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MSD.EXE Utility

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by nettek

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My company is creating a hardware and software inventory for about 300 PCs (I know, it should have been established and maintained a long time ago).

I need a utility similiar to the old MSD.EXE utility that came with DOS. It basically only needs to tell me total HD space, RAM, and processor speed, but any additional information would be a bonus. Does anyone know where I can download a utility similar to MSD.EXE that will give me accurate hardware info on Win9x machines?

I also need to record all software packages that are installed on these PCs. I have heard of a utility that will tell me all the software packages that are installed on a PC. Anyone now of a utility like that, and where I might obtain it?

Expensive, network based software is not an option at this time. Thanks.

11 replies

by nettek

Thanks for submitting an answer. While I am aware of network management solutions such as Managewise and SMS, they are not viable solutions at this time.

by dheupel

Since expensive is a relative term, I'll offer the following - considering that all your machines are Win9x. You didn't mention whether your network is NT based or not...so presuming your environment is NT...

Look into using Microsoft Systems Management Server. It will do everything you want, hardware inventory, software inventory, remote control, the whole nine yards. You'll also need SQL server as well, as SMS requires a SQL database for holding all the workstation info.

As the previous respondent indicated, ManageWise is an excellent choice, if you're on the NetWare platform.

Unfortunately, I know of no third-party applications that do inventory/asset tracking automatically, they would all require manual input and updating.
Good hunting to you!

by nettek

Thanks for submitting an answer. While I am aware of network management solutions such as Managewise and SMS, they are not viable solutions at this time.

by tbradley

Believe it or not, MSD will still work on 95/98 based machines, but Microsoft quit shipping it. Find a Dos6.22 machine, and copy MSD off to a floppy.

For your 95/98 machines, restart in ms-dos mode, and run MSD.

PC Information 1.22 availablefrom downloads.com is a $15 shareware program that will give you basic hardware and software information.

by tuqan

Just to echo what was mentioned above and to add that MSD.EXE is still shipped with Win98. The utility can be found on the OEM install disk under the folders "TOOLS\OLDMSDOS"

by nettek

Thanks for the answer, but I found it won't give me accurate processor info. Also doesn't list installed apps.

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