Microsoft has replaced their Windows Vista Hardware Assessment Solution Accelerator with the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Solution Accelerator, an agentless tool that finds computers on a network and performs a detailed inventory of the computers using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), the Remote Registry Service, or the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). (Support: TechNet Overview, MAP Team Blog)
COMMENT: The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Solution Accelerator can also successfully be used as a FREE Network Inventory Tool! (^_^)