Having accurate computer system information is vital when preparing a PC to become a SoftXpand host or when trying to analyze and resolve a technical problem.

There are many applications that detect hardware, and also analyze and benchmark computer systems. Two of them will be presented in this article:

PC Wizard and Windows XP System Information (Msinfo32.exe) are well known reliable system information applications.

This article will not cover all of the features that are included in the applications. We will focus on how to save a file that includes vital system information.

This system information file may be emailed to MiniFrame Support in order to help us analyze your system and help you.

For additional debugging information refer to this KB: How to use SoftXpand logger.

PC WIZARD is an advanced system information application. It is a powerful utility designed to detect hardware, analyze and benchmark computer systems. It is a freeware and can be distributed freely.

CPUID is the developer of PC WIZARD. This is its official web site: http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php

Softpedia.com guarantees that PC Wizard 2008 is 100% FREE, which means it is a freeware product (both for personal and commercial use) that does not contain any form of malware, including but not limited to: spyware, viruses, trojans and backdoors.

PCWizard may be installed directly onto your PC's hard drive with a Self-installing EXE package.

It also may be run without being installed; downloaded as a ZIP package, extracted to your hard drive or any removable media (CD/DVD, USB Flash drive), and run directly from it.

1. Run PC Wizard from your Windows XP Start menu if you have chosen to install it, or by double clicking on the PC Wizard.exe executable file in its folder.
2. A standard Open File – Security Warning dialog will appear. Click on ‘Run’.
   
   
   
3. A PCWizard startup window will appear:
   
   
   
4. The application begins analyzing the system as it starts. After no more than a minute, the startup window will disappear and the PCWizard window will remain on your desktop.
   
   
   
5. Click on the File tab and choose Save as…
6. In the Save as… dialog box that will appear, mark the ‘Selected category’ check box and click on OK.
   
   
   
7. In the next Save as… dialog that will appear, name the file, choose a location to save it to and click on Save.
   
   
   

Windows XP System Information (Msinfo32.exe) is a Microsoft product and is built into Windows XP.

1. In order to run it, click on Start > ‘Run’, type: msinfo32 and click on OK. The System Information window will appear:
   
   
   
2. Click on the File tab and choose Save.
3. In the ‘Save As’ window that will appear, name the .NFO file and choose a location to save it. Click on Save.
4. Double click on the .NFO file that has been created in order to see the gathered system information.

Click here: Description of Windows XP System Information (Msinfo32.exe) Tool for more information about the application.

Note: You can also use system information software - SIW, http://www.gtopala.com/siw-download.html.

This ‘How to’ document is targeted at guiding you on how to perform a specific task.

In order to obtain a broader perspective of the functions and settings of SoftXpand, refer to the appropriate SoftXpand document or guide at MiniFrame knowledge base.