7 Tips for Using System Information

 

Launching System Information

There are several ways that you can launch System Information in Windows 7. The easiest is to click the Start button and type msinfo32 in the Start Search box. When you do, msinfo32.exe will appear at the top of the search results and you just press [Enter]. You can also find System Information on the Start menu by going to All programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information.
If you are in the Control Panel, you can search for and launch Performance Information and Tools, choose Advanced tools, and then select View advanced system details in System Information. Also while in the Control Panel, you can search for and launch Administrative Tools, launch System Configuration, and access System Information from the Tools tab.

 

1) Looking around

System Information employs an expandable tree structure to break down system configuration information into four categories: System Summary, Hardware Resources, Components, and Software Environment.
System Summary - displays a general profile of your computer and the operating system including CPU type, amount of RAM, and information about the page file.

 

Looking around

Hardware Resources - displays detailed information about hardware resources including DMA, IRQ, and the I/O channel.
Image created by Greg Shultz for TechRepublic.

 

 

 

2) Find what

You can use the Find what panel to quickly locate specific configuration information. Just type the term you want to locate and click Find. When you do, Find what will search through all the data in System information for that term.
If you don’t need the Find what panel, you can get more viewable space by clicking the Close Find button to remove the Find what panel from the window. Press [Ctrl]+F to bring it back.

 

Find what

You can target your search by selecting either the Search selected category only or Search category names only check boxes. If you select Search category names only, Find what will only search in the Category pane. If you select Search selected category only, Find what will only search in the category that you have selected.

 

3) Create configuration data sets

You can use System Information to create configuration data sets that you can then use to compare past and present configurations. Basically, what you’ll do is create a configuration data set when your system is functioning normally. Then, if your system begins to behave oddly, you can compare the current configuration data set with the one that you created earlier and see what has changed.
To save a configuration data set as a System Information File (.NFO file) just pull down the File menu and select the Save command. To save a configuration data set as a straight text file, pull down the File menu and select the Export command. Once you click the Save button, System Information will refresh its entire database before creating the file.
Either way you save it, be sure that you append the date to the end of the file name. For example, you might use the file name SysInfo 8-5-12.nfo.
For more details on how to use configuration data sets, see the article Use System Information to create configuration data sets for quicker troubleshooting.

 

4) Remote Connection

There may be situations where you will want to gather the type of data that System Information provides from other computers either for comparison or inventory. If so, you’ll want to use System Information’s Remote connection feature. To do so, just pull down the View menu and select the Remote Computer command or press [Ctrl]+R. Then, select the Remote Computer on the Network radio button, fill in the computer name, and click OK.

 

5) Running Tasks

The Running Tasks section of the Software Environment category is similar to the Processes tab in Task Manager, but provides several unique pieces information that makes it a valuable troubleshooting tool. For example, in Running Tasks you’ll find Start Time, Version number, File Size, and File Date information, all of which can provide helpful information when troubleshooting various problems. You won’t find that type of detail on the Processes tab.
You’ll also notice that in Running Tasks, Priority is listed using a numeric scale running from 4 to 13 whereas the Processes tab’s Base Priority is listed using a scale of Low to High. In some cases this more finite measurement can be very valuable. (When comparing the two priority ratings I have noticed that the two scales differ slightly, but for the most part a Low equals 4, a Normal equals 8, and a High equals 13.)
Working Set information differs as well. Running Tasks simply shows Minimum and Maximum values, if they exist. I suppose in some way this might be valuable information, but I have not really paid much attention to those values; besides the majority of tasks show these values as Not Available.
Of course, the biggest difference is that Running Tasks’ display is static whereas the data on the Processes tab is updated frequently. However, take note that there is a Refresh command on the View menu.
Now keep in mind that the Processes tab in Task Manager provides all sorts of valuable information and the Running Tasks is no substitute, but used concert the two provide a great source of information.

 

6) System Drivers

System Drivers provides you with detailed information about all the system drivers available on your computer and is a great companion tool to use alongside Device Manager. As you can see, basic information includes the Name of the driver, a Description, the File location, and the Type of driver.
You can then see whether the driver has been started (Yes or No), its Start Mode (such as Auto, Boot, Disabled, Manual, or System) as well as the driver’s current state (Running or Stopped).
You’ll also see the driver’s Status, which should be listed as OK.
The Error Control setting (Critical, Normal, or Ignore) essentially indicates the level of the driver’s importance to the system and indicate what to do in the event of a problem with the driver. For example, a driver with an Error Control of Critical is critical for system operation. In other words, if that driver couldn’t load properly, the system wouldn’t be able to boot up normally (Safe Mode is the solution.). An Error Control of Normal means that if the driver can’t load properly, display an error message but continue loading the operating system. An Error Control of Ignore means that if the driver can’t load properly, simply ignore it, don’t display an error message and continue loading the operating system.
The Accept Pause and Accept Stop value indicates whether the driver can accept a user initiated Pause or a Stop. (Via Device Manager.)

7) Find out how long has Windows been running

If you leave your Windows 7 system running 24/7, you may have wondered how long your system has been running since the last reboot. Similarly, you may have wondered how long you have been running Windows 7—exactly when you did you install the operating system. Fortunately the command line version of System Information can answer both of those questions.
Press [Windows]+R, type cmd /k systeminfo, press [Enter], and wait a few moments while the system gathers the necessary information. When it completes the process, scroll to the top of the display and look for System Boot Time and Original Install Date