Get Advanced System Diagnostics XP

HARDCORE WINDOWS

You can use the information in the status report to diagnose and repair
problems. Specifically, look for obsolete device drivers and for any required
updates. Figure 11-13 shows a healthy system.

Get Advanced System Diagnostics

The command-line tool Msinfo32.exe allows you to view advanced
system information.
The Help and Support files offer much more system information than
introduced in the prior section, and it would behoove you to take a look at
what’s available, just in case you ever need it. One of the items available is
Advanced System Information. You can access the information from Help and
Support, although it’s easier to get the information via the Run dialog box.
Advanced system information offers just about anything you’d ever need
to know about your computer, including the following:
■ Basic information about the computer, as offered in the previous
section.
■ Hardware information, including any conflicts for resources, forced
hardware, or memory issues. Forced hardware is legacy hardware,
such as non-Plug and Play ISA network cards. Older hardware is
notorious for causing problems.
■ Component information, including multimedia, CD-ROMs, sound
devices, displays, modems, network cards, ports, storage, USBs,
and problem devices.
■ System information, including drivers, signed and unsigned, running
tasks, startup programs, and more.
■ Internet settings, including versions, connectivity, cache, content,
and security.
■ Microsoft applications, including Microsoft Office and the
applications that ship with it.
To acquire and print this information:
1. Click Start | Run.
2. Type msinfo32.exe and click OK.