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BeLarc and SiSoft Sandra may be useful for some of this.
If you want something more manual, try Network Notepad.
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I'm not convinced he's after an automated data retrieval process; it sounded to me like he's more interested in an inventory system/asset management solution. These are completely separate problem domains, and good products that do both are few and far in-between.
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I agree on all counts. However, besides Excel, I've never seen a great asset tracking tool. These however will give you serial numbers and service tags of software, so I figured it might be a good starting point.
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cp-andy wrote: easily feed in all
That's not going to be easy - they, almost invariably, will have to be entered manually. Then verified.
Other than that, whether you use a spreadsheet, database, or some commercial package, the works really going to be managing a list.
On the bright side, once the list is created, managing it (by keeping it up to date) is far less of a burden - especially if always done in a very timely manner.
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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Have you checked out Spiceworks? It does the job and is free. You can attach documents to the assets and custom group them.
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We used a dedicated instance of an issue tracker (Redmine) for that. Each hardware item was treated like a ticket, which was nice, because you could have history associated with it. All it needed was adding some custom fields for serial number, part number, date of calibration, who checked it out etc. And a third party plug in to enable periodic notifications about due maintenance.
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Maintaining accurate inventory information is a unique collaboration, between science, art, culture and regulatory demands for audits.
We use a assortment of third party data collection tools that scan the environment persistently, coupled with verified manual processes to document the introduction and EOL of deployed items (the scanned data is used to prove out the manual processes and alert responsible parties when expected data changes unexpectedly outside of the authorized change process).
We amass this information into a data repository where we then leverage it to produce required audit reports, and real time queries.
As mentioned some level of tracking can be accomplished with simple tool that are widely available, but personally I think that this goes beyond application and to be truly successful it must become engrained in the culture of the organization.
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Whatever you do, buy a barcode reader with a keyboard wedge!
It can be SO MUCH easier reading in the various codes. I think there are 4 on my laptop
(Serial, Tag, Windows #, and another).
I would start with EXCEL, and gradually move to a database.
This also implies you will have a centralized group/person assigning the equipment.
You want to track who has it, and have them SIGN the form indicating what they can and cannot use the equipment for, as well as TRACK that they have signed the form(s). Which should also indicate WHO they have to return things to, and remind them to get a receipt.
Any given user should be able to request what devices are assigned to them, and vice versa.
Catch up on existing lists by sending someone with a laptop, barcode reader, paperwork, to go through the office, and get what they need.
It's a small pain, but having it setup like this, and building it up ONE person at a time, with the more flexible (your own team) first, will let you streamline the process, and make it complete.
I cannot tell you how much faster the barcode reader makes this! We used it because we have them lying around, and the first person did not think of it, they were trying to read these tiny #s on the bottom of laptops, inside phones, etc.
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Spiceworks might do it. You have to deal with some advertisements but it can search your network for equipment and you can manually enter it as well. I haven't used the purchase tracking system since we do things weird but it is supposed to even track quotes. You would install it on a system and it has it's own integrated web server.
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Just had a comment on an answer to a 2011 question about converting Points to Inches. (The answer was trivial: multiply by 72. But you knew that.)
What complexity does the new poster need sorted? "how about Millimeter?"
Oh, fer Elephants sakes ... 
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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I don't think even Samsung have made a screen big enough for that to be a problem just yet.
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Then we will need a long scrollbar.
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And a more powerful graphics Picard
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Wow, it must be nice to have people commenting on your knowledge 6 years later (better or worse). If the QA gives you so much heartburn, then quit it. Move onto something less stressful.
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Many of them are sensible questions from people who need help - but some of them are lazy little sh*ts that can't be bothered to think for themselves and want someone else to do all the hard work for 'em while they get the rewards.
The first lot make the second bearable, but sometimes there is a need to vent the frustration, and the desk can only take so many bangs from my head. 
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Don't break another desk! 
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I remember when we used to have at least two hours for fix issues, now we have to solve them within an hour.
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Productivity must rise! 
Yeah ... Damn cheek that one wasn't it?
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Didn't even read the question, just scrolled down to the report flag
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This is one of those times when I don't think that reporting it helps - leaving it there so his tutors can see he was asking is much better. Sometimes, you have to be kind to be cruel!
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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My favorite distance measurement: Beard seconds
My favorite time measurement: Microfortnights
I'm retired. There's a nap for that...
- Harvey
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I think all screen resolutions ought to be measured in nautic miles! 
Or would that be going overboard? 
Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
Anonymous
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The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
Winston Churchill, 1944
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I'd just like a chance to prove that money can't make me happy.
Me, all the time
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I'm thinking you're all wet! 
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