up vote 3 down vote favorite
share [g+] share [fb]

I need users to send information about their PC, including hardware (motherboard model) and software (Windows version, including SP + .Net).

Ideally, I'd like to get this information through a web browser so they don't need to install anything. Second best would be a single EXE, ie. installer-free app, that they just need to download on their Deskop and run.

The following either use an installer or come as a ZIP file (both are too complicated for my users):

www.cpuid.com
www.belarc.com
Everest www.lavalys.com/products

Thank you.

link|improve this question
60% accept rate
A 'click Yes four times and accept license terms' installer is too complicated for your users? I do not envy your position, sir/madam. – Shinrai Aug 11 '10 at 15:21
But then, there are more dumb users than smart ones, hence bigger opportunities. Just look at Apple :) – OverTheRainbow Aug 22 '10 at 12:10
feedback

3 Answers

up vote 0 down vote accepted

Speccy can do this for you, File -> Publish Snapshot allows me to show you an example of my system.

The .NET version they at least have can be determined by their Windows version,
maybe we could ask the Speccy developers to include this information too...

You could use .NET version Check for that, it does not need .NET to run.

link|improve this answer
@TomWj - May not work for him since he doesn't want his users to need to use an installer...also nice PC specs :) – JNK Aug 11 '10 at 14:06
Speccy is portable, thus a single exe: piriform.com/speccy/download/portable – Tom Wijsman Aug 11 '10 at 14:10
Looks like it also needs to be run under an admin account, which may or may not be an issue. It is def. portable though! – JNK Aug 11 '10 at 14:12
JNK: It's a laptop, as I use it a lot I went for a Full HD gaming one... – Tom Wijsman Aug 11 '10 at 14:13
Thanks much for the link on Speccy. It's pretty close to what I was looking for. – OverTheRainbow Aug 22 '10 at 12:37
feedback
up vote 1 down vote

This may be easy for ya:

Make a batch file they can run which outputs it to a .txt file they can send to you.

c:
cd\
systeminfo >Sysinfo.txt
Dir c:\windows\microsoft.net\framework\v*.* >> Sysinfo.txt

Then you have a .txt in the root of C: that has everything you need in it.

link|improve this answer
1  
You could also write it to %USERPROFILE%\Desktop\Sysinfo.txt – Powerlord Aug 11 '10 at 15:58
+1 -- Good idea! – JNK Aug 11 '10 at 16:10
Thanks for the tip. – OverTheRainbow Aug 22 '10 at 12:38
feedback
up vote 0 down vote

I don't think it would be possible for a webpage to display hardware information without using some ActiveX browser plugin.

I think your best bet is to just tell your users to type 'msinfo32.exe' into either the Start Menu search for or Explorer address bar, and explain how they can send you the exported information file.

link|improve this answer
1  
MSInfo32 is Vista/7 only. – JNK Aug 11 '10 at 14:08
No it's not - it came with XP. support.microsoft.com/kb/308549 – paradroid Aug 11 '10 at 14:16
Actually it even came with Office '97 and was included with Windows 2000 as well. – paradroid Aug 11 '10 at 14:22
Apologies, I was wrong. It just doesn't work from a cmd prompt. – JNK Aug 11 '10 at 14:30
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown
discard

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.