A+: Verifying Hardware Details
Windows System Information gives information about your hardware; launch it with {Win-R}msinfo32.exe{Enter}. The earlier winmsd can still be run on Window XP and 2000 as well as msinfo32.
Belarc Advisor is a free download at http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html . It’s extremely quick and painless; all you need to do is double-click it once the download is complete. It will automatically install, look for updates, and create a profile of your computer that runs in a browser window. Here you will find all of the hardware-related (and software-related) information on one screen. It also gives you system security status.
SiSoftware Sandra Lite can also be found at http://www.sisoftware.co.uk .
The Windows 7 Compatibility Center is at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/ and the Windows Logo’d Products List (formerly the HCL) can be found at http://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL/Default.aspx?m=x
For computers without an installed operating system, use self-booting diagnostic programs such as
• #1-TuffTEST (available from http://www.tufftest.com/)
• PC Check (available from http://www.eurosoft-uk.com)
The Windows Vista DVD has a “Check compatibility online” option, but this is meant for upgrades as opposed to clean installations. More on this in the section titled “Upgrading Operating Systems” later in this chapter.
Belarc Advisor is a free download at http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html . It’s extremely quick and painless; all you need to do is double-click it once the download is complete. It will automatically install, look for updates, and create a profile of your computer that runs in a browser window. Here you will find all of the hardware-related (and software-related) information on one screen. It also gives you system security status.
SiSoftware Sandra Lite can also be found at http://www.sisoftware.co.uk .
The Windows 7 Compatibility Center is at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/ and the Windows Logo’d Products List (formerly the HCL) can be found at http://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL/Default.aspx?m=x
For computers without an installed operating system, use self-booting diagnostic programs such as
• #1-TuffTEST (available from http://www.tufftest.com/)
• PC Check (available from http://www.eurosoft-uk.com)
The Windows Vista DVD has a “Check compatibility online” option, but this is meant for upgrades as opposed to clean installations. More on this in the section titled “Upgrading Operating Systems” later in this chapter.
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