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{{Short description|Computer software tool}}
⚫
[[image:Microsoft Diagnostics Screenshot.png|275px|thumb|Screenshot of the MSD utility displaying operating system information.]]


{{Infobox software
⚫
'''MSD''' (Microsoft Diagnostics) was a software tool developed by [[Microsoft]] to assist in the diagnostics of 1990s-era computers. Users primarily deployed this tool to provide detailed technical information about the user's software and hardware and to print the gathered information, usually for use by support technicians in troubleshooting and resolving problems.<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/><ref name="Born_1993_DOS6"/><ref name="Maslo_1994_DOS62"/> The assumptions made by the program were valid until the late 1990s: it does not handle [[plug-and-play]] USB or other new technologies that appeared around 2000.
| name = Microsoft Diagnostics
| logo =
| screenshot = Microsoft Diagnostics Screenshot.png
| screenshot size =
⚫
| caption = Screenshot of the MSD utility, displaying operating system version information.
| other_names = MSD, <code>MSD.EXE</code>
| developer = [[Microsoft]]
| released =
| latest release version =
| latest release date =
| operating system = [[MS-DOS]], [[OS/2]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]
| genre =
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]] [[commercial software]]
| website =
| discontinued = yes
}}


⚫
'''Microsoft Diagnostics''' ('''MSD''') was a software tool developed by [[Microsoft]] to assist in the diagnostics of 1990s-era computers. Users primarily deployed this tool to provide detailed technical information about the user's software and hardware and to print the gathered information, usually for use by support technicians in troubleshooting and resolving problems.<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/><ref name="Born_1993_DOS6"/><ref name="Maslo_1994_DOS62"/> The assumptions made by the program were valid until the late 1990s: it does not handle [[plug-and-play]] [[USB]] or other new technologies that appeared around 2000.
⚫
In [[PC DOS]] 6.1 and above, <tt>QCONFIG.EXE</tt> provides similar functionality.<ref name="IBM_1995_DOS7"/><ref name="Heinzel_1995_DOS7"/> Commercial alternatives include Manifest <tt>MFT.EXE</tt> from Quarterdeck's [[QEMM]].

⚫
In [[PC DOS]] 6.1 and above, <code>QCONFIG.EXE</code> provides similar functionality.<ref name="IBM_1995_DOS7"/><ref name="Heinzel_1995_DOS7"/> Commercial alternatives include Manifest <code>MFT.EXE</code> from Quarterdeck's [[QEMM]].


== History ==
== History ==
<tt>MSD</tt> first shipped with MS-Word for Windows, and was later included in [[Windows 3.0|Windows 3]],<!-- reference states Windows 3.1 --><ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/> [[MS-DOS 6.0|MS-DOS 6]],<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/><ref name="Born_1993_DOS6"/><ref name="Maslo_1994_DOS62"/> and on the Windows 9x CD-ROMs. Because [[OS/2]] and [[Windows NT]] contain code forked from DOS at the DOS 5 level, the versions of <tt>MSD</tt> included here correspond to that of that era (i.e. version 2.0).
<code>MSD.EXE</code> first shipped with [[Microsoft Word|Microsoft Word for Windows]], and was later included in [[Windows 3.0|Windows 3]],<!-- reference states Windows 3.1 --><ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/> [[MS-DOS 6.0|MS-DOS 6]],<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/><ref name="Born_1993_DOS6"/><ref name="Maslo_1994_DOS62"/> and on the [[Windows 9x]] [[CD-ROM]]s. Because [[OS/2]] and [[Windows NT]] contain code forked from DOS at the DOS 5 level, the versions of <code>MSD.EXE</code> included here correspond to that of that era (i.e. version 2.0).


