refactor(gui): one-time launch elevation instead of "Run with admin"

Remove the per-page "Run with admin" buttons. At launch the GUI asks for the
password once (pkexec) and collects root-only data (SMART + dmidecode board/
BIOS/RAM) via the internal `collect-priv` command, caching it for the session;
Health and Inventory read that cache so they always show the full picture.

- core/elevation.py: pkexec collect + session cache
- cli: hidden `collect-priv` command (SMART + dmidecode -> JSON)
- health/inventory: use the elevation cache when present, else non-root
- main_window: collect at launch (config elevate_on_launch), then refresh
  Health/Inventory; falls back silently if cancelled/unavailable
- config: elevate_on_launch (default true)

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -5,6 +5,31 @@ All notable changes to RigDoctor are recorded here. Format follows
 (`MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH`, pre-1.0). `__version__` and `pyproject.toml` must match the git
 release tag (so the auto-updater, D18, can compare versions).
 
+## [0.3.2] - 2026-05-21
+### Changed
+- Replaced the per-page "Run with admin" buttons with a **single password prompt at launch**
+  (`pkexec`): the GUI collects root-only data (SMART + dmidecode board/BIOS/RAM) once and
+  caches it for the session, so Health and Inventory always show the full picture. Falls back
+  to non-root if cancelled/unavailable; disable via `elevate_on_launch = false`.
+
+## [0.3.1] - 2026-05-21
+### Fixed
+- Changelog/release notes now **render Markdown** instead of showing raw `#`/`**` markup —
+  the in-app changelog uses `QTextEdit.setMarkdown()` and the update prompt renders notes as
+  rich text (closes #1).
+
+## [0.3.0] - 2026-05-21
+### Added
+- **System inventory (M5)**: CPU, GPU (model/driver/VBIOS/VRAM/PCIe), motherboard/BIOS, RAM
+  (total + modules), storage, kernel, and display server. CLI `rigdoctor inventory`
+  (`--json` / `--markdown` / `--output`) and a GUI **Inventory** tab with Copy-as-Markdown,
+  Save, and "Run with admin" (for `dmidecode` board/BIOS/RAM details). Fills the last GUI tab.
+
+## [0.2.0] - 2026-05-21
+### Added
+- **"Check for updates" button** in the sidebar — force an immediate version check instead of
+  waiting for the 30-minute poll.
+
 ## [0.1.1] - 2026-05-21
 ### Fixed
 - Dialogs (the update prompt and changelog) were light-on-light and unreadable — they now use

docs/MODULES.md

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ Status: ⬜ not started · 🟦 designing · 🟨 in progress · ✅ done
 | M4 | Health report (log scan) | Essential | none (opt: smartmontools) | all (NVIDIA first) | P0 | 🟨 |
 | M2 | Live monitor (TUI) | Monitoring | none (stdlib curses) | all | P1 | ⬜ |
 | M8 | Alerting | Monitoring | libnotify (opt) | all | P2 | ⬜ |
-| M5 | System inventory | Diagnostics | none (opt: lm-sensors, dmidecode) | all | P1 | ⬜ |
+| M5 | System inventory | Diagnostics | none (opt: lm-sensors, dmidecode) | all | P1 | 🟨 |
 | M6 | Gaming env checks | Diagnostics | none | all | P2 | ⬜ |
 | M10 | Desktop GUI | Desktop UI | **python3-pyside6** | all | P2 | 🟨 |
 | M11 | Tray / menu-bar applet | Desktop UI | **python3-pyside6** (+ AppIndicator on GNOME) | all | P2 | ⬜ |

pyproject.toml

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "rigdoctor"
-version = "0.1.1"
+version = "0.3.2"
 description = "Modular hardware monitoring & crash diagnostics for Linux gamers."
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.11"

src/rigdoctor/__init__.py

@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 """RigDoctor — modular hardware monitoring & crash diagnostics for Linux gamers."""
 
