Copyright: © 1994-2002 Symantec Corporation. All rights reserved.
Citation: © 1994-2002 Symantec Corporation. All rights reserved.


Introducing System Information

System Information gives you detailed information about your computer, the peripherals [image] keyboard, mouse, printers, and multimedia devices [image] attached to your computer, and your network connections. The information is displayed by category on the eight tabs of the System Information window:

System Information can print reports about your system and its components. These reports provide a complete description of your system and are helpful when purchasing new software, installing new hardware, or calling a vendor for technical support.

To continuously monitor memory usage, computer performance, CPU usage, and other real-time aspects of a computer's operations, use Norton System Doctor.

More Info


About the System tab

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


About the Display tab

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


About the Printer tab

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


 About the Memory tab

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


 About the Drive tab

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


 About the Input tab

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


 About the Multimedia tab

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


 About the Network tab

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


 About System Information reports

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


 Command-line options for System Information

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


To open System Information

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


 To create, print, or save reports

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


 About data ports

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


 About the Volume Serial Number

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


 To specify drives to show in the Drive tab list box

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


 To view drive information

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


 To view input information

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


 To view memory information

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


 To view multimedia information

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


To view network information on Windows 98 and Windows Me

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


 To view printer information

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


To view system information

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


 To view video display information

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


Displays an information overview of your computer’s hardware and operating system.


Displays information about your computer’s monitor and display adapter (graphics card).


Displays information about your currently selected default printer. Lets you display information about any installed local or network printer.


Displays information about your computer's memory usage and characteristics.


Displays information about local and network disk drives to which you have access.


Displays information about your keyboard and mouse or other pointing device.


Displays information about any multimedia devices connected to your computer.


Displays information about any network resources available to your computer.


Displays information provided by your system vendor.

Because the information on this tab is provided by a third party, Symantec cannot guarantee its accuracy.


Lists categories of information available from your system vendor. Categories containing more information include a plus sign (+) to the left of the title. To view all the information in these categories, click the plus sign.

Because the information on this tab is provided by a third party, Symantec cannot guarantee its accuracy.


Shows the type, speed, and version number of your computer’s central processing unit (CPU).

You can select and copy this information for pasting to another application. Click and drag the mouse across the text to select it. Then press Ctrl-C to copy it to the Windows Clipboard.


Shows whether the computer has a math co-processor. Math coprocessor support improves system performance and is required by some high-end graphics and database applications.

You can select and copy this information for pasting to another application. Click and drag the mouse across the text to select it. Then press Ctrl-C to copy it to the Windows Clipboard.


Shows the manufacturer and software revision date of the BIOS (basic input/output system) chip. You might need this information when calling for technical support or upgrading your system hardware.

You can select and copy this information for pasting to another application. Click and drag the mouse across the text to select it. Then press Ctrl-C to copy it to the Windows Clipboard.


Shows your computer’s bus type. The bus transfers data between the computer’s internal components. You might need this information when calling for technical support or upgrading your system hardware. Before installing new expansion or interface cards in the computer, make sure the cards are compatible with the system bus type.

You can select and copy this information for pasting to another application. Click and drag the mouse across the text to select it. Then press Ctrl-C to copy it to the Windows Clipboard.


Shows the type and number of data ports installed in the computer. Data ports connect computers to devices such as printers, modems, and scanners.

System Information may report that your computer has more ports than you can see from the outside. This is because System Information reports on internal ports used to connect internal modems and other data devices.

You can select and copy this information for pasting to another application. Click and drag the mouse across the text to select it. Then press Ctrl-C to copy it to the Windows Clipboard.


Shows the amount of installed physical memory (RAM) and the percentage of it currently in use. You might need this information when calling for technical support or upgrading your system hardware.

You can select and copy this information for pasting to another application. Click and drag the mouse across the text to select it. Then press Ctrl-C to copy it to the Windows Clipboard.


Shows the size of each local floppy disk drive.

You can select and copy this information for pasting to another application. Click and drag the mouse across the text to select it. Then press Ctrl-C to copy it to the Windows Clipboard.


Shows the size of each local hard disk drive.

You can select and copy this information for pasting to another application. Click and drag the mouse across the text to select it. Then press Ctrl-C to copy it to the Windows Clipboard.


Shows any local multimedia devices, such as CD-ROM players, sound cards, and joystick adapters.

You can select and copy this information for pasting to another application. Click and drag the mouse across the text to select it. Then press Ctrl-C to copy it to the Windows Clipboard.


