SIW - Freeware Version 2011.10.29p

Overview

There is no shortage of system info tools on the market, but SIW packs quite a few unexpected and pretty cool twists that you will surely love. There are software products that more people should know about and use a lot more and SIW certainly falls into this category. The majority of users don’t have a clue about their computer’s hardware though, nowadays, the expansion of general computer knowledge is obvious. This is where SIW comes into play and gathers information about your system properties and settings. There’s a lot of info here: Installed Programs, Operating System, Processes, Network, Services, Serial Numbers, Network Shares, Hardware components and a lot more.  

Installation

One of the best things about SIW is that it doesn’t need a proper, traditional installation. Being a portable and standalone tool, you have several options at your disposal. SIW can be directly run from your USB flash drive, from a domain login script or from a network drive. It is extremely convenient and your system will thank you – one less installed tool to eat up resources! In terms of system requirements, you should be happy to find out that SIW supports every Windows OS from 2000 onwards. In addition, SIW comes with Babylon 9, a translation tool. You can opt to decline its installation.

Interface

Anyone familiar with the typical Explorer style will feel right at home in the presence of SIW. Two separate window panes make up the main window. Your drop down menu is shown in the left, whilst the info selected appears on the right side. Hardware, Software and Network are the main parts of SIW and the tool does a great job in laying the info in a clear and concise manner. Thus, the navigation between the different sections and panes is smooth. Easy to use and straightforward, SIW’s interface is a winner!

Pros

Everything you need to know about your system is offered on a plate by SIW. Your computer is analyzed and you will be able to find a lot of useful hardware and software info. For example, properties from your system directory, your drivers, applications, installed programs, video and audio codecs, passwords recovery, server configurations, and more are detailed in a very comprehensible manner. The typical information youd expect to see is provided by the Hardware section. Everything from your CPU to your motherboard and monitor can be checked out. The BIOS, devices, network cards memory, video, system slots, storage devices and more are also presented. In addition, SIW incorporates several useful network tools that will allow you, for instance, to change the MAC address of your network adapter or perform a neighborhood scan. Another great feature of SIW is Eureka! And by using it, the lost passwords hidden behind asterisks are instantly revealed!

Cons

Small pauses occur before the results are loaded.

Alternatives

Alternatives to SIW include the following tools: CPU-Z, PC Wizard, AIDA64 Extreme Edition, Hardinfo and more.

Conclusion

A powerful, lightweight and very useful tool, SIW should be in every admin’s arsenal.