How to use System Information (MSINFO32) command-line tool switches

MSINFO32 displays a comprehensive view of your hardware, system components, and software environment. This article contains an overview of the available switches that can be used with the MSINFO32 command in Windows 7, in Windows Vista, and in Windows XP.

You can use the MSINFO32 command-line tool switches to do all of the following:

• Use System Information from a batch file
• Create .nfo or .txt files that contain information from specified categories.
• Open System Information and display only specific categories.
• Save a file silently (without opening System Information).
• Start System Information connected to a remote computer.
• Create a shortcut that opens System Information in a frequently-used configuration.

Note Some command-line switches available for Windows XP are no longer supported in Windows Vista or in Windows 7.

Use the following syntax to run the MSINFO32 command on computers that are running Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP:

Parameters

Path
Specifies the file to be opened in the format C:\folder1\file1.xxx where C is the drive letter, folder1 is the folder, file1 is the file and xxx is the file name extension.

ComputerName
This can be a Universal Naming Convention name, an IP address, or a Fully Qualified Domain Name.

categoryID
This parameter is obtained by using the /showcategories switch.

Command options that are supported in Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP

/nfo {Path}
Saves the exported file as an .nfo file. If the file name that is specified in Path does not end in .nfo, an .nfo file name extension will be appended to the file name.

/report {Path}
Saves the file that is specified in Path in the .txt format. The file name will be saved exactly as it appears in path. The .txt file name extension will not be appended to the file unless it is specified in Path.

/computer {ComputerName}
Starts System Information for the specified remote computer.
Note When you connect to a remote computer, you must have appropriate permissions to access WMI on the remote computer.

Command options that are supported in Windows XP

/pch
Displays the history view.


/showcategories
Starts System Information with the category IDs displayed instead of the friendly names or the localized names. For example, when you use this switch, the Software Environment category is displayed as the SWEnv category. SWEnv is a valid categoryID argument for the /category switch and the /categories switch.

/category {categoryID}
Starts System Information with the specified category selected. Use /showcategories to display a list of available category IDs.

/categories {+categoryID(+categoryID)|+all(-categoryID)}
Starts System Information with only the specified category or categories displayed. It also limits the output to the selected category or categories. Use /showcategories to display a list of available category IDs.

/? Displays a brief summary of MSInfo32 command-line options.

Note Some System Information categories contain large amounts of data. You can use the start /wait command to optimize reporting performance for these categories. For more information, see Related Topics.

Examples

To open System Information in History view, type:
To create an .nfo file in the folder C:\Temp with a name of Test.nfo, type: To create a .txt file in the folder C:\Temp with a name of Test.txt, type:To view System Information from a remote computer with a UNC name of BIGSERVER, type: To list the available category IDs, type: To start System Information with all available information displayed, except Loaded Modules, type: To create an .nfo file called SYSSUM.NFO in the C:\Temp folder that contains information in the System Summary category, type:To create a .NFO file called CONFLICTS.NFO in the C:\TEMP folder that contains information about resource conflicts, type:

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