Product Support's Reporting Tools for Windows

This is not a single tool; instead it's nine top-notch executables that gather information about your system. Microsoft's Product Support's Reporting Tools each collect the same basic data with specific additional reports. The tools open DOS windows for occasional user-directed branching. Other than that, it's start and wait for program completion. Each of the tools is speedy but should be executed when all other programs are idle.

Any level user can run these reporting tools, but only advanced users will understand the reports. These are less tools for the home user and more for the corporate system administrator. Microsoft has built specific tools for Alliance, Directory Service, Networking, Clustering, SQL, Software Update Services, and MDAC reporting. A more basic report compiler is the Base/Setup/Storage/Print/Performance tool. Even that tool creates esoteric reports that would cause most users to go glassy-eyed.

All nine programs store collected data in packed CAB files. The CAB files are easy to open, but the resulting logs and text files are given no explanation. You either know what the data means, or you must pass it along to a tech who can interpret the files. None of the nine programs makes any changes to your system. If you're a system administrator, you might get some needed information out of these reports. Everyone else will want to pass on this excellent, but data-intensive, report-generating freeware.