Shows the computer’s currently selected resolution, color depth, and display adapter (graphics card) type.

You can select and copy this information for pasting to another application. Click and drag the mouse across the text to select it. Then press Ctrl-C to copy it to the Windows Clipboard.


Shows the version of Windows installed on your computer.

You can select and copy this information for pasting to another application. Click and drag the mouse across the text to select it. Then press Ctrl-C to copy it to the Windows Clipboard.


Shows the version of DOS installed on your computer.

You can select and copy this information for pasting to another application. Click and drag the mouse across the text to select it. Then press Ctrl-C to copy it to the Windows Clipboard.


Lists the currently installed drivers your computer uses to access network resources.

You can select and copy this information for pasting to another application. Click and drag the mouse across the text to select it. Then press Ctrl-C to copy it to the Windows Clipboard.


Lets you create System Information reports.

You can customize reports and then print them or save them to files.


Lets you display detailed information about your computer’s operating system, central processing unit (CPU), and data ports.


Lists the categories available for displaying detailed system information.

To view all the information in a category, click the plus (+) sign next to the category name.


Identifies your computer’s monitor type, display adapter (graphics card), and current display resolution.


Lists the categories available for displaying detailed information about your computer’s video system.

To view all the information in a category, click the plus (+) sign next to the category name.


Lets you select the printer for which information will be displayed. Click the down-arrow to display a list of all installed printers and print devices, including network printers and FAX cards.


Identifies the computer's default printer and the port to which the printer is connected. If the default printer is a network printer, its path is shown under Connected To.


Displays detailed information about the printer currently selected in the drop-down list box.

To view all the information in a category, click the plus (+) sign next to the category name.


The pie-chart indicates how much of your computer's memory is currently in use. If you have selected an item in the box to the right, its memory usage is indicated by the red portion of the pie-chart.


Shows the total installed physical memory (RAM) and the currently available Windows memory.

Windows memory is larger than the physical memory because it includes both the physical and virtual memory. The disk space used for virtual memory is provided by the Windows swap file. If Windows is managing your virtual memory, the swap file can potentially grow to the size of the free space on the disk, and this free space will also be reflected in the size of the Windows memory. For memory management, Windows also uses a portion of the disk space occupied by running programs (EXE and DLL files). Thus, Windows memory can be greater than the sum of the sizes of RAM and the swap file.


Shows the amount of memory that is currently unoccupied.


Shows the amount of memory that is currently occupied.


Shows the amount of memory that is occupied by the items that are currently selected in the list box.

Dynamic link libraries (DLLs) can be shared between running programs. If a DLL is being shared by the selected programs, the memory space it occupies is only counted once. For this reason, the Selection value may be less than the sum of the selected items' Size values listed in the box to the right.


Lists the programs and other processes that are currently occupying memory on your computer.

Click a column heading to sort the list by item, type, or size. Click items to include their memory usage data in the pie-chart graphic. Double click an item name to display detailed information about that item.


Configures System information to include currently running dynamic link libraries in the list box. A dynamic link library (DLL) is a special support file that can be shared by multiple Windows programs.


Lets you display detailed information about which programs and other processes are currently occupying memory.


Lists the categories available for displaying detailed information about your computer’s memory usage (RAM).

To view all the information in a category, click the plus (+) sign next to the category name.


The pie-chart indicates how much of the selected disk is currently in use. If you have selected an item in the box to the right, its disk usage is indicated by the red portion of the pie-chart.


Shows the size of the disk drive that is currently selected in the drop-down list box.


Shows the unoccupied space on the disk drive that is currently selected in the drop-down list box.


Shows the occupied space on the disk drive that is currently selected in the drop-down list box.


Shows the disk space used by the currently selected items.


Configures System Information to include subfolders when calculating the disk space used by folders selected in the list box.


Lets you select the disk drive whose information will be displayed on the Drive tab.

Right-click this list and choose Configure from the context menu to specify which drives to include in the list.


Lists the folders and files available for inclusion in the disk space calculations for currently selected items.

Click a folder name to select it. Click the plus (+) sign next to the folder name to view all the subfolders.


Lets you display detailed information about the disk drive currently selected in the drop-down list box.

Note: In the Drive Details window, the Volume Serial Number of your drive is displayed as a decimal number. When you view the Volume Serial Number from a DOS/Command prompt, it is displayed in hexadecimal format .The decimal number is correct when converted to hexadecimal.


Lets you select which drives appear in the Drive tab drop-down list box.

