MSINFO

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.configuration_manage (More info?)

How can I compare WINMSD files for two computers? Any programs out
there that will compare two and let me know the differences?

Thanks!

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.configuration_manage (More info?)

Jimbo,

That works with text files, but will it work with an .nfo file?

Jimbo wrote:
> run the command line fc file1 file2
> help fc for a list of parameters
>
>
> "In Disguise" <in@disguise.com> wrote in message
> news:#V3yvQzWFHA.616@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>
>>How can I compare WINMSD files for two computers? Any programs out
>>there that will compare two and let me know the differences?
>>
>>Thanks!
>
>
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.configuration_manage (More info?)

In Disguise wrote:

> Jimbo,
>
> That works with text files, but will it work with an .nfo file?
Hi,

From MSINFO, export to a text file instead of using .nfo files.


Some better alternatives to fc.exe:


Microsoft's Windiff.exe is an option.

It is to be found on a Win2k/WinXP CD, in the Support Tools

Install "Support Tools" by starting suptools.msi from
<cd-drive>\Support\Tools\

Also note that there is updated versions of Support Tools available:

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Support Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads [...] 8011fabf38

After the install, you will find Windiff.exe in
%ProgramFiles%\Support Tools\


Two other free file/folder difference analysis tools:

CSDIFF
http://www.componentsoftware.com/P [...] /index.htm

FCU File-Compare Utility
http://www.geherbert.de/fcumain.html



--
torgeir, Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of
the 1328 page Scripting Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/s [...] fault.mspx

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.configuration_manage (More info?)

Thanks, but I'm not looking for a "file difference" program, I want to
compare the configurations of two computers running XP and/or Win2k.

Is there a better way to do this?


Torgeir Bakken (MVP) wrote:
> In Disguise wrote:
>
>> Jimbo,
>>
>> That works with text files, but will it work with an .nfo file?
>
> Hi,
>
> From MSINFO, export to a text file instead of using .nfo files.
>
>
> Some better alternatives to fc.exe:
>
>
> Microsoft's Windiff.exe is an option.
>
> It is to be found on a Win2k/WinXP CD, in the Support Tools
>
> Install "Support Tools" by starting suptools.msi from
> <cd-drive>\Support\Tools\
>
> Also note that there is updated versions of Support Tools available:
>
> Windows XP Service Pack 2 Support Tools
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads [...] 8011fabf38
>
>
> After the install, you will find Windiff.exe in
> %ProgramFiles%\Support Tools\
>
>
> Two other free file/folder difference analysis tools:
>
> CSDIFF
> http://www.componentsoftware.com/P [...] /index.htm
>
> FCU File-Compare Utility
> http://www.geherbert.de/fcumain.html
>
>
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.configuration_manage (More info?)

George,

No, I get the point exactly. I just would have thought that Microsoft
would have done something to make it much easier to compare to
workstations rather than a file compare in text mode.

Out of the hundreds of billions in revenue, this is the best they can
do? Surely they've seen the need for this for a very long time.

"I'm not sure why this application doesn't work on your computer - it
works fine on mine. I wonder what the differences are between our
computers that is causing the problem? They are exactly the same as far
as I can tell."


george wrote:
> I think you're missing the point.
> EXPORT the MSINFO info on both machines into a text format.
> Windiff allows you to compare the contents of two textfiles and highlights
> the lines that differ in the two files.
> (At least it used to do that in NT4 times, guess it still does. Haven't used
> it in a while.)
>
> george
>
>
> "In Disguise" <in@disguise.com> wrote in message
> news:ejAu62BXFHA.2740@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>
>>Thanks, but I'm not looking for a "file difference" program, I want to
>>compare the configurations of two computers running XP and/or Win2k.
>>
>>Is there a better way to do this?
>>
>>
>>Torgeir Bakken (MVP) wrote:
>>
>>>In Disguise wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Jimbo,
>>>>
>>>>That works with text files, but will it work with an .nfo file?
>>>
>>>Hi,
>>>
>>> From MSINFO, export to a text file instead of using .nfo files.
>>>
>>>
>>>Some better alternatives to fc.exe:
>>>
>>>
>>>Microsoft's Windiff.exe is an option.
>>>
>>>It is to be found on a Win2k/WinXP CD, in the Support Tools
>>>
>>>Install "Support Tools" by starting suptools.msi from
>>><cd-drive>\Support\Tools\
>>>
>>>Also note that there is updated versions of Support Tools available:
>>>
>>>Windows XP Service Pack 2 Support Tools
>>>http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=49ae8576-9bb9-4126-9761-ba8011fabf38
>>>After the install, you will find Windiff.exe in
>>>%ProgramFiles%\Support Tools\
>>>
>>>
>>>Two other free file/folder difference analysis tools:
>>>
>>>CSDIFF
>>>http://www.componentsoftware.com/Products/CSDiff/index.htm
>>>
>>>FCU File-Compare Utility
>>>http://www.geherbert.de/fcumain.html
>>>
>>>
>
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.configuration_manage (More info?)

