Windows

Remote process execution

You can use PsExec for this. Download it from TechNet - PsExec

uptime

Read this from the systeminfo command

C:\>systeminfo

...
OS Name:                   Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Server 2003 Standard x64 Edition
OS Version:                5.2.3790 Service Pack 2 Build 3790
OS Manufacturer:           Microsoft Corporation
OS Configuration:          Standalone Server
OS Build Type:             Multiprocessor Free
...
Original Install Date:     20/02/2009, 10:34:22
System Up Time:            251 Days, 21 Hours, 49 Minutes, 24 Seconds

Operating System performance statistics

Use Administrative Tools -> Performance, then choose and log various measurements to file.

Printing

Sometimes jobs will clog up the print queue. You can restart the spooler by running:

net stop spooler
net start spooler

This is still manual intervention, but is better than having to reboot the printer’s computer.

Product ID and Product Key

You can run systeminfo command to find out the Product ID. The last 5 digits will match the bar code on the left hand side of your authenticity sticker. The product key itself it not retrievable without other programs.

Process Explorer

Process Explorer is a task manager replacement. Easy to use and powerful.

Windows Sysinternals

A collection of useful utilities are available from Windows Sysinternals. This is aimed at administrators and savvy developers.