Windows NT 3 and 4 have <tt>WINMSD</tt>, a program with similar features.<ref name="Microsoft_1995_TechnicalReference"/> However, the DOS/Windows specific functions were replaced by similar Windows NT concerns.<ref name="Microsoft_1995_TechnicalReference"/> <tt>WINMSDP.EXE</tt>, included in the resource kits, provides the print functionality of <tt>MSD</tt> for <tt>WINMSD</tt>. Since NT 5 (Windows 2000), <tt>WINMSD.EXE</tt> has been a loader for <tt>MSINFO32.EXE</tt>.
[[Windows NT 3]] and [[Windows NT 4|NT 4]] have <code>WINMSD</code>, a program with similar features.<ref name="Microsoft_1995_TechnicalReference"/> However, the DOS/Windows specific functions were replaced by similar Windows NT concerns.<ref name="Microsoft_1995_TechnicalReference"/> <code>WINMSDP.EXE</code>, included in the resource kits, provides the print functionality of <code>MSD.EXE</code> for <code>WINMSD</code>. Since NT 5 ([[Windows 2000]]), <code>WINMSD.EXE</code> has been a loader for <code>[[MSINFO32.EXE]]</code>.


== Usage ==
== Usage ==
Users generally started the program from the DOS Command Prompt using the command <tt>MSD.EXE</tt>.<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/> Starting the program under a DOS window in either Windows or OS/2 shows only the DOS details allocated for that DOS session, not for the machine in general.<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/>
Users generally started the program from the DOS Command Prompt using the command <code>MSD.EXE</code>.<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/> Starting the program under a DOS window in either Windows or OS/2 shows only the DOS details allocated for that DOS session, not for the machine in general.<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/>


== Scope ==
== Scope ==
Aspects of the system for which <tt>MSD</tt> provided technical information:
Aspects of the system for which <code>MSD.EXE</code> provided technical information:


# computer brand and processor information<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/><ref name="Born_1993_DOS6"/><ref name="Maslo_1994_DOS62"/>
# computer brand and processor information<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/><ref name="Born_1993_DOS6"/><ref name="Maslo_1994_DOS62"/>
Line 26: Line 44:
# COM ports<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/><ref name="Born_1993_DOS6"/><ref name="Maslo_1994_DOS62"/>
# COM ports<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/><ref name="Born_1993_DOS6"/><ref name="Maslo_1994_DOS62"/>
# IRQ status<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/><ref name="Born_1993_DOS6"/><ref name="Maslo_1994_DOS62"/>
# IRQ status<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/><ref name="Born_1993_DOS6"/><ref name="Maslo_1994_DOS62"/>
# [[Terminate and Stay Resident|TSR]] programs<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/><ref name="Born_1993_DOS6"/><ref name="Maslo_1994_DOS62"/>
# [[Terminate-and-stay-resident program]]s<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/><ref name="Born_1993_DOS6"/><ref name="Maslo_1994_DOS62"/>
# device drivers<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/><ref name="Born_1993_DOS6"/><ref name="Maslo_1994_DOS62"/>
# device drivers<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/><ref name="Born_1993_DOS6"/><ref name="Maslo_1994_DOS62"/>
# other adapters<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/><ref name="Born_1993_DOS6"/><ref name="Maslo_1994_DOS62"/>
# other adapters<ref name="Franken_1993_DOS60"/><ref name="Born_1993_DOS6"/><ref name="Maslo_1994_DOS62"/>


== Successor software ==
== Successor software ==
Microsoft replaced <tt>MSD</tt> with <tt>MSINFO32.EXE</tt>.<ref name="Immler_1998_Windows98"/> This has similar features, but targets more recent machines. It first appeared in [[Microsoft Word|MS-Word]], and later was distributed with [[Microsoft Plus!|Plus! for Windows 95]] and [[Windows 98]].<ref name="Immler_1998_Windows98"/> <tt>MSINFO32.EXE</tt> under [[Windows XP]] stores system history from [[Windows Management Instrumentation|WMI]] in the [[XML]] files in <tt>Windows\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Datacoll</tt>.<ref name="Microsoft_2013_q308549"/> In the interest of [[backward compatibility]], <tt>WINMSD</tt> became a loader for <tt>MSINFO32</tt>.
Microsoft replaced <code>MSD.EXE</code> with <code>MSINFO32.EXE</code>.<ref name="Immler_1998_Windows98"/> This has similar features, but targets more recent machines. It first appeared in [[Microsoft Word|MS-Word]], and later was distributed with [[Microsoft Plus!|Plus! for Windows 95]] and [[Windows 98]].<ref name="Immler_1998_Windows98"/> <code>MSINFO32.EXE</code> under [[Windows XP]] stores system history from [[Windows Management Instrumentation|WMI]] in the [[XML]] files in <code>Windows\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Datacoll</code>.<ref name="Microsoft_2013_q308549"/> In the interest of [[backward compatibility]], <code>WINMSD</code> became a loader for <code>MSINFO32</code>.


