• Programmer Free programs for your computer, useful tips for Windows. Quick Selection Guide (download free programs to collect information about your computer)

    Surely today any more or less prepared user can easily name the parameters of his computer or information about the system, including the installed operating system, processor type and frequency, capacity RAM, disk, etc. But not many people know that this is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. What if you need to know the operating mode of the DMA channel? What to do then? Now let's talk about how to find out all the parameters in detail.

    General information about the system

    Many users, naturally, may be indignant, they say, what’s wrong with the parameters called up by right-clicking on the computer icon, where you can view basic information on your terminal or laptop?

    The answer lies in the question itself. The information presented in this section is very superficial and does not give a complete picture of the configuration.

    The same applies to the standard “Device Manager”. Of course, in it you can see all the “hardware” or virtual components present in the system, even if they are disabled in the BIOS or those that have problems or conflicts. However, in some cases, in order to identify the causes of failures and eliminate emerging problems, it is necessary to have more complete information about both the hardware and the software environment.

    System Information: Windows OS Program

    Any “operating system” of the Windows family has its own of this type, regardless of the version of the system itself.

    There are quite a lot of different parameters presented here. Of course, some of them are for the average user daily work are not needed, but for specialists who repair or assemble computer terminals, such information can tell a lot. It should be noted that the built-in utility collects information about the system and instantly responds to the slightest configuration change at all levels. And this largely makes the “native” Windows utility simply irreplaceable.

    How can I view system parameter data?

    Now let's see how exactly you can view system information. There are at least three ways to do this in Windows.

    The most common method is to use the Start menu and then select either Utilities or Administrative Tools, where the partition you are looking for is located (the difference in location is due to different versions the operating system itself).

    The second and third methods are also simple. But many users either forget about them or simply don’t know about them. You can use the “Run” menu (Win + R), where the msinfo32 command is entered. You can go the other way by first opening the command line (Win + R + cmd), and then entering system info. In principle, exactly how this program will be called does not play a special role. Whichever is more convenient for you.

    Main Menu Components

    Now let’s look at what interesting things you can find out in the “System Information” section. There are several main categories presented here. Let's immediately pay attention to the general information line. This contains not only information about the Windows system, but also many parameters related to it. For example, version, assembly, disk placement, bootloader, etc. You can also view here current versions installed BIOS and SMBIOS, user and geolocation data, information on RAM and virtual memory, or even the status of the Hyper-V module, if any. Next comes the hardware resources section. The average user is unlikely to understand what this data is. But the system administrator can easily view some important characteristics to eliminate a particular failure at the hardware level.

    The components section is very interesting. It is somewhat similar to Device Manager, but the data presented in it is more detailed. After all, here you can see not only the name of the component, but information about the driver files. In addition, for multimedia, all codecs and decoders installed in the system are indicated, for network devices- their advanced parameters, for disk drives and controllers - their information, etc. In general, you can learn much more from such information than from that presented in the dispatcher. It is worth paying special attention to devices with conflicts (problems). Windows OS itself cannot always provide such information even in the manager, but here you can get the maximum amount of information for each faulty component.

    Finally, in the section software environment you can find all the information the user is interested in about drivers, modules, installed and automatically downloaded applications and services. And even information about errors. In outdated operating systems you can find more sections of browser settings - everything related to the Internet or installed components Office. In general, as they say, there is enough information. But few people know that in the environment of this program you can view the parameters of remote computer terminals or save information about the system in a single text file with the .nfo extension (the program can also work with .cab or .xml formats).

    Third-party utilities for viewing system information

    Among third party utilities The most popular programs can be noted. This is, for example, PC Wizard from the developer CPUID, familiar to many from CPU-Z utility, or small applications like SIW, System Spec, FreeSysInfo, etc.

    They often have interesting features related to setting up or testing equipment, which makes them very popular in their field.

    Conclusion

    In general, it can be noted that information about the system is not particularly useful for most users in their work. But for system administrators, developers of compatible software, or simply specialists involved in manual assembly or repair, such data will be extremely important. Although they may also be useful to some users. Let’s say, in a situation where you need to do something manually, but the user doesn’t know where to look for it.

    There are development teams that dig a certain topic quite deeply. However, they are not limited to just one platform or operating system. On the contrary, having conquered another height, they strive higher. So the CPU-Z program being considered today for analyzing the hardware components of the system is authoritative both in Windows platform, so recently it feels good on mobile devices running Android.

    CPU-Z Features

    It would seem that what’s so difficult about writing a program that will show the insides of your computer or tablet? The most difficult thing is to make an application that will process data correctly on all possible combinations of system components. In addition, difficulties arise from the constant emergence of new processors, memory modules and other modules. Therefore, in this class of programs, indicators of quality and authority are the relevance of the database of known devices and components, as well as the ability to work on all computers or tablets.

