Fix for Msinfo32.exe Error Can’t Collect Information

The System Information Tool (Msinfo32.exe) generates the error Can’t Collect Information if the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) service is not started.

Cause

The above error occurs if the Windows Management Instrumentation service is not running.

Resolution

Follow the steps below to resolve the issue. If Step 1 resolves the issue, no need to follow Step 2 and Step 3.

Step 1) Start the WMI Service

1. Right-click Start, and click Run.
2. Type Services.msc and click OK.
3. Double-click Windows Management Instrumentation
4. Set its Startup type to Automatic
   
5. Click Apply.
6. Click Start to start the service.
7. Click OK.

If the above steps do not work, try Step 2, and if necessary, Step 3 to re-register the WMI components.

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Step 2) Reset the WMI Repository

Open an admin Command Prompt, and run the following commands.

winmgmt /backup c:\wmi_repository.bak
winmgmt /resetrepository

Restart Windows. If the problem persists, proceed to Step 3 below.

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Step 3) Rebuild the WMI repository Completely

Open an admin Command Prompt, and run the following commands.

sc config winmgmt start= disabled

net stop winmgmt

(the blank space after start= is intentional)

(Note: Stopping WMI will also stop the other services that depend upon WMI. Please attempt the procedure via Safe mode if the WMI service can’t be stopped. Antimalware service(s) that depend upon WMI may not stop and thus prevent WMI from stopping. In that case, the Safe mode should help.)

Run the following commands to rebuild the repository:

CD /D %WINDIR%\System32\Wbem\Repository
DEL /F /Q /S %WINDIR%\System32\Wbem\Repository\*.*
CD /D %WINDIR%\System32\Wbem
for /f %s in ('dir /b *.dll') do regsvr32 /s %s
wmiprvse /regserver
sc config winmgmt start= auto
net start winmgmt
for /f %s in ('dir /b *.mof') do mofcomp %s
for /f %s in ('dir /b *.mfl') do mofcomp %s
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
sfc /scannow

Launch wmimgmt.msc

Right-click “WMI Control (Local)” and click Properties.

The above step recreates the repository, which might take a minute or so.

Restart Windows.

The WMI components should be re-registered now. See if you can launch msinfo32.exe now.