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 51: Line 69:
|year=1993
|year=1993
|edition=1
|edition=1
|language=German
|language=de
|trans-title=MS-DOS 6.0 Professional Edition - The new 6.0 tools - communication, backup and data security, Windows and DOS, optimal configuration
|trans-title=MS-DOS 6.0 Professional Edition - The new 6.0 tools - communication, backup and data security, Windows and DOS, optimal configuration
|isbn=3-89360-306-9}}</ref>
|isbn=3-89360-306-9}}</ref>
Line 61: Line 79:
|year=1993
|year=1993
|edition=1
|edition=1
|language=German
|language=de
|trans-title=DOS 6 tuning - Tips, tricks, utilities. On the installation, on the configuration, and on batch programming. Better utilization of new MS-DOS 6.0 features
|trans-title=DOS 6 tuning - Tips, tricks, utilities. On the installation, on the configuration, and on batch programming. Better utilization of new MS-DOS 6.0 features
|isbn=3-87791-495-0
|isbn=3-87791-495-0
Line 76: Line 94:
|year=1994
|year=1994
|edition=1
|edition=1
|language=German
|language=de
|trans-title=Super book - MS-DOS
|trans-title=Super book - MS-DOS
|isbn=3-8158-1026-4
|isbn=3-8158-1026-4
Line 91: Line 109:
|id=83G9260, S83G-9260-00, P83G9260
|id=83G9260, S83G-9260-00, P83G9260
|url=http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/ibm/pc/dos/83G9260_IBM_PC_DOS_7.0_Users_Guide_Jan95.pdf
|url=http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/ibm/pc/dos/83G9260_IBM_PC_DOS_7.0_Users_Guide_Jan95.pdf
|accessdate=2013-10-05
|access-date=2013-10-05
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
<ref name="Heinzel_1995_DOS7">{{cite book
<ref name="Heinzel_1995_DOS7">{{cite book
Line 100: Line 118:
|year=1995
|year=1995
|edition=1
|edition=1
|language=German
|language=de
|trans-title=PC DOS 7: Commands, REXX, utilities
|trans-title=PC DOS 7: Commands, REXX, utilities
|isbn=978-3-89362-404-1 <!-- |ignore-isbn-error=true -->
|ISBN=978-3-89362-404-1}}</ref>
|id=3-89362-404-x<!-- I triple-checked this ISBN to be correct as printed in the book! -->}}</ref>
<ref name="Microsoft_1995_TechnicalReference">{{cite book
<ref name="Microsoft_1995_TechnicalReference">{{cite book
|title=Microsoft Windows NT Version 3.5 - Die technische Referenz - Expertenwissen zu Windows NT Workstation und Windows NT Server - Grundlagen
|title=Microsoft Windows NT Version 3.5 - Die technische Referenz - Expertenwissen zu Windows NT Workstation und Windows NT Server - Grundlagen
Line 134: Line 151:
|publisher=[[Microsoft Press]] Deutschland, Microsoft Corporation
|publisher=[[Microsoft Press]] Deutschland, Microsoft Corporation
|year=1996
|year=1996
|origyear=1995
|orig-year=1995
|edition=1
|edition=1
|volume=1/5
|volume=1/5
|series=Microsoft Windows NT 3.5 - Die technische Referenz
|series=Microsoft Windows NT 3.5 - Die technische Referenz
|language=German
|language=de
|trans-title=Microsoft Windows NT Version 3.5 - Technical Reference. Expert knowledge on Windows NT Workstation and Windows NT Server - Basics (Windows NT Resource Guide)
|trans-title=Microsoft Windows NT Version 3.5 - Technical Reference. Expert knowledge on Windows NT Workstation and Windows NT Server - Basics (Windows NT Resource Guide)
|isbn=3-86063-235-3}}</ref>
|isbn=3-86063-235-3}}</ref>
Line 156: Line 173:
|year=1998
|year=1998
|edition=1
|edition=1
|language=German
|language=de
|trans-title=Windows 98 internals - System tuning and technical reference
|trans-title=Windows 98 internals - System tuning and technical reference
|isbn=3-8158-1097-3
|isbn=3-8158-1097-3
Line 165: Line 182:
|year=2013
|year=2013
|publisher=[[Microsoft]]
|publisher=[[Microsoft]]
|accessdate=2013-04-12
|access-date=2013-04-12
|quote=System Information in [[Windows XP]] provides a new view of changes to the computer.&nbsp;... History Information is provided by WMI, and is stored in the Extensible Markup Language (XML) data files located in <tt>Windows\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Datacoll</tt>.}}</ref>
|quote=System Information in [[Windows XP]] provides a new view of changes to the computer.&nbsp;... History Information is provided by WMI, and is stored in the Extensible Markup Language (XML) data files located in <code>Windows\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Datacoll</code>.}}</ref>
</references>
</references>