    CPU-Z for Windows

    On a computer there is a lot of work for CPU-Z: processor, memory, video card, etc. What useful things can be learned from this purely technical information? Using this program, you can easily determine that the laptop you purchased has an overclocked processor. This means that in six months, when the ventilation holes become clogged with dust, you will have problems with cooling the processor. In addition, when diagnosing faults, you can use data about the system to find out the operating features of a particular component. And when updating hardware, it is important to make sure that the installed hardware is really what is written about on the box.

    CPU-Z will also help expose a not-so-honest seller by providing all the information about the processor and memory capacity of the unit you are purchasing. Sometimes this helps a lot to reduce the price or simply avoid buying 100% junk. At auctions for the sale of used laptops or computers, it is the CPU-Z information that is a kind of passport of the unit being sold.

    Information about the motherboard will allow you to find the manufacturer's website and check for the latest version of BIOS or drivers, which is very important to ensure stable operation of the computer as a whole.

    In general, the CPU-Z program tells the whole truth about the insides of the computer without having to disassemble it.

    The Android version does everything the desktop version can do. She also reports the most detailed information about the components of your phone or tablet. From the information about my phone provided by the program, I saw, for example, that one core of my dual-core processor was being cut off to save power. It's nice.

    I also saw the actual size of RAM, since the information for my phone model is different on different sites.

    Many will find useful information about the device’s battery: its type, temperature and state of charge are indicated. While the last two parameters may not be very necessary, knowing the type of battery is very important if you want to extend its life.

    On the “Sensors” tab, I found out that my phone has a proximity sensor (“Proximity sensor”), which is not used by the system. However, you can download a program that allows you to use this sensor.

    Publication of results

    Both in desktop and mobile version It is possible to publish your configuration on the Internet. This is necessary, for example, to communicate your configuration to people who want to help you on some forum or service technical support.

    When posting, you must provide your username and, optionally, your email. If you provide an address, you will receive a link to the publication by email.

    Conclusion

    CPU-Z has become a kind of standard that is trusted by both regular users, and authoritative publications when conducting different reviews and device tests. Now it is also in Google Play! During testing, not a single inaccuracy was identified in determining the configuration of the phone, tablet and computer. Moreover, it was discovered that there was a sensor on the phone that I didn’t even know about. The only thing missing is a GPS and Wi-Fi test. Many competing test programs they already know how to do this.

    The stability and performance of a computer depend on the selection of hardware and software components and their compliance with the tasks being solved. Outdated or incorrect driver, incompatible with motherboard device or insufficient video card speed may make it impossible normal work operating system. To avoid such errors, you should know exactly what is inside the case. How can you view the parameters of a computer running Windows 7?

    When may you need information about the characteristics of a computer running Windows 7?

    Not only ordinary curiosity or a thirst for knowledge causes the need for information about the technical characteristics of a computer; there are also more serious circumstances:

    1. Malfunction. Computer freezes and random errors require a comprehensive study of the causes, including analysis of the operation of the hardware.
    2. Installing drivers and updates. When new versions of drivers are released and installed programs you need to select those that match the characteristics of your computer. And for this you need to know them.
    3. Overheat. The temperature of the processor or hard drive is too high - this is a serious cause for concern and clarification. possible reasons, including hardware.
    4. Selection of components. Replacing, upgrading or expanding hardware requires information about the compatibility of various devices.
    5. Software requirements. Many resource-intensive programs will not run on a computer that does not have sufficient power. Therefore, before starting installation, you should check the hardware requirements of the program with the characteristics of the system.

    How to find out computer parameters using standard methods

    You can find out the characteristics of your computer and system using Windows 7 tools, special programs or BIOS.

    Hotkeys

    The fastest way to get a brief report on the computer configuration is to call the “System” window using the Win hotkey combination (with Windows icon) and PauseBreak ( function key near PrintScreen).

    The window that opens with the title “View basic information about your computer” contains information about the installed Windows versions 7, computer manufacturer and model, processor and RAM characteristics. The overall performance index is also located here, and more detailed data on the operation of individual hardware components can be viewed by clicking on the active line next to it or by clicking on the tabs on the left side of the window.

    System utility "System Information"

    Detailed information can be obtained using a special Windows 7 utility. To launch it, use the combination Win + R, then in the input line of the “Run” window that appears, type the command msinfo32 and press the “OK” on-screen button.

    The main window of the utility contains many useful information, which is divided into several groups. By moving through the tabs on the left side, you can find all the necessary data about the hardware capabilities of your computer.

    Another way to get to the same window is to use the search bar. Click the “Start” button and type “System Information” in the search bar. All that remains is to go to the active line in the list of results.

    DirectX Diagnostic Tool

    More detailed information about the characteristics of the video card and sound devices of the computer can be obtained using DirectX. Call up the familiar “Run” menu and type the command dxdiag.exe in the input line.

    The DirectX Diagnostic Tool window contains several tabs with system information, as well as screen, sound, and input information.

    A special feature of the DirectX Diagnostic Tool information window is a reduced amount of general information and more detailed information about the screen and sound devices.

