Viewing More System Information

For even more detailed information about your system, check out the tools available in Windows XP's Help and Support Center. There are two tools here, each offering a different level of system detail.

My Computer Information

Begin by opening the Help and Support Center, clicking the Use Tools link (in the Pick a Task section), and then clicking the My Computer Information link. The My Computer Information tool lets you look at four different reports:

• General system information

• System hardware and software status

• Installed hardware

• Installed Microsoft software

Figure 24.5 shows the General System Information report. The other reports appear in a similar format, and provide similar information.

Figure 24.5. View the status of your computer's hardware and software with the My Computer Information tool.

Advanced System Information

When you click Advanced System Information (in the Tools panel), you're presented with five options:

• View detailed system information

• View running services

• View Group Policy settings applied

• View the error log

• View information for another computer

The first option opens the System Information utility, discussed later in this chapter. The other options provide more specific reports regarding the selected function.