How to Easily View Your Computer’s Specs

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Occasionally, you may find yourself in a situation whereby you wish to obtain some specific piece of [gs software] or [gs hardware] information (pertaining to your workstation). Perhaps, you are trying to determine the graphics card in your [gs computer] so that you can download its latest drivers. Perhaps, you would like to know which software applications are automatically starting when you turn on your computer. Perhaps, you are a computer newcomer and simply want to know which version of Microsoft Windows you are currently running.

Usually, when individuals begin looking for these software and hardware tidbits, they flail around uselessly for a while. They may begin by going into their local C drive and look for the information. They may proceed to use the Windows Search [gs utility] to no avail. Finally, they may finally stumble upon the “Control Panel” where much of your computer’s important information is kept. Unfortunately, the “Control Panel” isn’t exactly an ideal place for the average computer user. Filled with a vast array of menu items, tabs, and checkboxes, it can be a baffling area to explore. If only there was a single centralized area where you could find the information you are looking for.

PC Wizard 2010

Fortunately, there is a program which does just this, and it is called PC Wizard. PC Wizard is a small, free utility created by a company called CPUID (They also happen to make a program called CPU-Z which is a lighter weight application focusing solely on the hardware end of things).

All you have to do is go to their website, [gs download] it, and then install it on your computer. Once you have opened it up, you will be confronted with a fairly simple user interface comprised of 2 main sections: on the left side of the window, you choose the type of information you are looking for, on the right side of the window, you can peruse the information that PC Wizard was able to extract from your PC.

How to Use It

If you are looking for [gs hardware] information, make sure that the “Hardware” tab is selected. From here, you will generally want to select the “System Summary” area (identified by a computer workstation icon). This is the area in which you can find basic information about your computer’s motherboard, RAM, hard drive, video card, network card, and CPU. If you are looking for more specific information about a particular component, you select a different area under the “Hardware” tab.

If you are looking for software information, it is wise to select the “Configuration” tab. Selecting the “Operating Systems” area (identified by the Windows logo) provides a host of basic information about your operating system including the version of Windows, the serial number used, the owner of the [gs computer], and the user account you have logged in as. Within the “Configuration” tab, there are a whole host of other areas potentially useful to the advanced computer user. For example, you can find information about which updates have been applied to your OS, which fonts are installed on your machine, and file extension associations.

Finally, PC Wizard has a “Benchmark” tab which allows you to perform basic testing of your CPU, memory, and hard drive.

Summary

As is apparent, if you ever need to find a particular piece of hardware or software information about your PC, you should head over to CPUID’s homepage and grab PC Wizard. It’s free, it’s easy to use, and it will prevent headaches associated with having to dive into the depths of your control panel.