    Control Panel

    You can also get to the “System” window we already know using the “Control Panel”.

    1. Click “Start”.
    2. Then in the right column of the menu that appears, select “Control Panel”.
    3. In the large “All Control Panel Items” window, find the “System” tab.
    4. Clicking on the tab, we find ourselves in a familiar window. You can also get into it if, after the “Start” button, select the “Computer” line, right-click on it and in the opened window context menu select "Properties".

    device Manager

    Device Manager contains a list of all hardware components of your computer and basic information about them: model, status, conflicts, drivers, manufacturer, and much more. Having selected the item of interest, you need to click on it with the mouse and get all necessary information.

    If any of the devices has problems (or is not recognized by the system), it will be marked with a special yellow or red icon with an exclamation mark.

    There are several ways to call the utility.

    Open via search bar

    1. Click the “Start” button.
    2. Enter “Device Manager” in the search bar.
    3. We move along the found active line.

    Login from the “System” window


    Find using Run window

    1. Press Win+R.
    2. Enter the command devmgmt.msc.
    3. Click on the “OK” on-screen button.

    Command line

    Basic information about your computer can also be found using the command line.


    The undoubted advantage of this method is its versatility; it is equally applicable to both older versions of Windows and the newest ones.

    BIOS

    Basic information about the computer can be viewed when it starts, while the BIOS is running, by pressing the Del (Delete) key.

    The main advantage of this method is its independence from the installed operating system, so the data can be seen even if Windows 7 does not start for some reason. In addition, the BIOS will be the first to report problems with the hardware, for example, a burnt-out RAM stick.

    How to view system information using third-party programs and utilities

    There are many applications that can present the main characteristics of a computer in a convenient way. For most of them, this function is additional to the main one, for example, system optimization. But there are also specialized utilities for a comprehensive analysis of the hardware.

    Speccy

    Speccy is currently one of the best free special programs for studying the characteristics of computer hardware components.

    The program supports a large number of manufacturer brands and has a simple and intuitive interface in Russian.

    Speccy reports detailed information about each component, including the device's current temperature and supply voltage.

    The RAM report contains both technical data and a summary of its current state. Data about virtual memory is also located here.

    Hard drives are analyzed for all characteristics, including true (and not declared by the manufacturer) capacity.

    The utility also provides a detailed description of peripheral devices, which are combined in one window, which is quite convenient.

    Information on sound devices a little smaller, but the main characteristics are indicated.

    The manufacturer offers several modifications of the utility, including a portable (no installation required) version of the program.

    What's inside your computer? Using the Speccy program - video

    Everest

    The strength of the once extremely popular Everest utility is its ability to perform various hardware tests. Of course, the program also shows general information about the computer, and also contains a small set of tools for optimizing system operation.

    The program gives a detailed report on the status of the motherboard, processor and other installed devices, including the current temperature and supported instruction sets.

    The utility contains operating system analysis tools. Outdated system drivers can be updated using the links provided. Stability statistics are also kept: operating time since the last shutdown with data on failures.

    Everest provides a small set of optimization tools Windows operation 7. You can clean the startup list, remove or reinstall programs or gadgets.

    The report on the results of computer analysis can not only be viewed on the screen, but also imported into text document. This is especially convenient for work service departments or consultations with third party specialists.

    The most interesting part of the package is tests to determine system stability. Hardware components are subjected to stress loads, and statistics are collected on their operation, temperature, cooling efficiency and voltage. Data is presented in a visual form.

    The list of tests is available from the main screen. It includes:

    • examination of RAM for speed of reading, writing and data exchange with the processor;
    • CPU and math coprocessor performance testing.

    Despite the emergence of strong competitors, Everest remains a very good tool for assessing the condition of a computer.

    How to check this PC using Everest Ultimate - video

    Aida

    The AIDA package is considered the successor to Everest, which is reflected in appearance and the logic of building the application.

    A distinctive feature of AIDA is the use of low-level information about the hardware components installed on the computer. In other words, the package does not use Windows information about devices (which can be changed if desired), but uses own base data collected from component manufacturers.

    AIDA provides the user with very detailed information about the system, motherboard, RAM, CPU, monitor, video adapter, input devices, storage devices, network adapters and other computer components. The software part is also analyzed: drivers, system (installation date, license key, version), installed programs, startup list, anti-malware applications. Network information is collected: email accounts, Internet settings, shared network resources.

    One of the most important blocks of the program is system stability tests. On the left side of the window, you can adjust the list of tests performed, removing unnecessary ones with one click. The results are presented very clearly, including in the form of graphs.

    The suite of tests for the computing core of the package is very impressive. For each specific model Central processing unit (CPU) and math coprocessor (FPU) can be selected from a long list of individually customized test protocols.

    Memory is tested at all levels, including basic I/O operations. The results are presented in very detail and clearly.

    The remaining hardware components are also not left unattended. The package can analyze hard drives, external drives, and hardware and software compatibility. You can even see the work various sensors.