-__version__ = "0.1.1"
+__version__ = "0.3.2"

src/rigdoctor/cli.py

@@ -295,6 +295,36 @@ def cmd_uninstall(args) -> int:
     return 0
 
 
+def cmd_collect_priv(args) -> int:
+    """Internal: emit root-only data (SMART + dmidecode) as JSON, run via pkexec at launch."""
+    from dataclasses import asdict
+
+    from .core.health import check_smart
+    from .core.inventory import _dmidecode
+
+    data = {"smart": [asdict(f) for f in check_smart()], "dmidecode": _dmidecode()}
+    print(json.dumps(data))
+    return 0
+
+
+def cmd_inventory(args) -> int:
+    from .core import inventory
+
+    sections = inventory.collect()
+    if args.json:
+        text = inventory.render_json(sections)
+    elif args.markdown:
+        text = inventory.render_markdown(sections)
+    else:
+        text = inventory.render_text(sections)
+    if args.output:
+        Path(args.output).write_text(text)
+        print(f"Wrote {args.output}")
+    else:
+        print(text)
+    return 0
+
+
 def cmd_report(args) -> int:
     from dataclasses import asdict
 
@@ -371,6 +401,15 @@ def build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
     rep = sub.add_parser("report", help="health report (M4): scan logs/SMART/driver for issues")
     rep.add_argument("--json", action="store_true", help="output JSON instead of text")
     rep.set_defaults(func=cmd_report)
+
+    cp = sub.add_parser("collect-priv", help=argparse.SUPPRESS)  # internal: run via pkexec
+    cp.set_defaults(func=cmd_collect_priv)
+
+    inv = sub.add_parser("inventory", help="system inventory (M5): export hardware/OS details")
+    inv.add_argument("--json", action="store_true", help="output JSON")
+    inv.add_argument("--markdown", action="store_true", help="output Markdown (for forum/bug reports)")
+    inv.add_argument("-o", "--output", default=None, help="write to a file instead of stdout")
+    inv.set_defaults(func=cmd_inventory)
     return p
 
 

src/rigdoctor/config.py

@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ DEFAULTS: dict = {
     "log_max_bytes": 20_000_000,  # rotate a log segment past this size
     "log_backups": 10,            # keep this many rotated segments (bounds disk use)
     "update_check_minutes": 30,   # re-check for updates this often while running (0 = off)
+    "elevate_on_launch": True,    # GUI asks for the password once at launch (SMART/dmidecode)
 }
 
 

src/rigdoctor/core/elevation.py

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+"""Session privilege elevation.
+
+At GUI launch the app asks for the password once (pkexec) and collects the data that
+needs root — SMART health + dmidecode (board/BIOS/RAM) — caching it for the session so
+Health and Inventory can always show the full picture without per-action prompts.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import os
+import shutil
+import subprocess
+import sys
+
+_privileged: dict | None = None
+
+
+def privileged() -> dict | None:
+    """Cached root-collected data ({"smart": [...], "dmidecode": {...}}), or None."""
+    return _privileged
+
+
+def set_privileged(data: dict | None) -> None:
+    global _privileged
+    _privileged = data
+
+
+def available() -> bool:
+    return shutil.which("pkexec") is not None and os.geteuid() != 0
+
+
+def _cli() -> list[str]:
+    candidate = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(sys.executable), "rigdoctor")
+    return [candidate] if os.path.exists(candidate) else [sys.executable, "-m", "rigdoctor"]
+
+
+def collect_via_pkexec(timeout: float = 120.0) -> dict | None:
+    """Run one elevated collection (single password prompt). None if unavailable/cancelled."""
+    if not available():
+        return None
+    try:
+        proc = subprocess.run(
+            ["pkexec", *_cli(), "collect-priv"],
+            capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=timeout,
+        )
+        if proc.returncode == 0 and proc.stdout.strip():
+            return json.loads(proc.stdout)
+    except (subprocess.SubprocessError, OSError, ValueError):
+        pass
+    return None

src/rigdoctor/core/health.py

@@ -234,12 +234,22 @@ def check_live_temps() -> list[Finding]:
 
 
 def run_health_checks() -> list[Finding]:
-    """Run all checks and return findings sorted by severity (worst first)."""
+    """Run all checks and return findings sorted by severity (worst first).
+
+    SMART needs root; if the session collected it via launch elevation, use that
+    instead of re-running smartctl (which would just report "needs root").
+    """
+    from . import elevation
+
     findings: list[Finding] = []
     findings += check_nvidia_driver()
     findings += check_journal()
     findings += check_journal_persistence()
-    findings += check_smart()
+    priv = elevation.privileged()
+    if priv is not None and priv.get("smart") is not None:
+        findings += [Finding(**d) for d in priv["smart"]]
+    else:
+        findings += check_smart()
     findings += check_live_temps()
     findings.sort(key=lambda f: _ORDER.get(f.severity, 9))
     return findings