Click a drive to check or uncheck it. Checked drives appear in the Drive tab drop-down list box.


Closes this dialog box and saves the changes you have made.


Closes this dialog box without saving any changes you have made.


Lets you select from a list of drives available for displaying detailed information.


Lists the categories available for displaying detailed information about the currently selected disk drive.

Note: The Volume Serial Number of your drive is displayed as a decimal number. When you view the Volume Serial Number from a DOS/Command prompt, it is displayed in hexadecimal format .The decimal number is correct when converted to hexadecimal .

To view all the information in a category, click the plus (+) sign next to the category name.


Identifies the type of keyboard and mouse or other pointing device attached to your computer.


Lists the categories available for displaying detailed information about your computer’s keyboard and mouse or other pointing device.

To view all the information in a category, click the plus (+) sign next to the category name.


Identifies any Waveform, MIDI, MCI, joystick, and other multimedia devices attached to your computer.


Lists the categories available for displaying detailed information about any Waveform, MIDI, MCI, joystick, and other multimedia devices attached to your computer.

To view all the information in a category, click the plus (+) sign next to the category name.


Displays information about available network resources. For Microsoft networks, this information includes the names of shared resources. For Novell NetWare networks, this information includes servers, volumes, users, and groups.

Click Details to display more information about any Novell NetWare item in this list box.


Displays details about the Novell NetWare server, volume, user, or group currently selected in the list box.

Click an item from the list box to select it before you click Details.


This is unavailable because you are not currently connected to a Novell NetWare network or you have not selected a server, user, or group from the list box.


Displays details about the selected Novell NetWare server, user, or group.


Configures System Information to create a general report for the currently displayed tab only.


Configures System Information to create a general report for all tabs.


Configures System Information to create a general report for all tabs. The Technical Support report also includes additional detailed information and listings of your computer’s configuration and startup files.

This is particularly useful when troubleshooting hardware and software problems.


Configures System Information to create a custom report according to the selected custom options.


Lets you select configuration options for custom reports.


Lets you print or save the currently selected report.


Closes this dialog box without printing the currently selected report.


Configures System Information to print the selected report to the default printer. Click [image] to set printer options or to select a different printer.


Configures System Information to print the selected report to a file. Use the text box to enter a filename. Click [image] to save the file to an alternate folder or drive.


Configures System Information to attach the selected report to an electronic mail message.


This option is not available on your system.


Lets you set printer options or select a different printer.


Lets you select an alternate folder or drive for saving the selected report file.


Configures custom reports to include System tab information.


Lets you select System report options.


Configures custom reports to include Drive tab information.


Lets you select Drive report options.


Configures custom reports to include Network tab information.


Lets you select Network report options.


Configures custom reports to include Memory tab information.


Lets you select Memory report options.


Configures custom reports to include Printer tab information.


Configures custom reports to include Input tab information.


Configures custom reports to include Display tab information.


Configures custom reports to include Multimedia tab information.


Configures custom reports to include information provided by your system vendor.

Because the information on this tab is provided by a third party, Symantec cannot guarantee its accuracy.


Closes this dialog box and accepts any changes you have made.


This is unavailable because no reports are currently selected in the Reports to Print group box.


Closes this dialog box without accepting any changes you have made.


Configures System Information to include System tab general information in the custom report.


Configures System Information to include System tab detailed information in the custom report. This is the information displayed when you click Details on the System tab.


Configures System Information to include listings of your computer’s configuration and startup files in the custom report.

This option is useful when troubleshooting hardware and software problems.


Lists the drives available for inclusion in the custom report.


Configures System Information to include total drive space, used space, and available space for each currently selected disk drive.


Configures System Information to include detailed drive information in the custom report.


Configures System Information to include Network tab general information in the custom report including information about network clients and servers.


Configures System Information to include a moderately detailed level of Network information in the custom report including Microsoft Network second level objects and Novell NetWare volumes, users, groups, and printers.


Configures System Information to include all available Network information in the custom report including all Microsoft Network objects and Novell NetWare volumes, users, groups, and printers.


Configures System Information to include information about currently unattached NetWare servers in custom reports.


Configures System Information to include Memory tab general information in the custom report.


Configures System Information to include Memory tab detailed information in the custom report. This is the information displayed when you click Details on the Memory tab.


This button is disabled because no detailed information is available for this tab.


Closes System Information.


Click to open the Norton Companion associated with this tab.


This button is disabled because there is no Companion topic specific to this tab.