1.3 Basic Features of Windows
1.3.1 Viewing a computer's basic system information
This section will discuss how to find system information from any computer running Windows. This section will also show how to view information such as the type of operating system, the processor type, and the type and amount of Random Access Memory (RAM) that is installed. To view information about the system, go to the Start menu and choose Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information. These steps are similar for Windows 2000 and Windows 98/ME.

The window that opens gives the Operating System (OS) name and version, the system manufacturer and model, the processor type and manufacturer, the BIOS version, and the memory. This information can be saved as a text file by selecting Action from the toolbar and Save As Text File (When using Windows 2000). Where the file is to be saved can be specified. Figure shows the System Info.txt file in the directory. Double-click on the file System Info.txt. The document will open in Notepad text editor. The contents will be similar to what is shown in Figure . The text can then be copied and pasted into a word processing program such as Microsoft Word or a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel so that the information is easier to read.

Note: Other system utilities may give more advanced or different information than what is displayed in this example by Microsoft Windows 2000. A computer manufacturer will often have utilities for specific models as a part of system diagnostics and testing.