Gather detailed system information with Belarc Advisor

Takeaway: Belarc Advisor is a free program that builds a detailed profile of all your installed software and hardware. Greg Shultz reviews how it works and what it can tell you about your computer.

This article is also available as a TechRepublic download and as a TechRepublic gallery.

If you've ever been tasked with gathering information about a computer for an inventory, before a hardware upgrade, or just to find out if all the most recent hotfixes have been installed, you're going to love Belarc Advisor.

Belarc Advisor is a free program that builds a detailed profile of all your installed software and hardware, Microsoft hotfixes, and antivirus status. It also provides you with detailed Center for Internet Security (CIS) benchmarks. The results are then displayed in a nicely formatted HTML report. From your Web browser, you can easily sift through the report information and access Web sites for additional information. However, all of your computer profile information is stored on your system and is not sent to any Web server.

Keep in mind that the license associated with Belarc Advisor allows for free personal use only. Use on multiple PCs in a corporate, educational, military, or government installation is prohibited. Belarc provides additional applications and licensing options for large scale use.

Installation

You can download Belarc Advisor from TechRepublic's Software Library.

To find it, just type Belarc in the text box and click Search. When you click the Download link, you'll see the File Download dialog box and should just click Save.

Once you download Belarc Advisor, locate the Advisor.exe file in Windows Explorer and double-click it to launch the installation. When you do so, you might see the Open File Security Warning message. Just click the Run command to get started. The Belarc Advisor installation is a smooth and painless operation and takes only a couple of minutes to complete. A progress bar (Figure A) keeps you apprised of the installation status.

Figure A

A progress bar

You must agree to the Belarc Advisor license, which only allows for free personal use on a single computer. Once the installation is complete, the Belarc Advisor will create the initial profile of your computer.

After a few moments, you'll see the Computer Profile Summary page (Figure B). However, I've discovered that this initial report, while impressive looking, does not provide a complete picture. Just close this page after a quick perusal and then use the icon on your desktop to launch the Belarc Advisor again.

Figure B

The first Computer Profile Summary

Computer analysis

Upon running the Belarc Advisor again, you'll see that the analysis stage is updating your computer’s profile. In addition to updating your computer's profile, Belarc Advisor checks your computer's security settings.

You’ll now see that the Computer Profile Summary page (Figure C) contains the System Security Status section. However, you’ll notice that the security definitions are out of date.

Figure C

The second Computer Profile Summary

To resolve this, just click the link and you’ll be taken to the security definitions update page on the Belarc site. You can then follow the prompts to download and install the new security definitions.

Once the new security definitions are installed, the Belarc Advisor will restart and provide you with a current and accurate report. The report is extremely detailed and very long. Scrolling through in the browser is easy though, and the menu on the left provides you with links to key sections of the report. (Figure D)

Figure D

The full report

Looking at the first part of the page, you’ll find detailed information about your operating system, the motherboard, processor, RAM, and all the drives in the computer. In the second part, you’ll find a list of local user accounts, along with more hardware details and a brief summary of your virus protection. Note the information in the Controllers, Bus Adapters, and Other Devices sections.

If you are missing any crucial hotfixes, they will appear in the Missing Microsoft Security Hotifixes section. In the Installed Hotfixes section, you can see that the hotfixes are broken out by category and each entry contains the Knowledge Base ID number and the date on which it was installed.

At the bottom of the Hotfixes section, you’ll find a legend that tells you what the lock, check mark, and X icons represent (Figure D). If you click the details link next to any entry, you’ll be taken to Knowledge Base article that describes that particular hotfix.

Figure D

Hotfixes legend

I’ve discovered that it is better to right-click on the details link and select Open In New Window or Open In New tab. Doing so prevents Internet Explorer from blocking active content upon using the Back button to return to Belarc Advisor.

In the Software Licenses section, you’ll find license and key numbers. In the Software Versions section, you’ll find version numbers for all the software you have installed on your computer.

If you hover your mouse pointer over the asterisk (*) next to any entry in the Software Versions section (Figure E), you'll see a pop-up that contains properties information, such as executable filenames, size, and date last accessed. If you click the asterisk, the folder containing the application will open in the browser window.

Figure E

Hover the mouse

If you return to the System Security Status section, you'll notice that the CIS (Center for Internet Security) Benchmark Score contains a number score and a link to more details.

On the CIS Benchmark Score Details report page (Figure F), you’ll not only find your score, but you’ll also find a detailed listing of all kinds of system security settings you’ll need to change in order to lock down your system, make it safer, and improve your score. Clicking any of the links will take you the Belarc site, where you can find more information about the settings. As you can see, this test system scored only 2.5 out of 10 in the CIS benchmark system.

Figure F

CIS Benchmark Score Details

Overall, Belarc Advisor is very easy to use, very informative, and is a very a nice tool to have in your PC arsenal.

Belarc Advisor runs on Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista and works with most recent versions of the major Web browsers, such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Opera.

You can download Belarc Advisor from TechRepublic's Software Library and learn more about the application on the Belarc site.