    AIDA has an advanced system for generating reports, including the ability to send them by mail, and also has a fairly flexible system of work settings.

    The package has several modifications designed for 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows, so before use you should find out the bitness of the system installed on your computer. This can be done using the “System” window we know.

    Where to download and how to install the AIDA64 program on a laptop - video

    HWInfo

    The functionality of the small HWInfo utility is quite sufficient for the average user, and its speed and simplicity are an additional advantage. In addition to the standard set of data, the program provides information about some equipment limitations, for example, the maximum operating temperature. Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting the lack of a Russian interface.

    Summary information about the main hardware components is displayed immediately after launching the utility. In addition, at the bottom of the window there is information about the versions of the operating system and installed drivers. More detailed data is divided into folders.

    The HWInfo interface is very simple and familiar Windows users.

    The characteristics are taken from system information, so they will not always satisfy a professional. Reports based on sensor readings contain all the necessary data.

    The list of utility settings is not very large, but the main features, including automatic launch, are present.

    The utility can also be used to update outdated drivers, since it contains links to manufacturers' websites.

    How to set up HWiNFO64 - video

    PC Wizard

    The PC Wizard package has good functionality and is distributed free of charge. There is also a portable (no installation required) version that can be loaded from external media.

    The package interface is made in a classic Windows style, has Russian language support, is intuitive and simple. The main sections are designed as drop-down folders with icons on the left side of the window, and descriptions and characteristics of individual components are on the right.

    In addition to the main hardware components, the “Hardware” section contains specifications installed DirectX and summary system performance index data.

    It is also possible to monitor the current state of the central processor, in particular its load, operating frequency and supply voltage.

    Using PC Wizard, you can monitor the heating status of the main units, the voltage supplied to them, the battery status and the operation of the cooling devices.

    Monitoring driver and software updates will also be useful.

    Compactness is an additional advantage of PC Wizard, so the manufacturer tried to show it in everything. In working condition, the user can minimize the application, which will go to the taskbar, if necessary, attracting attention with an indication.

    Disadvantages include a slow first start, as well as periodic slowdowns when determining the characteristics of hardware components. But this does not cause any particular inconvenience.

    Installing PC-Wizard 2013 - video

    CPU-Z

    Another small program for obtaining computer characteristics. CPU-Z has a simplified design designed for advanced users. All information is presented in compressed form on the tabs of the main window.

    1. The tab with the characteristics of the central processor allows you to see all the main characteristics of the device, but without explanations or detailed descriptions.
    2. The processor cache is also given a full-fledged tab, although by definition there cannot be a lot of information here.
    3. You can also see summary information about the computer’s motherboard, and BIOS characteristics are also located here.
    4. The characteristics of RAM, on the contrary, are very detailed; two tabs out of eight are allocated for them.
    5. The data is grouped for each slot, very detailed, right down to the manufacturer's indication.
    6. The application makes it possible to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the video card, but without details.

      CPU-Z provides the ability to export reports to text or HTML files.

    Mini-review of the CPU-Z program - video

    GPU-Z

    The GPU-Z application is intended for those users who are not satisfied with the amount of information about video card parameters provided by other programs. The utility has very narrow functionality and a simple interface.

    Both the name and interface of GPU-Z are very similar to CPU-Z, which is no coincidence. The programs complement each other and can be used together.

    Basic information about the video card is displayed immediately in the main window. The amount of data will satisfy the most picky user.

    The second tab contains information about the frequency, temperature, load and voltage of the video card. Small graphs also fit here.

    The utility has an interesting function: it can take pictures of its working window, which is very convenient for service departments.

    CPU-Z and GPU-Z programs - video

    To find out the hardware characteristics of a computer, many highly specialized and universal programs, there are built-in operating system utilities and BIOS tools. The choice of a specific way to obtain this information depends only on the user's preferences.

    Introduction Why are all these utilities that display information about the system needed? Every more or less advanced user will tell you in detail about the configuration of their computer. But what about such non-trivial things as the drive mode (is DMA enabled)? Or the system bus frequency (does it make sense to buy additional faster memory - does the processor operate at higher system bus frequencies)? In addition, a very common situation is when you remotely consult with your more knowledgeable friend (for example, about the same upgrade), and he asks you to accurately indicate the chipset and revision of your motherboard.

    In all of the above cases, utilities that display detailed information about the system can help significantly. You may ask, what’s so bad about the standard “Device Manager” included in Windows?


    Basically, it can answer many questions regarding your system configuration. But the utilities we are considering today appear for a reason - the user needs user-friendly interface, centralized presentation of information (which it is desirable to receive in an accessible form), as well as “tasty” additional plugins (for example, tests for processor and RAM performance). Hand on heart, do you know offhand where all the variety of data about the system is stored (after all, they are scattered in different corners of it)? And in utilities - “everything in one bottle”... In general, in the automotive industry there is such a thing as “tuning” - people turn to a car studio to improve convenience and additional features. In principle, some parallels can be drawn with our case.