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book|author-last=Cooper|author-first=Jim|title=Special Edition Using MS-DOS 6.22, Third Edition|date=2001|publisher=[[Que Publishing]]|isbn=978-0789725738}}

{{Microsoft Windows components}}


[[Category:Discontinued Microsoft software|Diagnostics]]
[[Category:Discontinued Microsoft software|Diagnostics]]
[[Category:DOS on IBM PC compatibles]]
[[Category:DOS software]]
[[Category:External DOS commands]]
[[Category:External DOS commands]]

Latest revision as of 19:06, 27 August 2024

Microsoft Diagnostics
Other namesMSD, MSD.EXE
Developer(s)Microsoft
Operating systemMS-DOS, OS/2, Windows
LicenseProprietary commercial software

Microsoft Diagnostics (MSD) was a software tool developed by Microsoft to assist in the diagnostics of 1990s-era computers. Users primarily deployed this tool to provide detailed technical information about the user's software and hardware and to print the gathered information, usually for use by support technicians in troubleshooting and resolving problems.[1][2][3] The assumptions made by the program were valid until the late 1990s: it does not handle plug-and-play USB or other new technologies that appeared around 2000.

In PC DOS 6.1 and above, QCONFIG.EXE provides similar functionality.[4][5] Commercial alternatives include Manifest MFT.EXE from Quarterdeck's QEMM.

History

[edit]

MSD.EXE first shipped with Microsoft Word for Windows, and was later included in Windows 3,[1] MS-DOS 6,[1][2][3] and on the Windows 9x CD-ROMs. Because OS/2 and Windows NT contain code forked from DOS at the DOS 5 level, the versions of MSD.EXE included here correspond to that of that era (i.e. version 2.0).

Windows NT 3 and NT 4 have WINMSD, a program with similar features.[6] However, the DOS/Windows specific functions were replaced by similar Windows NT concerns.[6] WINMSDP.EXE, included in the resource kits, provides the print functionality of MSD.EXE for WINMSD. Since NT 5 (Windows 2000), WINMSD.EXE has been a loader for MSINFO32.EXE.

Usage

[edit]

Users generally started the program from the DOS Command Prompt using the command MSD.EXE.[1] Starting the program under a DOS window in either Windows or OS/2 shows only the DOS details allocated for that DOS session, not for the machine in general.[1]

Scope

[edit]

Aspects of the system for which MSD.EXE provided technical information:

  1. computer brand and processor information[1][2][3]
  2. memory (total, EMS, and XMS)[1][2][3]
  3. video (type such as VGA and manufacturer)[1][2][3]
  4. network[1][2][3]
  5. operating-system versions[1][2][3]
  6. type of mouse (if installed)[1][2][3]
  7. disk drives (and partitions), excluding CD-ROM drives etc.
  8. LPT ports[1][2][3]
  9. COM ports[1][2][3]
  10. IRQ status[1][2][3]
  11. Terminate-and-stay-resident programs[1][2][3]
  12. device drivers[1][2][3]
  13. other adapters[1][2][3]

