose to use MsInfo 2.51, follow these steps:

Immediately after starting the operating system, start a Microsoft Office 97 program (for example, Microsoft Word 97).
On the Help menu, click About Microsoft Word, and then click System Info. The System Information window will not appear.
Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to display the Windows Security dialog box.
Click Task Manager to display the Task Manager dialog box.
On the Processes tab, under Image Name, locate and select Msinfo32.exe.
Click End Process.
Close Task Manager.
Switch to Microsoft Word 97.
On the Help menu, click About Microsoft Word, and then click System Info.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft System Information (Msinfo32.exe) is a basic tool for gathering system configuration information. This tool is intended primarily to help Support Professionals determine information that could indicate problems with the system. Msinfo32.exe has many more features than the standard Windows NT Diagnostics (Winmsd.exe) included with Windows NT 4.0 Workstation. MsInfo 2.51 is included with Microsoft Office 97 for Windows.