src/rigdoctor/core/inventory.py

@@ -0,0 +1,206 @@
+"""System inventory (M5): collect hardware/OS details, exportable to Markdown/JSON.
+
+Stdlib + tools already used elsewhere (nvidia-smi, lspci, lsblk, dmidecode). Every
+probe degrades gracefully; board/BIOS/RAM-module details need dmidecode as root.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import os
+import platform
+import shutil
+import subprocess
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from .. import __version__
+from . import sysenv
+
+
+@dataclass
+class Section:
+    title: str
+    items: list[tuple[str, str]]
+
+
+def _run(cmd: list[str], timeout: float = 12.0) -> str:
+    try:
+        proc = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=timeout)
+        if proc.returncode == 0:
+            return proc.stdout
+    except (subprocess.SubprocessError, OSError):
+        pass
+    return ""
+
+
+def _system() -> Section:
+    u = os.uname()
+    return Section("System", [
+        ("Distro", sysenv.distro_name()),
+        ("Kernel", u.release),
+        ("Architecture", u.machine),
+        ("Hostname", u.nodename),
+        ("Python", platform.python_version()),
+        ("RigDoctor", __version__),
+    ])
+
+
+def _cpu() -> Section:
+    model = "?"
+    threads = 0
+    core_ids: set[tuple[str, str]] = set()
+    phys = "0"
+    try:
+        for line in Path("/proc/cpuinfo").read_text().splitlines():
+            if line.startswith("model name") and model == "?":
+                model = line.split(":", 1)[1].strip()
+            elif line.startswith("processor"):
+                threads += 1
+            elif line.startswith("physical id"):
+                phys = line.split(":", 1)[1].strip()
+            elif line.startswith("core id"):
+                core_ids.add((phys, line.split(":", 1)[1].strip()))
+    except OSError:
+        pass
+    items = [("Model", model)]
+    if core_ids:
+        items.append(("Cores", str(len(core_ids))))
+    items.append(("Threads", str(threads or os.cpu_count() or "?")))
+    return Section("CPU", items)
+
+
+def _firmware(dmi: dict) -> Section:
+    board = dmi.get("baseboard", {})
+    bios = dmi.get("bios", {})
+    items: list[tuple[str, str]] = []
+    if board:
+        items.append(("Motherboard", f"{board.get('Manufacturer', '')} {board.get('Product Name', '')}".strip()))
+    if bios:
+        items.append(("BIOS", f"{bios.get('Vendor', '')} {bios.get('Version', '')}".strip()))
+        if bios.get("Release Date"):
+            items.append(("BIOS date", bios["Release Date"]))
+    if not items:
+        items = [("Motherboard / BIOS", "run with admin (dmidecode needs root)")]
+    return Section("Firmware", items)
+
+
+def _memory(dmi: dict) -> Section:
+    items: list[tuple[str, str]] = []
+    try:
+        for line in Path("/proc/meminfo").read_text().splitlines():
+            if line.startswith("MemTotal"):
+                items.append(("Total", f"{int(line.split()[1]) / 1024 / 1024:.1f} GB"))
+                break
+    except (OSError, ValueError, IndexError):
+        pass
+    modules = dmi.get("memory", [])
+    if modules:
+        items.append(("Modules", str(len(modules))))
+        for i, m in enumerate(modules):
+            desc = " · ".join(p for p in (m.get("Size"), m.get("Type"), m.get("Speed"), m.get("Part Number")) if p)
+            items.append((f"Slot {i}", desc))
+    elif shutil.which("dmidecode"):
+        items.append(("Modules", "run with admin for module details"))
+    return Section("Memory", items)
+
+
+def _gpu() -> Section:
+    if shutil.which("nvidia-smi"):
+        out = _run([
+            "nvidia-smi",
+            "--query-gpu=name,driver_version,vbios_version,memory.total,pcie.link.gen.max,pcie.link.width.max",
+            "--format=csv,noheader",
+        ])
+        line = out.strip().splitlines()[0] if out.strip() else ""
+        if line:
+            cols = [c.strip() for c in line.split(",")]
+            keys = ["Name", "Driver", "VBIOS", "VRAM", "PCIe gen (max)", "PCIe width (max)"]
+            return Section("GPU", list(zip(keys, cols)))
+    out = _run(["lspci"])
+    gpus = [ln.split(":", 2)[-1].strip() for ln in out.splitlines()
