Buying a used PC can seem risky, as you can’t always know its history. It’s easy to wipe a PC and make it look like new, but how well does it actually perform? To avoid being surprised, you can run these Windows software checks to ensure you get what you paid for.
Content
- View Detailed System Specs
- Ensure Windows License Is Permanently Activated
- Test CPU and GPU for Performance and Thermal Issues
- Make Sure USB Ports Are Working
- Diagnose RAM for Issues
- Check Storage Health and Performance
View Detailed System Specs
Make sure the PC includes everything the seller promised. It’s difficult to guess which components are connected just by looking at the hardware. The Windows System Information tool will help with that.
Search for “system information” in Windows Search, or press Win + R, and type msinfo32 in the Run dialog to open the System Information tool.
The System Summary section shows an overview of the system specs, including important information, like Windows version, processor details, BIOS, RAM details, etc.
You’ll have to manually open each related section for more details. The Components section is probably where you want to start, as it contains information about all connected hardware, such as the GPU, network adaptor, CD-ROM, etc.
The columns will show the exact name of the hardware components and their specifications. Alternatively, use a benchmarking program for even deeper details, like fan speed and storage read/write speeds.
Ensure Windows License Is Permanently Activated
Windows license scams are common in the used PC market, and it’s easy to pull off. The seller can claim to have a genuine activated Windows copy, only for it be pirated or temporarily activated. Follow these steps to ensure the license if genuine and activated:
Connect the PC to the Internet, and find Windows Update in Windows Settings. Click Check for updates, then download and install all updates. After the PC restarts, if there is no warning of an invalid key or warning that the Windows installation is not genuine, then it’s a good sign the Windows copy is genuine.
To ensure it’s permanently activated, type cmd in Windows Search, and open the Command Prompt. Type slmgr /xpr, and press Enter. A small window will pop up showing the Windows edition and whether it’s permanently activated.
Run the command slmgr /dlvto see key details like license type and status. Make sure the license type is either Retail or OEM, and that it’s activated.
Test CPU and GPU for Performance and Thermal Issues
You may be getting the CPU and GPU the seller promised, but is it in good condition? A worn-out CPU or GPU may work fine under low to medium load, but they can fail when under heavy load. Furthermore, they are also the main heat contributors, so you can use them to check thermal issues as well.
You can stress test both the CPU and GPU to check their performance under load and the thermal efficiency of the PC. There are many tools to stress test the CPU, and Furmark is basically the standard for stressing GPU. However, we recommend OCCT when you need to stress test the CPU and GPU together. It’s free to use for personal use and comes with powerful testing and monitoring tools.
In OCCT, you’ll find a bunch of testing tools on the left side. Select CPU, and set its mode to Extreme and load type to Steady. For the GPU, run 3D Standard and 3D Adaptive tests. The 3D Standard default settings are fine. For 3D Adaptive, select Steady configuration and Extreme load.
Run each test one after another, and let it run for a minimum 30 minutes. If the PC crashes, or the OCCT shows an error, there is a problem with the specific component.
Although the above tests will also help check thermal efficiency, we recommend using the Power test tool to check thermal issues, as it will stress all power-hungry components. It will check PSU performance, but since it stresses CPU, GPUs, and RAMs to the max, it is great for thermal testing as well.
Run the Power test with default settings, and track the temperature of the CPU and GPU in the middle panel. If the temperature stays above 194º F (90° C) consistently, the thermal system isn’t working efficiently.
Make Sure USB Ports Are Working
Just because all USB ports are functioning doesn’t mean there can’t be a problem with them. USB ports can have issues that can affect the performance of the attached devices. Follow these steps to detect whether there is a problem with USB ports:
Search for “device manager” in Windows Search, and open the Device Manager.
Open the Universal Serial Bus Controllers section, right-click on USB Root Hub, and select Properties.
Check the Device status, and make sure it says This device is working properly. If it shows an error, check the error code online to see what’s causing the problem. Many times it can be fixed by updating its drivers.
Repeat the same process for all USB Root Hub devices to ensure all USB ports are working fine.
Diagnose RAM for Issues
Similar to other components, RAM can be in a bad state. However, the signs of unhealthy RAM are usually system crashes and slow performance after too much use, which isn’t apparent immediately. Follow these instructions to diagnose RAM issues:
Checking RAM health is easy on Windows, thanks to the built-in Windows Memory Diagnostic tool. To use the tool, press Win + R, and type mdsched.exe in the Run dialog. It will ask you to restart the PC to check for problems. Save any open data, and confirm the prompt to restart the PC.
Upon restart, select Extended test for complete diagnosis. Any errors found will be reported when Windows boots. To learn more about how to effectively use this tool, check out our guide on using the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool.
If no problems are found, stress test the RAM to ensure it works fine under load. The OCCT app can be used for this purpose as well. Select the Memory test, and start with the default configurations.
Let the test run for at least 30 minutes to ensure there is no problem. If the PC crashes, the RAM is faulty. However, slow performance and minor freezes are normal during the test, as most of the RAM is in use.
Check Storage Health and Performance
Health and performance are a big concern for used storage, especially SSDs. They have limited read/write cycles, so if too much of the storage drive is used, it will lead to limited overall use for you. First, test the read/write speeds to ensure it’s running at expected speeds, then check for any errors.
CrystalDiskMark is a simple, free, and reliable tool for quickly testing storage speed. Open the tool, and click on All, without changing the default settings. It will run read/write tests using different data sequences. When the test is finished, make sure the readings in the SEQ1M Q8T1 are near the storage drive’s advertised speed.
To check storage health, CrystalDiskInfo is a tool from the same developers. It shows detailed information about overall use. Based on S.M.A.R.T info, it rates your storage drive health. Ensure it says Good. Caution or Bad means, of course, that there is an issue.
You can also see power-on hours and total read/write data to get an idea of how much of the storage capacity has been used.
All these software checks can take quite some time, so make sure you get some inspection time from the seller to properly check your desktop. Furthermore, these Windows software checks will work for laptops as well, but there’s more to consider before buying a used laptop.
Image credit: Vecteezy. All screenshots by Karrar Haider.
Karrar Haider –
Staff Writer
Karrar is drenched in technology and always fiddles with new tech opportunities. He has a bad habit of calling technology “Killer”, and doesn’t feel bad about spending too much time in front of the PC. If he is not writing about technology, you will find him spending quality time with his little family.
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