I have a script that collects this infomration, - not disssimilar from what's been posted here. Output goes to a .CSV on the LAN. CPU and HDD info are done by freeware programs, although I see v4.1 of KIX remedies this need.

For installed software capture I simply enumerate the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall" key. To capture miscallenous stuff that might not use the Windows Uninstaller I query the \Startup folder and \Run registry keys, for my uses this is sufficient.

My fellow Admins can get to this .CSV by an Intranet page. Specifically the link calls a .BAT which copies the live file to a local temp file and they then open the file locally. This way a user can log in while we are looking at the most recent data and not have to worry about an open file error preventing an update. (.BAT contents follow).

code:
@echo off
if exist %temp%\~tfcauditpvd.csv del %temp%\~tfcauditpvd.csv
copy \\<servername>\shared\pc-info\tfcaudit.csv %temp%\~tfcauditpvd.csv
explorer %temp%\~tfcauditpvd.csv
cls
:end
Kind of along these lines...
Something I've recently started doing is using NBTSTAT (assuming a WinTel environemnt) and KiXtart to get MAC addr/IP/MachineName/USERID info. Somtimes I get an error with a MAC address as the reference and I need to nail it down to a PC or user quickly.

[ 24 April 2002, 22:24: Message edited by: Car guy ]
_________________________
Keyboard error - press F1 to resume Dave Lum - dlum@tfc.textron.com Sr. Network Specialist, TFC-Textron 503.675.5510 / 800-704-5208(fax)