Successor software

[edit]

Microsoft replaced MSD.EXE with MSINFO32.EXE.[7] This has similar features, but targets more recent machines. It first appeared in MS-Word, and later was distributed with Plus! for Windows 95 and Windows 98.[7] MSINFO32.EXE under Windows XP stores system history from WMI in the XML files in Windows\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Datacoll.[8] In the interest of backward compatibility, WINMSD became a loader for MSINFO32.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Franken; Frater; Kebschull; Raymans (1993). MS-DOS 6.0 Professional Edition - Die neuen 6.0-Tools - Kommunikation, Datensicherung, Windows und DOS, Optimale Konfiguration [MS-DOS 6.0 Professional Edition - The new 6.0 tools - communication, backup and data security, Windows and DOS, optimal configuration] (in German) (1 ed.). bhv Computer Bücher - BHV Verlag - Bürohandels- und Verlagsgesellschaft mbH. ISBN 3-89360-306-9.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Born, Günther (1993). DOS 6 Tuning - Praxisbuch - Das ganze Anwender-Wissen - Tips, Tricks, Utilities. Zur Installation, zur Konfiguration und zur Batchprogrammierung, noch bessere Nutzung der neuen Möglichkeiten von MS-DOS 6.0 [DOS 6 tuning - Tips, tricks, utilities. On the installation, on the configuration, and on batch programming. Better utilization of new MS-DOS 6.0 features] (in German) (1 ed.). Markt & Technik Buch- und Software-Verlag GmbH & Co. ISBN 3-87791-495-0. 9-783877-914953.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Maslo, Andreas; Tornsdorf, Helmut; Tornsdorf, Manfred (1994). Das Superbuch - MS-DOS 6.2 [Super book - MS-DOS] (in German) (1 ed.). Data Becker. ISBN 3-8158-1026-4. 9-783815-810262.
  4. ^ Averett, Margaret; Liburdi, Dana (January 1995). IBM PC DOS 7 - User's Guide (PDF) (1 ed.). IBM Corp. 83G9260, S83G-9260-00, P83G9260. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  5. ^ Heinzel, Edgar (1995). PC-DOS 7: Befehle, REXX, Utilities [PC DOS 7: Commands, REXX, utilities] (in German) (1 ed.). tewi Verlag GmbH. ISBN 978-3-89362-404-1.
  6. ^ a b Bailey, Greg; Collins, David; Dragich, Chris; Etchevers, Peggy; Groves, Jim; Jacobs, John; Kay, Sharon; McGimmis, Gary; Moore, Sonia Marie; Moynihan, Doralee; Pearson, Annie; Purcell, Jim; Sheppard, Laura (1996) [1995]. Microsoft Windows NT Version 3.5 - Die technische Referenz - Expertenwissen zu Windows NT Workstation und Windows NT Server - Grundlagen [Microsoft Windows NT Version 3.5 - Technical Reference. Expert knowledge on Windows NT Workstation and Windows NT Server - Basics (Windows NT Resource Guide)]. Microsoft Windows NT 3.5 - Die technische Referenz (in German). Vol. 1/5 (1 ed.). Microsoft Press Deutschland, Microsoft Corporation. ISBN 3-86063-235-3.
  7. ^ a b Immler, Christian; Lüders, Jürgen; Salomon, Norbert; Wehr, Hendric; Ziegert, Michael (1998). Windows 98 intern - System-Tuning und Technik-Referenz [Windows 98 internals - System tuning and technical reference] (in German) (1 ed.). DATA BECKER GmbH & Co. KG. ISBN 3-8158-1097-3. 9-783815-810972.
  8. ^ "Description of Windows XP System Information (Msinfo32.exe) Tool". Microsoft. 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-12. System Information in Windows XP provides a new view of changes to the computer. ... History Information is provided by WMI, and is stored in the Extensible Markup Language (XML) data files located in Windows\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Datacoll.

Further reading

[edit]
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