Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)

Description:

Collects and provides system management information by tracking applications and drivers.

Windows Management Instrumentation(WMI) is an implementation of Distributed Management Task Force’s (DMTF) Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM).
WBEM is a set of open, industry-defined specifications that unify and extend the management of enterprise-computing environment.
The central part of WMI is the CIMOM (Common Interface Model Object Manager) which is an interface to the CIM(Common Information Model) also called the WMI repository.
WMI makes it possible for drivers, services, applications to return information in form of data or events into the CIM.

To configure the Windows Management Instrumentation use the following snapin:

wmimgmt.msc

Note if this service is stopped, it will at least have the following effects: - Actions that requires WMI will give errors like:

*Interface: Class not registered

Win32: The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it*

  • Unable to see Service Dependencies using Services.msc
  • Unable to select Properties for the Computer Management (Local) using CompMgmt.msc
  • Unable to see System Information using MsInfo32
  • (WinXP) Will experience long delays with System restore (Or not work at all)

Related Disable WBEM logging in Win2k/WinXP
Related How to repair WMI when it fails to operate

More Info WMI at MS MSDN
More Info WMI at MS Technet
More Info WMI Diagnosis Utility

  • Automatic, if wanting a fully functioning Windows.
Default State:
  • Automatic
Process Name:
Supports:
Depends: