A machine having a drive that directly or indirectly excites vibrations in the machine over a frequency range when the drive is connected to the power supply. A sensor detects a time-dependent signal that is characteristic of the excited vibrations. The time-dependent signal is transmitted to a control device that analyzes the frequency of the time-dependent signal and relates the frequency analysis to the excitation that produces the excitation and uses this relationship to determine a state of at least one element of the machine. The control device outputs a message to an operator of the machine on the basis of the state that is determined. Preferably, the control device applies an interference variable that has at least one frequency inside the frequency range to the drive so as to excite vibrations. The interference variable may be a sinusoidal interference variable whose frequency passes through the frequency range, or a pseudobinary interference variable whose spectrum covers the frequency range. If the drive is an electrical three-phase drive, asymmetrical energization may be used.