Although there are any number of tools available to gather and collate information regarding the configuration and composition of a computer, these are often overkill when all you wish to learn is one or more basic details like the processor type, memory, computer name etc.

A quick shortcut is to gather this information from the command line or Powershell.  Windows XP and later includes in the systeminfo utility. Typing this at the command prompt will produce information similar to this:

c:\systeminfo
Host Name: SOMEPC
OS Name: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate
OS Version: 6.1.7100 N/A Build 7100
OS Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation
OS Configuration: Member Workstation
OS Build Type: Multiprocessor Free
Registered Owner: SomeOwner
Registered Organization:
Product ID: 00428-321-7001132-70186
Original Install Date: 04/05/2009, 10:29:33
System Boot Time: 28/09/2009, 13:50:08
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Latitude D820
System Type: X86-based PC
Processor(s): 1 Processor(s) Installed.
[01]: x86 Family 6 Model 14 Stepping 8 GenuineIntel ~2000 Mhz
BIOS Version: Dell Inc. A09, 04/06/2008
Windows Directory: C:\Windows
System Directory: C:\Windows\system32
Boot Device: \Device\HarddiskVolume2
System Locale: en-gb;English (United Kingdom)
Input Locale: en-gb;English (United Kingdom)
Time Zone: (UTC) Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London
Total Physical Memory: 3,326 MB
Available Physical Memory: 858 MB
Virtual Memory: Max Size: 8,313 MB
Virtual Memory: Available: 5,500 MB
Virtual Memory: In Use: 2,813 MB
Page File Location(s): C:\pagefile.sys
Domain: somedomain.lan
Logon Server: \\SOMEDC
Hotfix(s): 4 Hotfix(s) Installed.
[01]: KB958830
[02]: KB969497
[03]: KB970789
[04]: KB970858
Network Card(s): 3 NIC(s) Installed.
[01]: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
Connection Name: Wireless Network Connection
DHCP Enabled: Yes
DHCP Server: 10.10.0.1
IP address(es)
[01]: 10.10.0.100
[02]: fe80::901:8ac7:5a6b:1f56
[02]: Broadcom NetXtreme 57xx Gigabit Controller
Connection Name: Local Area Connection
Status: Media disconnected


If you are using Powershell – if not, why not? – the get-wmiobject win32_computersystem command will return rudimentary details regarding the host PC.

PoSH>get-wmiobject win32_computersystem
Domain              : somedomain.lan
Manufacturer        : Dell Inc.
Model               : Latitude D820
Name                : SOMEPC
PrimaryOwnerName    : SomeOwner
TotalPhysicalMemory : 3487690752