You receive an "Error Starting Msinfo32.exe" error message when you start system information (290368)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 2002
  • Microsoft Outlook 2002
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
  • Microsoft Word 2002
  • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 98
  • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
This article was previously published under Q290368

SYMPTOMS

When you click System Info in the About Microsoft program name dialog box, you may receive the following error message:
Error Starting Msinfo32.exe

CAUSE

This behavior occurs when the Msinfo32.exe file is missing from the \Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Msinfo folder.

NOTE: If you repair your Office installation, the repair operation may not fix this problem. This is because the Msinfo32.exe file is not copied to your computer during the repair operation.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, use the appropriate section below, according to your version of Microsoft Windows.

Microsoft Windows 98

  1. On the Office XP CD-ROM, locate the following folder:

    \Files\OSP\1033

  2. Double-click Osp1.cab.NOTE: Msinfo32.exe is located in the following folder if you are using an administrative installation of Office XP:

    \Files\OSP\1033\Files\Pfiles\Common\Msshared\Msinfo

  3. Copy Msinfo32.exe from the extracted contents of Osp1.cab or the above administrative installation folder to the Msinfo folder on your hard disk. The default location is the following:

    C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Msinfo

    NOTE: The Msinfo32.exe file is not replaced by a reinstall/repair operation. Also, the Windows Installer does not automatically replace this file.

Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

If the System Files Update Was Installed by Office XP

If the System Files Update was installed by Office XP, follow these steps to replace Msinfo32.exe:
  1. Quit all Office programs.
  2. In Control Panel, double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
  3. In the Add/Remove Programs Properties dialog box, double-click the entry for the System Files Update.
  4. In the Maintenance Mode Options dialog box, select the Repair System Files Update option, and then click Next.
  5. In the Reinstall or Repair System Files Update Installation dialog box, select the Reinstall System Files Update option, and then click Install.
  6. Click OK when the installation is finished.
  7. Click Yes if you are prompted to restart your computer. The Msinfo32.exe file will be copied to your hard disk during the reinstallation process.

If the System Files Update Was Not Installed by Office XP

On some computers, the System Files Update is not installed during the installation of Office XP. For example, if your computer has Office 2000 SR-1 installed when you upgrade to Office XP, the System Files Update probably will not be installed.

In this situation, a reinstall/repair of Office does not replace the missing Msinfo32.exe file. Therefore, you must manually replace it. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. On the Office XP CD-ROM, locate the following folder:

    \Files\OSP\1033

  2. Double-click Osp1.cab.NOTE: Msinfo32.exe is located in the following folder if you are using an administrative installation of Office XP:

    \Files\OSP\1033\Files\Pfiles\Common\Msshared\Msinfo

  3. Copy Msinfo32.exe from the extracted contents of Osp1.cab or the above administrative installation folder to the Msinfo folder on your hard disk. The default location is the following:

    C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Msinfo

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/27/2006
Keywords:kbtshoot kbbug kbnofix KB290368
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