    The criterion for the subjective assessment of today's test subjects: free delivery (the absence of adware and spyware - this was the main condition for being included in the list), stable work. Well, what if the interface is also convenient, yes? additional modules or there are plugins - you can’t do without recommending such a program for installation on your computer. And one more important point- we will test under the Windows Vista operating system - we will check the readiness of all applicants for professional suitability in the environment of the new operating system from Microsoft.

    Let me make a reservation right away - I will not meticulously describe all the capabilities of the utilities, but will focus on conveying my own impressions from getting to know their functionality (in addition, screenshots will tell you much more). If you are interested, detailed specifications and reference documentation are always available on the project websites, the addresses of which are given at the beginning of each description.

    PC Wizard 2007

    Program website: http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php
    Developer: CPUID

    The author of the PC Wizard program is familiar to many of us from his famous CPU-Z utility. Both products have been in development for over 10 years, and there is no doubt about the professionalism of the author.

    The program distribution takes up about two and a half megabytes in the archive (there is also a version with an installation module). In the case of an archive, after unpacking the program is immediately ready to work (it’s nice that it is localized into Russian), a few seconds after analyzing the system and interrogating the sensors, you can go study the details.


    The program interface has five sections: “Hardware”, “Configuration”, “System Files”, “Resources” and “Test”.

    "Iron". Information is provided (mostly comprehensive) about all components of the system, be it the motherboard, processor or RAM modules. Take, for example, a processor - you will find out not only its characteristics, but also the current temperature, core voltage, load level, etc. What more could you ask for?


    At the bottom of the window there are two tabs “Information” and “Drivers”. The first contains a detailed description of specifications, parameters and their values, etc. In the second, information about the drivers is displayed. Not everything is perfect here - for a number of components, PC Wizard could not determine driver data (for example, I did not display information about the drivers of a printer, USB controller, or even an ATI Radeon 2900XT video card). There are minor translation errors - for example, the “Drivers” item in “Hardware” should have been more correctly designated as “Storage Drives”. In addition, a number of section titles are left without translation.
    The Voltage, Temperature and Fans section deserves special attention - it summarizes information received from various system sensors.



    "Configuration". Information about the operating system is collected here (version, serial number, user, etc.), web browser, control panel, desktop, processes and threads, dynamic libraries (with decryption), OLE records, software Microsoft products, installed fonts TrueType, updates (for some reason this item was empty for me, apparently it only displays information about the Service Pack). There is also a section for installed programs, information about application startup, file type associations with applications, DirectX components, security information, multimedia components, performance statistics, etc.
    This section is a little “damp” - in some places there is missing data, in others there are shortcomings (I displayed “winter” time, but in the decoding in the Information panel the correct summer time was indicated). In general, the author still has some polishing to do.

    "System files". This section centrally displays information contained in the system files Boot.ini, System.ini, Win.ini, etc.

    "Resources". Displays a list of busy interrupts, direct memory access channels, I/O ports, and memory resources. Some points did not work for me - an empty form was given.

    "Test". This section contains a number of tests for your system so that you can evaluate its performance. You will be able to evaluate overall performance with the ability to save the results (and compare after an upgrade).


    Most of the tests are synthetic, and there are variations in the results. If you wish, you can compare your results with data stored in the PC Wizard database. This can be useful for identifying cases where your system is not optimized properly. I really liked the next point - when comparing your results with standards from the database - you use the slider to adjust the transparency of the window and then overlay it on the results graph to visually compare the chart stripes.


    The set includes tests of the speed of reading and writing to the first and second level cache of the processor, the speed of the hard drive and storage drive. optical disks, RAM. There is even a video card performance test in 3D, but it is quite primitive. I would also note the MP3 compression test, but for this you will need an audio CD.

    Resume: impressions of PC Wizard 2007 are the most positive. It looks like a big beautiful house with many rooms, although several are not yet finished, but what is there is impressive. Unfortunately, there are some flaws in the Russian localization.

    SIW (System Information for Windows)

    Program website: http://www.gtopala.com/
    Developer: Gabriel Topala

    Romanian programmer Gabriel Topala presents the SIW utility (an abbreviation for System Information for Windows). The utility interface will display the following screenshot:


    On the left is a tree structure of the components for which information is provided. The "roots" of the tree are the Software, Hardware and Network sections. In addition, the composition also includes the Tools menu, in which there are useful additions. So, first things first...

    Software. Information about the operating system (kernel version, serial number, operating time since last boot, etc.); updates (“patches” from Microsoft); list of programs (names, exact versions, installation date); applications - system and others (name and size of the file to be launched, vendor, directory path, creation date, attributes, etc.); licenses (list of serial numbers of detected licensed programs); regional settings; associations of files with applications; list of running applications; list of loaded dynamic libraries; list of file system drivers and kernel level drivers; a list of programs downloaded with Windows; list of installed multimedia codecs; list of ActiveX components; a list of open files (with the names of applications and processes that opened them); list of passwords from autofill, etc.
    In addition to standard information components, I will note here such useful things as displayed serial numbers of licensed applications and a list of passwords from autofill forms - for especially forgetful users, of course (and not for malicious purposes).

