Windows NT Diagnostics
| Component of Microsoft Windows | |
 Windows NT Diagnostics in Windows NT 4.0 | |
| File name/executable | winmsd.exe |
|---|---|
| Type | System information utility |
| Introduced in | Windows NT 3.5 build 612 |
| Last included in | Windows 2000 build 1965 (x86) Windows XP build 2210 (DEC Alpha/AXP64) |
| Replaced by | |
| System Information | |
Windows NT Diagnostics (winmsd.exe) is a diagnostic tool included in Windows NT 3.5x and Windows NT 4.0. As its file name states, it is the Windows NT counterpart of the DOS-based Microsoft Diagnostics (msd.exe).
The application in Windows NT 3.x worked in the way of a main window containing buttons to launch sub-windows for subcategories showing information about the OS version, installed hardware, running drivers and services and network. It was overhauled in Windows NT 4.0 to show the information directly on register tabs.
As Microsoft Diagnostics became deprecated with the release of Windows 95, Microsoft instead began work on a new diagnostics and information tool for both the Windows 9x and NT lines. For this, the System Information tool from Office 4.2 was extended to show more advanced information about hard- and software, which would ultimately became part of Office 97, other Microsoft products and then every Windows version starting with Windows 98.
Plans to remove Windows NT Diagnostics reach all the way back to Windows 2000 build 1773, where the Start menu link to it was removed, however, the application itself was not removed in x86 compiles until build 1983, where it was replaced by a stub for System Information, with a later build also removing the stub. The DEC Alpha compiles continued to include it as far as Windows XP build 2210. Windows NT Diagnostics was also never updated to embrace the Windows 2000 brand name, nor the Professional SKU name as successor to Workstation.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Windows NT Diagnostics in Windows NT 3.5x
Windows NT Diagnostics in Windows 2000 build 1965
Windows NT Diagnostics in Windows XP build 2210
