# Computer question regarding hardware ID **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 21, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-regarding-hardware-id/332106 "2005-11-21T17:59:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AndyPolley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@AndyPolley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyPolley)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-regarding-hardware-id/332106/1 "2005-11-21T17:59:40Z")
I’m not computer idiot, but I’m far from being a computer genius either. How far? Well, right now it feels pretty far. I don’t know the read/write speeds of my cd-rom & dvd drives, and I don’t know how to find out. Well, I’m not dealing with computers I bought. I’m doing a machine inventory here at my office where we have 4 pcs. I’m trying to find out as much as I can about the specifics of each computer. Is there a way for me to determine the read/write speed of the drives installed through something like the device manager in windows? How about finding out what kind of audio or video cards are installed? I’m using Windows XP Home edition 2002 with SP2. Any help on this subject would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-regarding-hardware-id/332106/2 "2005-11-21T18:15:05Z")
I recommend a free utilty called Fresh Diagnose to tell you all kinds of information about any computer. [http://www.freshdevices.com/freshdiag.html](http://www.freshdevices.com/freshdiag.html) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-regarding-hardware-id/332106/3 "2005-11-21T18:43:45Z")
I second Fresh Diagnose. Register (for free) at their site to get the most out of the app. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-regarding-hardware-id/332106/4 "2005-11-21T19:35:24Z")
Any opinions about [Belarc Advisor](http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html) ---
**Author:** ![AndyPolley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@AndyPolley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyPolley)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-regarding-hardware-id/332106/5 "2005-11-21T20:00:52Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I recommend a free utilty called Fresh Diagnose to tell you all kinds of information about any computer. Thanks a bunch. I’ve downloaded it & am playing with it right now. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-regarding-hardware-id/332106/6 "2005-11-21T20:01:13Z")
Just run Belarc, which I use a fair bit, and it doesn’t report any of the speeds of either of my optical drives. If Nero is installed, it will test the drives and give you a report on the USEABLE speeds, on that system. May not be the same as the speeds they are capable of by design.