How to Find Computer System Specs

When buying a used computer, you may find that the seller can't provide a list of specs simply because he no longer has the manual. You should check the specs yourself with a test drive to make sure the device has what you need.

Instructions

1. Turn on the computer. Find the "My Computer" icon on the computer's desktop or access it from the "Start" menu.

2. Right-click the "My Computer" icon. From the menu, choose "Properties" down at the bottom. A window will come up which will provide some specs. The "General" tab should be selected.

3. Examine the operating system. At the top of the window, find "System." The system section tells you what operating system is installed, including the version of the operating system.

4. Look at the "Computer" section at the bottom of the window. Here you'll find what processor the computer has installed and how much memory the computer has. The processor's name will be listed, followed by the speed, usually measured in gigahertz. Next you'll see how much memory the computer has, measured in megabytes or gigabytes.

5. Note the hard drive space. To determine the amount of hard drive space, double-click on the "My Computer" icon and then right-click on the hard drive icon.

6. Choose "Properties" from the menu to see the specs. In the window which pops up, look for "Capacity." Note how many gigabytes of hard drive space the computer has. Below, you will see a graph that reveals how much space is used and how much remains free.

Tips & Warnings

• There are 1000 megabytes in 1 gigabyte.