“Mitch the intern” showed up for work today and we found a problem with our wireless network when he tried to connect. We couldn’t get Internet Connection Sharing working on the server. The root of the problem came to be some corrupt files. The error was something like “Can’t Collect Information
Cannot access the Windows Management Instrumentation software. Windows Management files may be moved or missing”. Here’s what fixed the problem for us…. The Error Nuker
As taken from an Experts-Exchange.com file:
*** Problem Description ***
When going into Msinfo32 (System Information) you may get an errorCan’t Collect Information
Cannot access the Windows Management Instrumentation software. Windows Management
files may be moved or missing.————————————————————————————–
*** Resolution ***CAUSE
=====This behavior can occur if files in the %SystemRoot%System32WbemRepository
folder become corrupted.RESOLUTION
==========To resolve this behavior, delete and then recreate the files in the
%SystemRoot%System32WbemRepository folder:1. On the Desktop, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
2. Under “Services and Applications”, click Services, and then stop the Windows
Management Instrumentation service.3. Delete all of the files that are in the %SystemRoot%System32WbemRepository
folder.4. Restart the computer. The files are recreated when the computer restarts.
Other options if this didn’t help you in your problem can be found at this Experts-Exchange article.
Update: May 08, 2009
Thanks to Tamra’s comment way down below this post… apparently this is still working. Here’s what she had to say (repeated here for posterity’s sake):
Thanks Nate! This solution is still working (May 2009) since you published this in 2006.
For those that are using WinXP sp3:
Turning on the Windows Management in Services will not fix the problem unless you close all Windows files, go to Task Manager,click on the Processes tab, locate explorer.exe and end the process. Then still in task manager, click File (top left corner) and in the drop down box choose New Task, type in explorer and enter. (or use run – and type explorer in open dialogue box)
This will reset explorer and you will be able to see the change in starting your WMI from the services menu. Try running the WMI again.
If you still can’t get the WMI to run, then go to any folder and click Tools – folder options. Turn on view system folders first, then locate and delete this file only:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wbem\Repository\$WinMgmt.CFG
You DON’T want delete the FS file also in the Repository file These files are what rebuilds the corrupted $WinMgmt.CFG file for the WMI.
Hope this helps those that have had questions previously and if you’ve some how been able to delete the FS file, (WinXP prevented me from doing it when I tested), then follow the link from Paul and rebuild your WMI Repository folder. Hopefully, you’ve read through all the posts fist however. :)
Cheers, Tamra
Thanks Tamra!
[tags]windows, registry, error, management, instrumentation, cannot access[/tags]
Posted by markg
That does not fix the error of 98% of everyone. But this fixed mine:
first I ran a:
Start/run> sfc /scannow
Then i made sure all THREE WMI services were set to automatic in my services list.
Reboot. fixed.
Posted by nate
Thanks Mark. I appreciate the additional info.
Posted by keith
what are the three WMI services?
Posted by fl334964003@aol.com
Thank you Nate! Reconstructing the Repository files solved the “Can’t collect Information” error for me.
Posted by nate
my pleasure. thanks for the comment!
Posted by Felicity Oldman
Thank you for the info Nate, it got my son back on to xbox live, after our system restore failure.
x
Posted by Loch
Th4T f1x3D my Pr08L3m…
ThX F0R P05t1n’ tH1Z.
L0cH
Posted by nate
Loch,
n0 p|2o|3L3m.
Posted by DavidR
Nate,
THANK YOU THANK YOU!! I have been fighting this error for months. Tried all of the tricks I found on the web and the only one that worked turned out to be the easiest… YOURS!!!
Deleting those files and a reboot, BOOM, back in business!
Thanks again,
Dave
Posted by nate
Awesome! Glad I could be of some help. :)
Posted by Michelle
Hi, Nate. Unfortunately, it’s not working for me. Maybe it’s because I have no idea what %SystemRoot%System32WbemRepository is. :) I found a system 32 wbem repository folder but I don’t know if it’s the same thing. I followed your instructions and deleted everything in that folder too and rebooted it. Maybe I have the wrong file? Thanks! :) Also, I get an Connection Status: Unknown Server Execution Failed for my network, but, obviously, I’m getting a connection!
Posted by OuttoSeaandOverboard
hey what how do you do get to the System32WbemRepository
folder. I don’t get that part
please help thanks!
