How to inspect hardware on a locked-down PC

You need to check a work, school, or library PC, but you cannot install software or open administrator tools. You can still inspect some useful clues in a browser, including processor, graphics, display, battery, and network details.

The System Info tool gathers the device details a browser can access. It will not reveal every component or prove that a part is working correctly, but it can help you describe what you see and decide what to ask your IT team.

Inspect the PC in your browser

1. Open System Info on the PC you want to check. Review the processor, graphics, screen, battery, and network details that appear.
2. Write down the details that relate to your problem. For a display issue, note the screen information. For a slow graphics task, note the graphics details. Include the browser and date so you can compare the same machine later.
3. If the computer has a battery and the browser reports it, open Battery Meter to check its charge level, charging state, time estimate, and drain rate. Battery Meter only appears on devices whose browser reports a battery.
4. Open Browser Info to check the browser version, engine, permissions, privacy settings, codecs, and supported features. This can help explain why a hardware detail or browser test is unavailable.
5. Compare the browser's clues with the information pages you can access in the operating system. Do not change managed settings or install anything if your organization does not allow it.

For a useful comparison, use the same computer and browser each time. If you are checking a dock, external monitor, or other accessory, note whether it was connected during the check.

What the results mean

Processor or graphics details appear

The browser can report some information about the computer's processor and graphics device. Treat this as a clue, not a full hardware inventory: a browser may identify a graphics renderer in a shortened or generic way, and it cannot confirm that the component is healthy. If you need an exact model for a repair or purchase, ask your IT team to check the managed device record.

The screen details do not match what you expect

A reported screen size or configuration may reflect the current connection and display settings, not the physical monitor's full capabilities. A dock, adapter, remote desktop session, or display scaling can affect what the browser sees. Compare the result with the display settings and check which screens are connected.

Battery information appears or is missing

If a battery is reported, its charge level and charging state can help you describe what is happening at that moment. The time estimate and drain rate can change with screen brightness, open apps, and workload. If no battery details appear, that does not by itself mean the battery is broken. Some browsers or devices do not expose battery information to web pages.

A detail is absent, rounded, or unclear

Web pages receive only information that the browser and operating system choose to expose. For example, a browser can get only a rounded hint about RAM size, not the exact installed amount. A missing value is not proof that the hardware is absent, and a reported value is not a complete diagnostic report.

Browser Info shows a limitation

A missing browser feature can explain why a website test cannot run, even when the computer has the hardware. The browser's privacy settings, organization policy, or browser engine may restrict access. Use this result to separate a browser limitation from a possible hardware problem.

What to do when a clue is missing or unexpected

1. Refresh the page once. Close the tool window and reopen it, then check whether the same details appear. Avoid running several demanding tests at the same time on a shared or older PC.
2. Check the operating system's information pages. In Windows 11, open Settings › System › About for basic device details and Settings › System › Display for connected screens and display settings. On a Mac, open System Settings › General › About and System Settings › Displays. If the PC is managed, view the pages without changing settings.
3. Check the physical connection. If a monitor or dock is involved, confirm that its cable is seated and that the expected screen is connected. If policy allows, compare with the computer's built-in screen or a known working cable. Do not disconnect equipment that your organization has instructed you to leave connected.
4. Use an approved browser. Browser versions and privacy restrictions can affect what a page can inspect. Check Browser Info for the version and supported features, and ask IT before switching browsers or changing privacy settings on a managed computer.
5. Send IT a short, specific report. Include the device name or asset tag if your organization uses one, the browser version, the result you observed, and what was connected. Avoid posting internal device details publicly, and do not include passwords or account information.

What a browser check cannot tell you

A browser cannot inspect every component, read every operating system setting, or replace a full hardware diagnostic. It generally cannot confirm a motherboard model, serial number, exact RAM capacity, or whether a component has a physical fault. It also cannot prove that a device is suitable for a particular application just from a processor or graphics label.

Use the results as observations to guide your next question, not as a reason to open the PC or bypass workplace restrictions. If the device is managed, your IT team can confirm its official specifications and run any tests that require elevated access.

Keep your notes to the details needed for troubleshooting, and follow your organization's rules for sharing information about its computers.