I found I could compare using the unicode switch on fc.exe


steps:
On two computer, I ran
winmsd /categories +all /report p:\mysetting.txt
hit enter
I will look like nothing happens
wait 15 minutes

rename one of the files to mysetting2.txt, and copied it to a directory
with the other file

then

fc /U mysetting.txt mysetting2.txt >settingdiff.txt

notepad settingdiff.txt



george wrote:
> Well, what can I say.
> I'm pretty sure they can do a lot better in fullfilling your specific
> personal needs, given all their revenue.
> The trick will probably be:
>
> "How can I convince MS that this issue of mine is a real priority in the
> grand scheme of creating cashflow."
> After all, that is what they are in business for. Not necessarily to provide
> us with the all omnipotent super dooper product.
>
> :-))
>
> George
>
> "In Disguise" <in@disguise.com> wrote in message
> news:eTbGJMtXFHA.3712@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> > George,
> >
> > No, I get the point exactly. I just would have thought that Microsoft
> > would have done something to make it much easier to compare to
> > workstations rather than a file compare in text mode.
> >
> > Out of the hundreds of billions in revenue, this is the best they can do?
> > Surely they've seen the need for this for a very long time.
> >
> > "I'm not sure why this application doesn't work on your computer - it
> > works fine on mine. I wonder what the differences are between our
> > computers that is causing the problem? They are exactly the same as far
> > as I can tell."
> >
> >
> > george wrote:
> >> I think you're missing the point.
> >> EXPORT the MSINFO info on both machines into a text format.
> >> Windiff allows you to compare the contents of two textfiles and
> >> highlights the lines that differ in the two files.
> >> (At least it used to do that in NT4 times, guess it still does. Haven't
> >> used it in a while.)
> >>
> >> george
> >>
> >>
> >> "In Disguise" <in@disguise.com> wrote in message
> >> news:ejAu62BXFHA.2740@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> >>
> >>>Thanks, but I'm not looking for a "file difference" program, I want to
> >>>compare the configurations of two computers running XP and/or Win2k.
> >>>
> >>>Is there a better way to do this?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Torgeir Bakken (MVP) wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>In Disguise wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>Jimbo,
> >>>>>
> >>>>>That works with text files, but will it work with an .nfo file?
> >>>>
> >>>>Hi,
> >>>>
> >>>> From MSINFO, export to a text file instead of using .nfo files.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>Some better alternatives to fc.exe:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>Microsoft's Windiff.exe is an option.
> >>>>
> >>>>It is to be found on a Win2k/WinXP CD, in the Support Tools
> >>>>
> >>>>Install "Support Tools" by starting suptools.msi from
> >>>><cd-drive>\Support\Tools\
> >>>>
> >>>>Also note that there is updated versions of Support Tools available:
> >>>>
> >>>>Windows XP Service Pack 2 Support Tools
> >>>>http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=49ae8576-9bb9-4126-9761-ba8011fabf38
> >>>>After the install, you will find Windiff.exe in
> >>>>%ProgramFiles%\Support Tools\
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>Two other free file/folder difference analysis tools:
> >>>>
> >>>>CSDIFF
> >>>>http://www.componentsoftware.com/Products/CSDiff/index.htm
> >>>>
> >>>>FCU File-Compare Utility
> >>>>http://www.geherbert.de/fcumain.html
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>