Posted by Michelle
1.Start>Search
2. Type Wbem in the search text box.
3. Double click on the Wbem file folder.
4. There should be a folder named repository.
Posted by Anonymous
I tried to follow all of these tutorials, but I cant even find the repository folder. Also when I click on Windows Management Instrumentation in the computer management screen, it is already stopped. I then try to start it, but it says “The specified module could not be found”. Please tell me how to find the repository folder, or a solution to my problem.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
Posted by paul
Hi NAte, thanks for the solution, however, it did not helped me. I already deleted all the contents of the Repository folder located inside the wbem folder. After I restarted, I checked back again the folder, and the folder is still empty. Can you help me please? somebody pls help me. thanks a lot!
Posted by nate
Hey guys, I’d love to help more, but unfortunately (for you) I’ve switched to a Mac. I no longer run Windows. But I’ll leave the comments open here for dialogue. I hope someone can help and I hope that someone posts here.
Cheers.
Posted by paul
To everyone, I already solved my problem, just check this site out. Thanks!
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/repairwmi.htm
I did the rebuilding the repository instruction. My advice is just do this when you look that there are two files in your repository folder, and there’s a lot of dll files in your wbem folder. This means you have the WMI, but it just needs to be registered. If you really have deleted the necessary files on rebuilding the WMI, then go to the comprehensive rebuild method. God bless! :)
Posted by 1centwiz
Thanks Nate! This solution is still working (May 2009) since you published this in 2006.
For those that are using WinXP sp3:
Turning on the Windows Management in Services will not fix the problem unless you close all Windows files, go to Task Manager,click on the Processes tab, locate explorer.exe and end the process. Then still in task manager, click File (top left corner) and in the drop down box choose New Task, type in explorer and enter. (or use run – and type explorer in open dialogue box)
This will reset explorer and you will be able to see the change in starting your WMI from the services menu. Try running the WMI again.
If you still can’t get the WMI to run, then go to any folder and click Tools – folder options. Turn on view system folders first, then locate and delete this file only:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wbem\Repository\$WinMgmt.CFG
You DON’T want delete the FS file also in the Repository file These files are what rebuilds the corrupted $WinMgmt.CFG file for the WMI.
Hope this helps those that have had questions previously and if you’ve some how been able to delete the FS file, (WinXP prevented me from doing it when I tested), then follow the link from Paul and rebuild your WMI Repository folder. Hopefully, you’ve read through all the posts fist however. :)
Cheers, Tamra
Posted by nate
Tamra,
Thanks so much for confirming this. I’m going to update the post with your findings. I appreciate your comments so much!
Thanks!
Posted by Tamra Skibsted
Hi Nate,
Glad I could add to what you had already posted as it did indeed fix my problem, or at least that specific problem…
I wanted to update you on my situation and get the word out to those that may have used, are using or think of using Registry Booster from Uniblue.
DON’T!!!!! EVER EVER EVER use this “malware” software. It is the sole reason as to how, why and when my registry problems began. I have logs and recovery files to prove it.
If it wasn’t for a program called ERUNT, a FREE registry program that was created over 10 years ago, by Lars Hederer I’d be sunk. Here’s the direct link to http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/index.html – This simple to download, execute and use program actually does what it says it does – Create FULL registry back-ups of your entire registry, including all users as well, every time you start-up your computer. You can even run ERUNT manually to create back-ups when you want to, like before you install crapware. It’s my proof of what was changed, deleted and destroyed by Uniblue’s Registry Booster program!
So after spending months watching program errors increasing, looking for solutions to individual issues like the WMI not working anymore, and running Registry Booster thinking it was going to “fix” my problems, I gave up and bought a new HD and did a clean install. **(Just a note to Gateway users out there, make sure you create an application and driver CD. The CD that you get with your computer is only an OS System install and does not include all the proprietary apps and drivers that you will need in a clean install.)**
I’m glad that I was able to find the answer to one of my major problems here and will continue to come back to check in you to see what’s new.
Cheers to you Nate for the WMI fix post! It goes to show that you can’t dismiss older posts as relevance doesn’t have time frames. ~ Tamra
Posted by nate
Outstanding writeup Tamara. Thanks for helping all the other readers out there. You wouldn’t believe how popular this post actually is and it’s 5 years old now. Crazy.