Important 10 things you should know about moving from Windows XP to Windows 7

Windows 7 was designed to be lean in terms of hardware, so that it will be able to function satisfactorily on sub-powered netbooks. If you’re running Windows XP on a computer manufactured within the last three or four years, chances are good that Windows 7 will run fine on your system. However, you can make sure that your hardware is compatible by running Microsoft’s Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor will perform a detailed scan of your entire system, checking hardware, programs, and peripheral devices. Once the scan is complete, the Upgrade Advisor will display a report telling you whether your system meets the hardware requirements and idenfying are any known compatibility issues with your programs and devices. If it finds problems, the Upgrade Advisor will provide suggestions you can use to better analyze your upgrade options to Windows 7.

You can download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from the Microsoft Download Center. At the time of this writing, this tool is listed as being a Beta version. However, running it now will give you a good idea of what you will be facing as you prepare for your upgrade.

If you’re planning a much bigger Windows XP to Windows 7 migration, you’ll want to investigate the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit. This free toolkit, which runs across the network without having to install software on client systems, will allow you to investigate systems and compile reports on hardware and device compatibility.

2: Understand the Custom Install

If you’re running Windows XP on your computer and you want to use Windows 7 on that same computer, you’ll purchase an Upgrade license package of Windows 7. However, you won’t be able to perform an in-place upgrade. In other words, you won’t be able to upgrade to Windows 7 on top of XP and keep all your applications and settings “in place.” Instead, you’ll have to perform a Custom Install, which Microsoft describes as follows:

A custom (clean) installation gives you the option to either completely replace your current operating system or install Windows on a specific drive or partition that you select. You can also perform a custom installation if your computer does not have an operating system, or if you want to set up a multiboot system on your computer.

When you completely replace Windows XP, the installation procedure will not totally obliterate it. In fact, the installation procedure will create a folder on the hard disk called Windows.old and will place the Windows, Documents And Settings, and Program Files folders from your Windows XP installation in it. Your data files will be safe and accessible, but your applications will not be viable. (Even though the Custom Install saves your data in the Windows.old folder, you will want to have a separate backup on hand just in case!)

Regardless of whether you choose to completely replace Windows XP or set up a multiboot system, you are going to have to back up and transfer all of your data, reinstall all of your applications, and reconfigure all of your settings.

3: Consider a setting up a multiboot configuration

When pondering a Custom Install, you should consider setting up a multiboot configuration. That will place both Windows XP and Windows 7 at your disposal, which will be a big advantage as you begin migrating your settings, documents, and applications. More specifically, you can boot into Windows XP to check out how something is set up and then boot into Windows 7 to re-create the same configuration. Once you have everything in Windows 7 exactly the way you had it in Windows XP, you can remove the multiboot configuration set Windows 7 as the primary OS and then remove Windows XP.

To be able to perform this type of switch, both XP and 7 must be installed on the same hard disk but on separate partitions. (If you install Windows 7 on a second hard disk, the boot partition will exist on the first hard disk, so you won’t be able to remove that drive once you’re ready to get rid of XP.) As a result, you’ll need to repartition your hard disk to make room for Windows 7. To repartition your hard disk without destroying data, you can take advantage of partition management software, such asNorton PartitionMagic 8.0, which retails for about $70, or Easeus Partition Manager Home Edition 4.0.1, which is available for free and earned a 4.5 star rating in a recent CNET editors’ review.

4: Plan your backup and restore strategy

Before you move from one operating system to another, you’ll want to back up all your data — at least once and maybe twice, just in case. While it may sound like overkill, having an extra backup will give you peace of mind.

If you’re using a third-party backup program, you will need to check the manufacturer’s Web site to see whether the program will be upgraded to work in Windows 7. If you aren’t using a third-party backup program, you’re probably using Windows XP’s native Backup Utility. As you may have heard, the file format used for this tool isn’t compatible with Windows Vista’s Backup And Restore Center. To provide for that, Microsoft released a special version of the XP Backup Utility, called the Windows NT Backup - Restore Utility. It’s designed specifically for restoring backups made on Windows XP to computers running Windows Vista. While I was unable to get official confirmation, it is a safe bet that this special version will work in Windows 7 or will be adapted to do so.

If you aren’t willing to take that bet or you are not sure whether your third-party backup program will be upgraded to work in Windows 7, you can simply make copies of all your data files on CD/DVD or on an external hard disk.

5: Plan your data transfer strategy

To move from one operating system to another, you’ll probably want to use a transfer program that will scan your XP system, pull out all your data and settings, and then transfer them to Windows 7. Fortunately, the Windows 7 Easy Transfer utility can provide this service for you. However, before you perform this transfer operation, it will be in your best interest to have a separate back up copy of your data (see #4).

