System Information Not Available: Causes and Solutions It is a frustrating moment for any Windows user: you open the System Information tool (
) to check your hardware, BIOS version, or driver status, only to be met with a blank screen or the error message: “Can’t Collect Information.”
When the System Information tool fails, it usually indicates that the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) service—which gathers data from your hardware and software—has stopped working or is corrupted. 1. Restart the System Information Tool Sometimes the tool simply fails to initialize correctly. Close the tool entirely. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
Go to the Details tab, locate msinfo32.exe, right-click it, and select End task. Try opening it again from the Start menu. 2. Restart WMI Services
The System Information tool relies heavily on the WMI service. If this service is stuck, the data cannot be gathered. Press Windows Key + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter. Locate Windows Management Instrumentation. Right-click it and select Restart. Optional: Also restart the Winmgmt service if listed. 3. Re-register WMI DLL Files
If the WMI repository is corrupted, you may need to re-register the DLL files responsible for it. Open Command Prompt as an Administrator.
Type the following command and press Enter:winmgmt /salvagerepository Restart your computer and check if the tool works. 4. Clear Windows Update Cache
Sometimes, pending or corrupted Windows updates can cause conflicts with system tools. Open Command Prompt as an Administrator. Stop the services: net stop wuauserv net stop bits
Navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and delete all files in this folder. Restart your computer. 5. Run SFC and DISM Scans
If system files are damaged, the System File Checker (SFC) and DISM tools can repair them. Open Command Prompt as Administrator. Run the command: sfc /scannow
If that doesn’t fix it, run: dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth Summary Table: Troubleshooting Steps Restart msinfo32 Fixes temporary application errors Restart WMI Service Restarts the data collection mechanism Salvage Repository Fixes WMI database corruption Clear SoftwareDistribution Removes corrupted Windows updates SFC /scannow Repairs corrupted system files
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the “System Information Not Available” error and regain access to your PC’s technical data. If this article was helpful, A guide on how to check BIOS/System info without the tool. More advanced troubleshooting for WMI errors. system information won’t open – Microsoft Q&A