Properly understanding what’s happening on your PC – monitoring hardware, assessing performance, diagnosing errors – normally requires you to navigate a host of Control Panel applets and third-party tools. But if you’re tired of such hassles, then there is an easier way: install AIDA64 Extreme Edition 1.85 and you’ll get a whole library of PC management and information tools in a single, easy-to-use package.

Need to know more about your PC devices, for instance? AIDA64 provides detailed reports on your motherboard, BIOS, RAM, hard drive, sound card, network adapters, PCI and USB-connected devices, their resource use and more, so you can get a feel for your system setup without having to open the case.

If you’re worried that hardware issues are responsible for some PC problems then a System Stability Text will exercise your CPU, memory and hard drives to see how they cope. AIDA64 can also monitor your system temperature, fan speed, voltages and more, quickly highlighting any issues you might have. And if you plan to push your PC beyond its usual limits then a handy Overclock report can help, detailing CPU stepping, clock, multiplier, FSB, memory timings, CPU clock and more.

AIDA64 provides detailed reports on every aspect of your PC

You’re more concerned about software? AIDA64 also reports on your installed programs. It’ll list the software licences of some supported programs (including Windows and Microsoft Office), handy as an easy way to back them up. Tools such as the Event Log will help to diagnose problems, and there are useful reports on your startup programs, scheduled tasks, installed Sidebar gadgets and file associations, amongst others.

The list goes on, with individual settings reporting on your network setup, multimedia configuration (including installed codecs), and security (key patches, installed settings and more). A Benchmarks section makes it easy to assess your RAM and CPU performance. And powerful reporting options mean you can save any of these details for future reference, which will also help to highlight changes.

To obtain your free copy of AIDA64 Extreme Edition 1.85, worth $39.95, first visit the Downloadcrew Giveaway site on Thursday March 29th, between 00:00 and 23:59 CET. Log in – creating a free account if you don’t have one already – and download the installation file. And we’ll provide you with a coupon code which you can then redeem for a free licence key (check the Giveaway page on Thursday for the full instructions).