The effectiveness of a RIC remote diagnostics system is improved by reducing the quantity of data required to perform diagnostics. More specifically, a machine (10) being remotely monitored acquires a data summary of key performance parameters and transmits the data summary to a remote server (95). The remote server analyzes the data summary and can query for more specific non- volatile memory data in specific areas if the remote server determines that further information is needed to complete the diagnostics. The system involves interaction between low level diagnostic software (120) associated with the machine and high level diagnostic software (140) located at the remote site (70).