---
title: "How to scan a Windows computer | Lansweeper Classic"
slug: "how-to-scan-a-windows-computer"
description: "Scan a Windows domain or workgroup computer with Lansweeper Classic, with or without a scanning agent, to collect detailed hardware and software data."
updated: 2026-06-17T09:35:29Z
published: 2026-06-17T09:35:29Z
canonical: "docs.lansweeper.com/how-to-scan-a-windows-computer"
stale: true
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.lansweeper.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to scan a Windows computer

There are two main ways you can scan a Windows domain or workgroup computer: using a scanning agent or without using a scanning agent.

You can use any of the following scan types to scan a new Windows computer that hasn't been scanned before: Active Directory Computer Path, Active Directory Domain, IP Range, Windows Computer, or Workgroup.

Regardless of the scan type, the collected Windows data includes information about disks, event log entries, installed updates, logged-in users, manufacturer, model, memory, monitors, motherboard, network cards, operating system, processor, services, software, license keys, uptime, and more!

## Scan a Windows computer without a scanning agent

To scan a Windows domain or workgroup computer without a scanning agent:

1. Make sure you meet the Windows [domain](/classic/docs/windows-domain-scanning-requirements) or [workgroup](/classic/docs/windows-workgroup-scanning-requirements) scanning requirements.
2. In your web console, go to **Scanning > Scanning targets**, and select **Add Scanning Target**.

If you have multiple scanning servers, there will be a separate configuration tab for each server.
3. Go to **Scanning > Scanning credentials**, and select **Add new Credential**.
4. In the popup, select **Windows** as the **Type**, and enter your Windows username and password.

You can use the same username and password for all Windows computers by editing the global Windows credential.
  - For domain credentials, submit a down-level logon name like NetBIOS domain name\username or a user principal name (UPN) like [username@yourdomain.local](mailto:username@yourdomain.local).
  - For local credentials, use the format `.\username`.
  - Microsoft accounts like [username@outlook.com](mailto:username@outlook.com) can be used as credentials as well.
5. If the credential you set up is not a global credential, you will need to map the credential to your computer's domain/workgroup, name, IP address or IP range.

In the **Credential Mapping** section of the **Scanning credentials** page, select **Map Credential**.
6. Select your preferred **Mapping type**, and enter the required information.
7. Select your Windows credential, and **Ok**.
8. Wait for your scanning schedules to trigger or initiate an immediate scan by selecting **Scan now** next to the scan target under **Scanning > Scanning Targets**. You can monitor the progress of your scan request under **Scanning > Scanning Queue**.

## Scan a Windows computer with a scanning agent

There are separate articles on how to scan Windows computers with the [LsAgent](/classic/docs/introduction-to-lsagent-for-windows-linux-and-mac) or [LsPush](/classic/docs/introduction-to-the-lspush-scanning-agent-for-windows) scanning agent.

The scanning agents scan largely the same data as agentless scanning methods, but have several important advantages:

- Scanning agents are immune to almost all scanning errors, including access denied and firewall errors.
- Scanning agents allow you to scan the computers of remote workers.
- Scanning agents generate a lot less traffic during scanning.
- Scanning agents can scan Home editions of Windows.
- Scanning agents do not require administrative privileges.