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Topic: Tech Tips" for 9X/ME found in 'hwinfo/ui'? |
Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 16 Jul 2001 5:36 pm |
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I subscribe to Dux Computer Newsletter, and in the most recent edition the author mentions a "Tech Tips" reference that supposedly can be accessed thru:
START/RUN/hwinfo/ui. Then he suggests click
VIEW and select DEVICES WITH PROBLEMS.
When I tried to access this a flag popped up and said Windows can't locate it; invalid path. So I went to 'search files' and it too came up with zilch. I'm running ME.
Anybody got any ideas on maybe what's going on here. Would appreciate any and all assistance. Thanks.
Chip |
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Everett Cox
From:
Marengo, OH, USA (deceased)
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Posted 16 Jul 2001 9:21 pm
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Chip-- The Hardware Information Utility provides SOME of the SAME info as the MS Information Utility. (MSINFO32.EXE) That file should be located in your Windows folder. Look for it and double-click to run.
IF you stil want to use the Hwinfo utility, look for file PRECOPY1.CAB on your hard drive or on your Windows CD-rom. When you find it, extract file HWINFO.EXE to the Windows folder. Then double-click to run.
-- Everett |
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Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 17 Jul 2001 12:08 am
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Ev,
Thanks for the info. I had a hunch you
might chime in here. I'll try it out.
Thanks again.
Chip |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 17 Jul 2001 2:37 am
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They are probably referring to the add on programs such as "tweak.ui". These types of programs allow you to access system functions and setup that you normally can't access.
However, changing some of the settings that you can access with tweak.ui can render your system inoperable and you may have to completely reload the software.
My suggestion is to avoid the tweak.ui types of programs. |
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Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 17 Jul 2001 3:48 am
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Ev, Jack,
When I went to the CAB file and tried to extract HWINFO, a flag asked if I wanted to overwrite an existing file.
So, as it turns out, HWINFO is already located in WINDOWS; ie., instead of being named HWINFO/UI, it's just HWINFO. I could not open it. It's a bright-green square icon.
I also have TWEAK.UI already installed on this PC. FWIW.
Chip |
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Everett Cox
From:
Marengo, OH, USA (deceased)
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Posted 17 Jul 2001 7:19 pm
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Chip-- You may have found Hwinfo.DAT on your drive. The executable file is HWINFO.EXE. As mentioned in the earlier post, both the Hardware and System info utilities are similsr. They scan your machine and report on hardware, software, system configuration, and other stuff. Some of that info is stored in a .DAT file for later use.
MicroSoft prefers you use the MSINFO32.EXE and no longer supports the Hwinfo program. Neither of these are in the TWEAKUI class. It was NEVER supported, 'though that does not mean it was no good.
If all we do is run 'safe' and 'supported' programs, our choices will be severely limited. Being a career 'computer person', I understand and forgive MS for most of the glitches and ommisions. Generally, they've done a great job with an increasingly complex system aimed at 'commodity oriented' users who know little, and care less, about how it works.
Some of the stuff they (and others) put out can, indeed, be dangerous to the inexperienced user. So let's make sure we have the important things backed up before doing something that might mess us up.
--Everett
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Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 17 Jul 2001 9:56 pm
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Ev,
I went to 'search' to find the files you just mentioned.
HWINFO.DAT could not be found.
HWINFO.EXE came up with 1 file, but it's
the same one I 1st found as mentioned above.
When I checked it's PROPERTIES, file type
read APPLICATION. Are 'application' and '.exe' one and the same?
As far as MSINFO32.EXE, it is located in
program files/common files/MS shared/. I
opened it, and it is the 'help' pages you can access from START.
I really don't give a hoot about the HWINFO.
The newsletter mentioned it, and I just wanted to see what it was all about, and,
really, to see if it is in the place they said it would be. I guess I just want to make sure that if there is supposed to be something factory-installed, I want to make sure it is.
You are well aware of the braincracker I/we
went thru trying to install HP's 4100c
flat bed scanner......you know, maybe some dumb .dll file or drive wasn't there.
Still is not installed. But this fella who plays bass, and I've been playing with, also works as a PC programmer. I sent away for a
LINKSYS 2-port KVM switch, and I'm waiting for him to put a memory card back in the Gateway. GW OS is WIN98, and the 4100c DOES work on that system.
Apparently, and I can't prove it, but the GW
has sat unmoved and unused since the day I took it and the HP out of Compusa. After the tech said that the GW would not take the ME upgrade, I bought the HP. He said he would put the GW back together as it came from the factory and with WIN98. But when my friend opened it up and started lookin' around, discovered that the memory card was missing.
I think he said memory card. Anyway, some major OS component is missing. So, where did it go? The last place where it did exist was at Compusa.
Sorry this was long-winded, but there wasn't any short way to explain it. Thanks.
Chip
[This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 17 July 2001 at 10:58 PM.] |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 20 Jul 2001 1:16 pm
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Chip, two things you might not know...
1.) That file you're looking for might be on the Windows CD-rom (if you have it!). There's a lot of info/programs that does not install when you load the O.S. from the CD-rom, but it's on the disc, nevertheless.
2.) The "MS-Config" utility (accessed by typing...msconfig in "Start-Run" box lets you do a lot of tweeking to the computer, i.e. modifying the "autoexec.bat" and "config.sys" files for better operation with certain programs/applications.
The "Windows Secrets" books by IDG publishing are expensive, but well worth the money when it comes to troubleshooting/modifying your system.[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 20 July 2001 at 02:18 PM.] |
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Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 21 Jul 2001 3:48 am
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Thanks Donny for those tips. I'm aware of
MSCONFIG. I know you can go into 'startup'
and take some things out, that supposedly slow the pc down on start up.
I've done that in the past, and once, took out too many things, and had to go back and check some off again.
Anyway, I'm not that skilled at fine tweaking, and I'm probably better off leaving well-enough alone.
The CD's [3] that came with the HP Pavilion are basically for reformatting and one is for putting back in all the software that came with it; but there is no WINDOWS ME cd.
Where can you get that "WINDOWS SECRETS" and does it teach you how to do things? Does it really go in-depth? I like to know how things really work; or is this getting into the realm of computer school? What is the cost of the book? Thanks again, Donny.
ChipsAhoy |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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