    Hardware. System information (Windows Vista Experience Index, disk space, physical RAM and its load, virtual memory, paging file size, registry size, etc.); motherboard (manufacturer, model, version, serial number, chipset, devices on the board, memory slots, etc.); sensors (information about the temperature of the processor cores and the temperature of the hard drive); BIOS (version, release date, developer, size and characteristics); information about the processor (name, code name, process technology, platform, frequency, multiplier, cache, instructions, etc.); devices (in principle, this section practically provides information from the Windows Device Manager, which is even structured similarly); PCI (information about devices using this bus); system slots; network adapters(name, manufacturer, speed, MAC address, parameters of the established connection); memory (information about installed memory modules - type, frequency, capacity, data transfer rate, error correction, etc.); video (information on video card, monitor, supported resolutions, DirectX versions); drives (comprehensive information on hard drives, optical drives, removable USB drives, etc.); logical drives(common space, free space, type file system, device type, bus, etc.); ports (serial and parallel, USB, modem); battery (in the case of a laptop); printers (printers installed in the system, name, attributes, capabilities, port connection, etc.).
    In my case, the information from the sensors is not as complete as I would like - for example, the processor temperature was missing (instead, the temperature of each of the two cores was indicated separately, and for some reason it turned out to be five degrees below room temperature), and the cooler rotation speed was also missing processor. I will also note a minus in displaying information on the video card - it is displayed in a raw, unformatted (for greater readability) form. By the way, this is not an isolated case.

    Network. Network information (computer name, workgroup name, socket version, IP address, DNS servers, etc. - similar to the information produced by the "ipconfig /all" command); additional information (external IP, country, longitude and latitude of location, Internet provider, running servers, NetBIOS information, etc.); search for network environment; open ports (protocol, application, status, local and remote address, description); general access("shared" by you local resources); remote connections, network (search for local network network resources).
    I liked this section, especially “Additional Information,” which, by the way, requires you to connect to external network resources.

    Useful tools


    SIW includes several useful utilities, we will talk about some of them in this section.

    Changing the MAC address.


    Actually, it allows you to change the MAC address. Use with caution - if your authorization with the Internet provider is also tied to the MAC address, you will encounter problems.

    Eureka!


    This module allows you to display the password hidden behind the asterisks - for example, in an account field with password auto-fill or in an email client. In my case (Windows Vista), the module was unable to figure out either the password behind the asterisks in the email client, or the password in the autofill form Internet Explorer- apparently, Eureka! Works maximum under Windows XP.

    Password hacking. This module allows you to extract information from .PWL files in the case of operating systems of the Windows 9x line.

    Network traffic.


    A simple module that displays a graph of network connection activity. It can be useful for determining the real access speed or monitoring suspicious network activity.


    Allows you to shut down or restart your computer (with forced closure applications) after a certain amount of time (in seconds). It can be useful for limiting the time other users (primarily children) can work on the computer - provided, of course, that you have a password set in the BIOS.

    Resume: not a bad utility, deserves a solid B, but a number of areas require improvement. It is interesting primarily due to the additional tools included in the package.

    System spec

    Program website: http://www.alexnolan.net/software/sysspec.htm
    Developer: Alex Nolan

    The application is one and only executable file, and this immediately wins my sympathy. What will happen next? And then - when we start, an interface of this kind opens in front of us:


    This information window is basic and is always returned to when displaying the interface. You get access to components both from a graphical toolbar and from drop-down text menus. In the case of a graphical panel - some buttons have access to additional functions- through drop-down icons when you click on the black arrows on the right.

    Let's go through the presented "information buttons". By the way, each window displayed by clicking on it has options for updating information and printing it, which can be convenient in a number of cases.

    Personal. Owner of the computer; operating system build number; system operating time since the last boot; default printer; operating system license serial number; version of .NET Framework libraries; etc.
    I must say that some fields were not filled in - for example, the serial number of the hard drive, the original installation path, etc.

    Memory. Physical amount of RAM and available (free) space; paging file size and its available volume; virtual memory sizes; channel width; frequency, etc.

    Display. Display information - adapter name, chipset, on-board RAM, graphic resolution, font information.
    For some reason the utility did not recognize my ATI Radeon 2900XT video card in this module.

    Drive. Drive name; file system type; volume serial number; size and free volume; number of bytes in a sector and number of sectors in a cluster; total number of clusters and number of free clusters; system "flags"; information from the S.M.A.R.T. area.
    There is also a menu item CD / DVD Information - displays information about the optical drive (manufacturer; model; firmware version; description; drive letter; status; list of reading and writing capabilities).

    CPU. Processor name; family; manufacturer; serial number; frequency; voltage; second level cache size; capabilities and command sets, etc.
    I couldn't determine the frequency at which the second level cache operates. When expanded, the CPU button gives another option - displaying a small window with a graph of CPU resource load.

