What Do Windows System Properties Mean?

System Properties includes a summary of information about your computer.

All recent versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems include a convenient summary of your computer's information. This System Properties summary is useful for technical support issues by providing the basic information a technician might need to diagnose computer problems. Understanding the information can also help you know more about your computer.

Operating System

Microsoft includes a complete description of the specific version of Windows installed at the top of the System Properties window. Different versions may include Home, Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate. Find additional licensing information at the bottom of the System Properties window. This information includes whether or not the license for the operating system has been activated and the specific product ID associated with the license. The product ID may be required to reinstall the operating system.

Manufacturer Information

The next section displays your computer manufacturer and model description. Specific hardware configurations usually depend upon your computer model. Computers assembled from individual components may not display manufacturer and model information. The manufacturer information is added through customized INI files located in the system folders that Windows uses.

Rating

Recent versions of Windows added the "Windows Experience Index," which is a base score derived from the lowest score of individual components. The highest possible score changes with advances in computer technology. Microsoft developed the rating system as a better method of determining how well certain computer programs could be expected to perform on your computer. The goal is to get software manufacturers to publish the minimum rating required to run their software.

System Specifications

Below the rating, the System Properties window lists the type of processor and how much memory is installed. The processor information includes the CPU manufacturer and model designation. The speed of the processor displays in gigahertz (GHZ). If the CPU has multiple processors, or "cores," the speed performance of each core is displayed. The speed shown is a real time measurement of the processor performance. System memory displays in either megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB), depending on the amount of memory installed. "System Type" displays what type of operating system you have installed, whether a 32-bit system or 64-bit system.

Network

Network settings display current network information that you can change by clicking the "Change settings" link to the right of this section. The computer name refers to the name of the computer as it appears on the network. A complete description of the computer function is included that is also published to the network. If the computer is a member of a network domain or work group, the name of that domain or work group appears at the bottom of the network settings description.

References

• Microsoft: View Your Computer Information
• Techrepublic: A Look at the Windows System Performance Rating