The new operating system will come with two copies of the Windows 7 Easy Transfer. One copy will be on the DVD and the other will be installed with the operating system. Before you install Windows 7, you will run Windows 7 Easy Transfer from the DVD and back up all your files and settings. Then, once you have Windows 7 installed, you’ll use it to move all your files and settings to the new operating system. You can learn more about the Windows 7 Easy Transfer by reading the article Step-by-Step: Windows 7 Upgrade and Migration on the Microsoft TechNet site.

6: Inventory your applications and gather your CDs

Since you won’t be able to perform an in-place upgrade when you move from Windows XP to Windows 7, you’ll have to reinstall all your applications that passed the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor compatibility tests (see #1). It will be helpful to have an inventory of all the installed applications so that you can track down all your CDs or compile a list of Web sites for those applications you downloaded.

While the report generated by the Upgrade Advisor will be helpful as you create an inventory, it won’t be comprehensive. To create a detailed inventory, you can use something like the Belarc Advisor. For more details, see the article Gather detailed system information with Belarc Advisor.

7: Become familiar with the new UI

The UI in Windows 7 is quite different from the UI in Windows XP, and it offers a lot of new features. As a result, you may encounter what I call “UI Shock.” You’ll know what you want to do, but you’ll experience a momentary lapse of composure as you strive to adapt what you know about XP’s UI to what you’re seeing and experiencing in Windows 7.

To ease the level of UI shock, you’ll want to become as familiar as possible with the features of the new Windows 7 UI. One starting point is Microsoft’s Windows 7 page. While a lot of the content here is essentially marketing related, it will give you a good idea of what to look for when you actually move into the Windows 7 operating system.

To help you get right to the good stuff, check out:

• The Windows 7 features section, where you’ll find a host of short videos and descriptions.
• The Windows 7 Help & How-to section, where you’ll find a whole slew of step-by-step articles that show you how get around in Windows 7. Be sure to check out the section on installing Windows.

You’ll also find useful information on the Windows Training Portal on the Microsoft Learning site. Be sure to check out:

• The Windows 7 Learning Snacks, which are short, interactive presentations. Each Snack is delivered via animations and recorded demos using Microsoft Silverlight.
• The Microsoft Press sample chapters from upcoming Windows 7 books. Viewing the free chapters requires registration, but it is a short procedure. Once you’re registered, you can access sample chapters from Windows 7 Inside Out, Windows 7 Resource Kit, Windows 7 Step by Step, and Windows 7 for Developers.

8: Check for XP Mode support

If you discover that some of the applications you’re currently running in Windows XP are not compatible with Windows 7 (see #1) or you just want to keep Windows XP accessible, don’t forget about Windows XP Mode. This virtual environment includes a free, fully licensed, ready-to-run copy of Windows XP with SP3 that runs under Windows Virtual PC in Windows 7.

As you consider the Windows XP Mode, keep these things in mind:

• Windows XP Mode is available only in Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions.
• Your computer must support processor-based virtualization.

9: Ask questions

You aren’t the only one making the move from Windows XP to Windows 7, so ask questions and share information you pick up along the way. Of course, you can use the TechRepublic discussion forums. But you should cast a wider net.

One good place to connect with Microsoft experts is the Getting Ready for Windows 7section of the Microsoft Answers site. Another good place is in the Windows 7 forums in the Windows Client TechCenter on the Microsoft TechNet site.

Download Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0.1611.0

Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0.1611.0

License model :
Free
Limitations :
Not available
Operating systems :
Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 7
Additional requirements :
Not available
Publisher's description
The successor to Microsoft Live OneCare, Security Essentials (full review here) takes a different approach to securing your computer. The program is free with core security features intact, but abandons the additional heft of a firewall, performance tuning, and backup and restore options. Under a clean and uncluttered interface, Security Essentials wraps antivirus and antispyware engines, rootkit protection, and real-time detection courtesy of Microsoft SpyNet, the unfortunately named cloud-based service that compares file behavior across computers.

There are four tabs, each with a concise, understandable label: Home, Update, History, and Settings. From Home you can run a Quick Scan, Full Scan, or Custom Scan, and a link at the bottom of the pane lets you change the scheduled scan. In the Settings window you can schedule scans, toggle default actions, adjust real-time protection settings, and create whitelists. An Advanced option here is still fairly basic, allowing you to set Security Essentials to scan archives, removable drives, create a system restore point, or allow all users to view the History tab. Security Essentials uses labels imported from OneCare: green for all good, yellow for warning, and red for an at-risk situation.

Independent test numbers for Security Essentials weren't available at the time of writing, although OneCare scored high detection rates. On a real-world machine, the Quick Scan completed in less than 30 seconds. Benchmarking tests from CNET Labs reveal that Security Essentials actually makes starting up and shutting down faster, but the Full Scan is much slower than many competitors. RAM usage was not insignificant, with 85 to 90MB used during a full scan, but it felt lighter. Security Essentials is basically a good set-it-and-forget-it security program, but if you want more options, you should look elsewhere.
With Microsoft Security Essentials Beta, you get high-quality protection against viruses and spyware, including Trojans, worms and other malicious software. And best of all, there are no costs or annoying subscriptions to keep track of.