    Internet. Internet connection status; home page in Internet Explorer; default directory for saving files; list of recently visited sites; some flags in browser settings.
    A slightly chaotic section in which I did not recognize the installed search bar from Google in the Search Bar item.

    Programs. The list of installed programs is displayed, slightly more extensive than the Add or Remove Programs window in Windows XP (or Programs and Features in Windows Vista). Program name, version, manufacturer's website, technical support phone number, installation location on disk, installation source, vendor, path to Readme files, path to uninstaller file, etc. I would like to separately note the possibility quick transition to the application manufacturer’s website using the Website button and the colorful Delete Entry button, which allows you to delete an unnecessary entry from the displayed list of installed programs (this can be useful in case of failures that lead to information about the program being left behind after it is completely deleted).


    A simple user will be scared, but seasoned system administrators will feel like a fish out of water. The utility provides information in the following categories: NDIS Info, System Info, System Accounts, User Accounts, Share Info, Network Connections, Network Adapters, Adapters Configuration, System Processes, Computer System, Display Info, System Settings, System Services, System Devices, Logical Disks, Serial Info, Proxy Settings.

    In general, despite the information being provided in raw form, you can still find its advantages - the information provided (in particular, useful information about certain operating system settings or device drivers) is very interesting. For me, the utility was unable to provide information about network connections (most likely due to incomplete compatibility with Windows Vista).

    Resume: It’s still obvious that FreeSysInfo is a “piece” that is part of complex network audit packages. Here we see a minimum of end-user friendliness and the production of raw information. Previous subjects had the necessary data immediately in sight, but here you have to rummage through the displayed list with technical information and find the necessary information, and “raw” at that (for example, in the “country” field you will see not Russia, but “code 7”, look for it yourself by code, etc.). In general, the project's target audience is advanced users and system administrators.

    XP Syspad

    Program website: http://www.xtort.net/xtort-software/xpsyspad/
    Developer: Kenny Heimbuch (xtort.net)

    The distribution takes up just under 800 KB and requires installation after downloading. The review included version 7.9 of the XP Syspad utility. After installation, the following window appears in front of us, which actually copies the task manager window with information about running processes:


    Next, navigation is carried out by the titles of the lists of menu commands: Admin, Control Panel, Directories, My Menus, Network, Programs, System, Settings, Help.

    I will not list all the contents of these categories, I will only say that again we have a situation where the developer did not invent a wheel, but decided to simply place links to many components, information modules and operating system configuration tools within the interface of one utility. Windows systems. It is important that XP Syspad “minimizes” into the System Tray and is available from there at any second.

    You can launch regional settings, view user accounts, delve into the Control Panel, quickly go to usually difficult-to-reach (read - in a few mouse clicks with a careful look at a large list of folders) directories and menu items, clear the web browser cache, view the address mail client book, find out the IP address, call a calculator, open/close the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive tray, copy floppy disks, display a list of installed drivers, etc. This is just the tip of the iceberg - in total, the utility provides centralized access to about two hundred standard functions of the operating system.


    There are also some nice little additions - like the ability to display the IP address, serial Windows number and Office, etc.

    Unfortunately, the information about the system hardware is not encouraging - here, for example, is what the processor data looks like:


    Not very friendly and informative, right? Some menu items do not work (some incompatibility with Windows Vista is obvious, when running under which my XP Syspad noticeably “slowed down”), so if we recommend this product, then first of all - to Windows XP users, which, in fact, is what The very name of the utility warns.

    Resume: XP Syspad provides centralized access to components, information modules and settings of the Windows operating system, “sitting” as an icon in the system area. Complete and comprehensive information about hardware components is not provided. XP Syspad is more of a configuration tool with the ability to display a certain amount of information about the system.

    Conclusion

    I am sure that many readers can add a couple or three more to the list of utilities presented (and some enthusiasts can even add a couple of dozen). There are a whole lot of offers of this kind on the Internet. I chose these five programs simply because they are different times caught my attention and were put aside for further study.

    Without a doubt, I liked PC Wizard 2007 the most, and the professional level of the creator of this program evokes extremely respectful responses. Yes, some things need to be completed, “combed”, finalized, but all this mainly concerns secondary things.

    System Information for Windows- also very good, although it is obvious that PC Wizard 2007 looks more interesting. But SIW contains additional useful components (PC Wizard 2007 is mainly interested in additional tests) such as changing the MAC address, a timer to turn off the computer, etc.

    The rest of the participants are either specific, or mediocre, or slightly off-topic applications that I cannot recommend to all users without exception.

    ADDITIONAL LIST OF USEFUL UTILITIES

    This article, I hope, will have a long lifespan. In this last section, specially allocated in capital letters, I will indicate utilities that are similar in functionality to the current participants in the close inspection.

    Send applicants or to my address email, or talk about them in our conference.

    I will also try to supplement this article with fresh samples found. So let's get started...


