How to Check Computer Information

Knowing the specifications of your computer will help you make informed decisions when purchasing new hardware and software. You can check your system specs in every operating system, regardless of how old it is or what system it's on. All you need is to know where to look.

Method 1 of 7: Windows XP (using MsInfo32)

1. 
   1
   Click Start > Run
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2. 
   2
   Type MsInfo32
3. 
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   Find the System Summary on the main page, it includes the principal information about your computer(System , physical memory , virtual memory , BIOS version ...)
4. 
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   Find information on your hardware on the "Hardware resources" tab.
5. 
   5
   Find information about codecs (video, audio, other multimedia ... etc) installed in the "Components" tab.
6. 
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   Look for information on drivers and services in the "Software Environment" tab.
7. 
   7
   Find information about your Default Navigator "Internet Explorer" in the "Internet Settings" tab.
8. 8
   Look for MS Office applications' information on the "Office Applications" tab.

Method 2 of 7: Windows XP (using DxDiag)

1. 
   1
   Click Start > Run.
2. 
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   Type Dxdiag.

   • You must have any version of DirectX installed on your system.
3. 
   3
   Find information about System , Display , Sound , Network, etc. in their appropriate tabs.

Method 3 of 7: Windows 7

1. 1
   Use this method for Windows 7
2. 
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   Go to Taskbar > Control Panel> System.
3. 
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   It provides Information about the system (It's nearly like Windows XP).
4. 
   4
   Use the DirectX Diagnostic Tool as mentioned in the prior section.

Method 4 of 7: Windows Vista

1. 
   1
   On the Taskbar : Click "Start" > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information.
2. 2
   Follow the same steps as Windows 7.

Method 5 of 7: Linux Based Systems

1. 
   1
   Go to Applications > Accessories > Terminal (Alt+F2 > type gnome-terminal)
2. 2
   Type one of the following commands :

   • finger username : System info about a user. For example, "finger root"
     
   • cat /proc/version: Linux version and some information.
     
   • cat /proc/filesystems: Show the types of filesystems currently in use .
     
   • free: Memory info (in kilobytes).
     
   • ps axu | more: List all the processes currently running, even those without the controlling terminal, together with the name of the user that owns each process.
     
   • You can also : Type lshw > lshw-html > KinfoCenter.
     

Method 6 of 7: Mac OS X

1. 
   1
   Open Apple Menu.
2. 
   2
   About this Mac.
3. 
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   You will find information about Version, Processor and Memory.

1. 
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   Hold and press Start + F1 on your keyboard.
2. 
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   Click the Performance and Maintenance.
3. 
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   Click on Maintaining Your Computer. This will be on the left task panel.
4. 
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   Click Get Information About Your Computer on the right pane.
5. 
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   View General System Information about your computer. It will tell you it is processing.
6. 
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   When processed, you will find the computer's information.

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