Description of the Windows and MS-DOS Report Tools (188104)

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The Windows 98 support tools, Winrep and Dosrep, provide a means for uploading your computer's system information to a support provider. Winrep requires Windows to generate and upload reports. Dosrep can be run at an MS-DOS prompt, for example when you cannot successfully start Windows 98.

Winrep

Winrep is a tool used to gather system information from your computer to assist support providers in troubleshooting issues. The reports are composed in Windows 98, and then uploaded to a server provided by the support provider.

Winrep uses the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) to upload system information across the Internet. The reports are stored in a compressed (.cab) file, and contain a Microsoft System Information (.nfo) file. The report may also include user information and system files.

To modify the list of files that Winrep includes in the report, click, Collected Information on the Options menu, and then click the appropriate check boxes of the files you want in your report.

Winrep can also be used to create offline reports, open existing reports, and can be used to upload reports from a computer with Internet Connectivity.

The first time Winrep is started, it starts the Internet Connection Wizard (ICW). If you have already started ICW, then this step may be avoided.

To start Winrep and create an offline report, you can use one of the following methods:

Method 1:

Click Start, click Run, type Winrep, and then press ENTER.

Method 2:

Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information. Click Windows Report Tool on the Tools menu., and then click Windows Report Tool. For more information about how to use the System Information tool in Windows 98, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Method 3:

Winrep can be used to upload system information to a support provider if it is started from a support provider's Web page. The Web page uses ActiveX controls and Scripting to start Winrep, and may be configured with the destination for the report.

Dosrep

Dosrep uploads system information to a support provider much like Winrep. However, it runs outside of Windows, it cannot be started from a support provider's Web page, and Dosrep does not create a service request.

Dosrep requires access to your modem outside of Windows. This tool is designed to be used under the direction of a support provider.

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) adapters, modem's without controllers (WinModems), and PC Card modems, may not function using Dosrep. To test your modem at MS-DOS, try typing the following at a Command prompt

(where x is the modem's COM port assignment), and then press ENTER.

If you do not hear a dial tone, your modem may not work at MS-DOS on that COM port.

To gather system information using Dosrep, follow these steps:

1. Type Dosrep, and then press ENTER.
2. Select Create Report from the list using the cursor arrow keys, and press ENTER.

You can use Winrep to upload the report at a later time, or use another computer that has Internet connectivity to upload the report.

To submit a report to a support provider, select Create and Submit report. Dosrep may prompt you for the phone number and password for your Internet Service Provider's (ISP) account, and then use the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to upload your report to the support provider's server. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) must support Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) and Password Authentication Protocol(PAP) for Dosrep to upload successfully.



You can modify the list of files that Dosrep includes in the report by editing the Dosrep.ini file found in the Windows directory. To do this, from the MS-DOS prompt, type "Edit Dosrep.ini" (without quotation marks), and then press ENTER.