    Lansweeper



    Program website: http://www.lansweeper.com/
    Developer: Geert Moernaut

    IN system information information is stored about the computer’s hardware components - processor, video card, hard drive, as well as software components. You can view the Windows version, amount of RAM, PC performance index and other data using standard programs OS or third party software.

    When you need data about the characteristics and properties of a computer

    For a computer program to work, the system must meet the developer's requirements. Some programs work perfectly with Windows 7 32-bit and 2 GB of RAM, while others require at least 4 GB of RAM and a version of Windows 7 64-bit. Knowledge of system parameters is useful in the following cases:

    • when purchasing a new computer to evaluate performance;
    • when installing programs and games, updating drivers;
    • when selling PCs to inform buyers;
    • to correct system failures;
    • for PC repair when replacing hardware components.

    How to find out system settings and PC information using Windows 7

    There are 6 ways to get system information using Windows- among them you will find simple methods for beginners and more labor-intensive for experienced users.

    Via "Control Panel"

    The easiest way to get information about Windows features and performance is through the Control Panel:

    1. Open "Start" - the button at the bottom left of the screen.
    2. Find “Computer” and right-click on it.
    3. Select Properties.

    You can open the “System” window by pressing the Win+Pause key combination.

    The “System” window will open with information about the version of Windows, the processor and RAM of the PC. You will also see a performance index from 1 to 10 - the higher the value, the better the computer performs. Click on the index button to get detailed information about the performance of your hard drive, processor, RAM and graphics controller.

    The performance index is convenient to use when buying a PC for comparison various models in the store.

    Video: how to open system settings

    Using the System Information utility

    In the service window Windows programs“System information” you will find information about the processor, BIOS version and Windows build, check the operation of PC hardware resources - CD-ROM, motherboard, video card and others, and also check for errors in the operation of programs and drivers. To open system information:

    The System Information menu can be opened using the Run command. To do this, press the Win+R combination on your keyboard, enter “msinfo32” without quotes and press Enter.

    Video: How to view system information

    Via DirectX Diagnostic Tool

    The DirectX Diagnostic Tool is designed to inform users about installed drivers and verify their functionality. To open DirectX diagnostics:

    1. Click Start and select Run. Or press the Win+R combination on your keyboard.
    2. In the window that opens, enter “dxdiag” without quotes.
    3. Click OK.
    4. Wait while the diagnostic tool updates the information.
    5. At the top of the window you will see the tabs “System”, “Display”, “Sound”, “Input”. Open each one and find the information you need. Information can be saved as a text file by clicking the corresponding button at the bottom of the window.

    Using Device Manager

    It will be useful for advanced users to look at the “Device Manager,” which displays information about all PC components and drivers for them. To log into the Manager:


    When viewing information about hardware resources, pay attention to the “Device Status” field - there you will see if there are any problems with operation.

    Video: How to open Device Manager

    Opening parameters via the command line

    Test your computer's performance using command line. To do this:


    BIOS

    You can view system properties without logging into Windows. Some information is stored in the BIOS and is available for viewing when the computer is turned on.

    BIOS is a program built into the motherboard that connects the operating system and PC hardware resources. Provides correct operation computer.

    To get information about the PC in the BIOS, press Pause break during boot and write down the parameters of interest. Then press Esc to continue starting Windows.

    Using third party programs

    Use third-party applications if standard ones Windows applications do not allow you to find the necessary information about your computer and system.

    Piriform Speccy

    Speccy is a free Russian-language utility for viewing system parameters. On the official website, manufacturers offer several modifications of the program, including a portable one that works without installation.

    The utility allows you to obtain information about the processor model, the amount and frequency of RAM, the operating system build, as well as audio and video devices, the hard drive, and others. By selecting the name of the components in the left menu, you can view detailed characteristics. Information can be saved and printed using the File menu.

    Everest

    Everest conducts detailed diagnostics of the computer and provides the user with a detailed report in two formats - html and txt. Having opened the program, on the left side of the window you will see a menu with a tree structure, the most interesting item of which is “Test”. You can test memory performance in read, write and copy modes, as well as processor performance. To run tests, use the “Tools” menu at the top of the program window.

    SiSoftware Sandra

    SiSoftware Sandra analytical utility supports Russian language and conducts full diagnostics PC. Key features:

    • viewing the processor temperature;
    • editing startup programs when Windows starts;
    • informing and searching for drivers for connected devices.

    To run diagnostics, in the main program window, open the “Tools” item and click “Analysis and Recommendations”. The program will analyze problems and give a list of recommendations to improve the performance of your PC, some of which can be implemented immediately.

    Aida

    The Aida program tests computer performance in all aspects:

    • CPU;
    • network connections;
    • disks;
    • memory;
    • fan temperature and voltage;
    • external devices;
    • software.

    A key feature is PC stress tests to identify reliability problems.

    To start testing, select “Tools” in the main window and click “System Stability Test”. Based on the testing results, you will see temperature graphs of hardware resources, data on load and processor clock speed.

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