Viewing Detailed System Information

jinydu · 2005-09-09, 07:29

I seem to have faint memories about a computer I used to have, many years ago, that allowed me to view detailed system information (I think it included the L1 and L2 cache for the CPU). All I would have to do is push a certain button on the keyboard (I don't remember what it was) at a certain time during bootup, and it would load a screen that would show this information (which spanned across several screens). I think it was displaying the BIOS, but I'm not sure (I didn't know what a BIOS was at the time).

In any case, that computer is long gone; it has long since been replaced by newer, faster computers. However, none of my current computers appear to have this capability. The best I can do is go to My Computer and click "View System Information". The only information I get is "Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 1600MHz; 1.39GHz, 512 MB of RAM". But could it still be possible to view this information anyway? (Pressing F8 during bootup doesn't do it; all it does is allow me to boot up in Safe Mode).

JHagerson · 2005-09-09, 13:15

You might try pressing ESC or F10 while the manufacturer's bitmap is on the screen. Make sure that your monitor is on and warmed up first because these bitmaps are not displayed for very long. If you change the amount of memory in your machine, you might be forced into the BIOS update screen.

BigBrother · 2005-09-09, 16:01

You could use a program like CPU-Z, you can download it from http://www.cpuid.com

cheesehead · 2005-09-09, 17:09

On mine, the Delete key is the one to press during startup to see the BIOS.

moo · 2005-09-09, 22:28

you can dl sysandra.... gives a ton of info. use cpuz for cpu tho

jinydu · 2005-09-10, 04:43

Thanks for the information.

delta_t · 2005-09-10, 05:28

Try hitting F1 or F2 when you see the keyboard lights flicker after starting up the computer. You may try Esc, and Delete as well. These are some typical BIOS entry keys. What kind of computer is it that may help as someone here in the forum may have one.

jinydu · 2005-09-10, 06:03

Thanks, F2 got me into BIOS.

However, surprisingly little information was in there: I was told that the computer had 1 GB of Memory and a 100 GB hard drive, and that was mostly it (except for little details like system time).

The computer is my dad's new notebook, the same one mentioned in the Happy Me thread. It's a Sony VAIO.

delta_t · 2005-09-10, 06:36

Oh okay, the borged laptop. Definitely try CPU-Z it'll give a lot of information. They have an HTML output that nicely summarizes the computer.

2005-09-09, 07:29	#1
jinydu Dec 2003 Hopefully Near M48 6DE₁₆ Posts	Viewing Detailed System Information I seem to have faint memories about a computer I used to have, many years ago, that allowed me to view detailed system information (I think it included the L1 and L2 cache for the CPU). All I would have to do is push a certain button on the keyboard (I don't remember what it was) at a certain time during bootup, and it would load a screen that would show this information (which spanned across several screens). I think it was displaying the BIOS, but I'm not sure (I didn't know what a BIOS was at the time). In any case, that computer is long gone; it has long since been replaced by newer, faster computers. However, none of my current computers appear to have this capability. The best I can do is go to My Computer and click "View System Information". The only information I get is "Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 1600MHz; 1.39GHz, 512 MB of RAM". But could it still be possible to view this information anyway? (Pressing F8 during bootup doesn't do it; all it does is allow me to boot up in Safe Mode).

2005-09-10, 05:28	#7
delta_t Nov 2002 Anchorage, AK 3·7·17 Posts	Try hitting F1 or F2 when you see the keyboard lights flicker after starting up the computer. You may try Esc, and Delete as well. These are some typical BIOS entry keys. What kind of computer is it that may help as someone here in the forum may have one. Last fiddled with by delta_t on 2005-09-10 at 05:29

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2005-09-09, 13:15	#2
JHagerson May 2005 Naperville, IL, USA 326₈ Posts	You might try pressing ESC or F10 while the manufacturer's bitmap is on the screen. Make sure that your monitor is on and warmed up first because these bitmaps are not displayed for very long. If you change the amount of memory in your machine, you might be forced into the BIOS update screen.

2005-09-09, 16:01	#3
BigBrother Feb 2005 The Netherlands 2·109 Posts	You could use a program like CPU-Z, you can download it from http://www.cpuid.com

2005-09-09, 17:09	#4
cheesehead "Richard B. Woods" Aug 2002 Wisconsin USA 2²·3·641 Posts	On mine, the Delete key is the one to press during startup to see the BIOS.

2005-09-09, 22:28	#5
moo Jul 2004 Nowhere 809 Posts	you can dl sysandra.... gives a ton of info. use cpuz for cpu tho

2005-09-10, 04:43	#6
jinydu Dec 2003 Hopefully Near M48 2·3·293 Posts	Thanks for the information.

2005-09-10, 06:03	#8
jinydu Dec 2003 Hopefully Near M48 1758₁₀ Posts	Thanks, F2 got me into BIOS. However, surprisingly little information was in there: I was told that the computer had 1 GB of Memory and a 100 GB hard drive, and that was mostly it (except for little details like system time). The computer is my dad's new notebook, the same one mentioned in the Happy Me thread. It's a Sony VAIO.

2005-09-10, 06:36	#9
delta_t Nov 2002 Anchorage, AK 3×7×17 Posts	Oh okay, the borged laptop. Definitely try CPU-Z it'll give a lot of information. They have an HTML output that nicely summarizes the computer.