Datasheet

6
Collect System
Information
Use the SysInfo Utility
If you are running Windows XP, you can print
much of the necessary information with the
SysInfo utility. Click Start, All Programs,
Accessories, System Tools, and then System
Information. After the window has refreshed,
click File and then Print to print a list of the
hardware components, driver information, and
other useful details. The report is exhaustive and
may take several pages to report. If you do not
want to print the report, you can export the
report as a text file and view it on screen. If you
do this, you may want to save the file to a
removable disk or network drive so you can view
the report on a different computer if your
computer fails to start after Windows Vista
installs. This will help with troubleshooting
installation problems, for instance. To export a
file in SysInfo, choose the File menu and then
click Export. Type a name for the report in the
Export As dialog box. Click Save. The file is saved
as .txt text file.
Hardware Model Numbers
If you purchased a computer from a hardware
vendor, make sure you have a list of the model
numbers for all the components in your system:
motherboard, video card, hard drives, CD or
DVD drive, and network card. You will need this
information if you have to find and install
updated device drivers for your system, or if
there are known incompatibilities between some
of the devices. In some cases, the only way to
find out the particular model number of a
component is to open the computer case and
look at the component in question.
Firmware Versions
Some hardware devices have device-specific
codes embedded in them, called firmware.
Firmware enables features and functions so that
operating systems can make the best use of the
hardware. Devices that often have firmware are
motherboards (basic input/output system, or
BIOS), CD or DVD drives, network cards, and
M
icrosoft has made great advances in
making installation and configuration
simpler for end users and system
administrators alike. For the most part, the process can
be done with little to no intervention. With the
Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, you can see if your
computer is capable of running Windows Vista. The
Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor can be run by visiting
the Get Ready Web site at www.microsoft.com/
windowsvista/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx and
clicking the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor RC link.
For instance, you may want to run the Advisor prior to
purchasing Windows Vista to ensure your current
computer meets the system requirements for installing
Vista. For more information, see the “Use the Upgrade
Advisor” section.
However, there is still no substitute for knowing the
details of what hardware, firmware, and connectivity
are being configured on the system. Windows asks for
some of this information not only during different
phases of configuration, but also if there are problems
with installing new hardware, software, or driver
updates; having this information at hand goes a long
way in helping to solve such problems.
If you plan to do a number of installations, or have
several computers at home that you maintain, you
should collect the necessary information for each
computer and keep it in a safe place where it can be
referred to when needed, such as in a notebook or on
a CD-ROM with the necessary drivers.
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