+            if "VGA compatible controller" in ln or "3D controller" in ln]
+    return Section("GPU", [("Device", g) for g in gpus] or [("Device", "unknown")])
+
+
+def _storage() -> Section:
+    items: list[tuple[str, str]] = []
+    # TYPE first so MODEL (which can contain spaces) is the trailing field.
+    out = _run(["lsblk", "-dn", "-o", "TYPE,NAME,SIZE,MODEL"])
+    for line in out.strip().splitlines():
+        parts = line.split(None, 3)
+        if len(parts) < 3 or parts[0] != "disk":  # skip loop/zram/rom devices
+            continue
+        name, size = parts[1], parts[2]
+        model = parts[3] if len(parts) > 3 else ""
+        items.append((name, f"{model} ({size})".strip()))
+    return Section("Storage", items or [("Disks", "unknown")])
+
+
+def _display() -> Section:
+    return Section("Display", [
+        ("Session", os.environ.get("XDG_SESSION_TYPE", "unknown")),
+        ("Desktop", os.environ.get("XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP") or os.environ.get("DESKTOP_SESSION", "unknown")),
+    ])
+
+
+def _dmidecode() -> dict:
+    if not shutil.which("dmidecode"):
+        return {}
+    out = _run(["dmidecode", "-t", "baseboard", "-t", "bios", "-t", "memory"], timeout=15)
+    if not out.strip():
+        return {}
+    result: dict = {"baseboard": {}, "bios": {}, "memory": []}
+    for block in out.split("Handle "):
+        lines = block.splitlines()
+        if len(lines) < 2:
+            continue
+        title = lines[1].strip()
+        kv: dict[str, str] = {}
+        for ln in lines[2:]:
+            if ln.startswith("\t") and ":" in ln:
+                key, _, value = ln.strip().partition(":")
+                kv[key.strip()] = value.strip()
+        if title == "Base Board Information":
+            result["baseboard"] = kv
+        elif title == "BIOS Information":
+            result["bios"] = kv
+        elif title == "Memory Device" and kv.get("Size") and kv["Size"] != "No Module Installed":
+            result["memory"].append(kv)
+    return result
+
+
+def collect() -> list[Section]:
+    from . import elevation
+
+    priv = elevation.privileged()
+    dmi = priv["dmidecode"] if (priv and priv.get("dmidecode") is not None) else _dmidecode()
+    return [_system(), _cpu(), _firmware(dmi), _memory(dmi), _gpu(), _storage(), _display()]
+
+
+def to_dict(sections: list[Section]) -> dict:
+    return {s.title: dict(s.items) for s in sections}
+
+
+def from_dict(data: dict) -> list[Section]:
+    return [Section(title, list(items.items())) for title, items in data.items()]
+
+
+def render_markdown(sections: list[Section]) -> str:
+    out = ["# RigDoctor system inventory", ""]
+    for s in sections:
+        out.append(f"## {s.title}")
+        out += [f"- **{k}:** {v}" for k, v in s.items]
+        out.append("")
+    return "\n".join(out).strip() + "\n"
+
+
+def render_text(sections: list[Section]) -> str:
+    blocks = []
+    for s in sections:
+        blocks.append("\n".join([s.title] + [f"  {k:<18} {v}" for k, v in s.items]))
+    return "\n\n".join(blocks)
+
+
+def render_json(sections: list[Section]) -> str:
+    return json.dumps(to_dict(sections), indent=2, ensure_ascii=False)

src/rigdoctor/gui/health_page.py

@@ -2,11 +2,6 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-import json
-import os
-import shutil
-import subprocess
-import sys
 import threading
 import time
 
@@ -77,11 +72,6 @@ class HealthPage(QWidget):
         self._status = QLabel("")
         self._status.setObjectName("Muted")
         header.addWidget(self._status)
-        self._admin_btn = QPushButton("Run with admin")
-        self._admin_btn.setToolTip("Run all checks with root (SMART needs it) — prompts for your password")
-        self._admin_btn.clicked.connect(self._run_admin)
-        self._admin_btn.setEnabled(shutil.which("pkexec") is not None)
-        header.addWidget(self._admin_btn)
         self._run_btn = QPushButton("Run health report")
         self._run_btn.setObjectName("PrimaryButton")
         self._run_btn.clicked.connect(self._run)
@@ -116,32 +106,10 @@ class HealthPage(QWidget):
             findings = []
         self._result.emit(findings)
 
-    def _run_admin(self) -> None:
-        self._run_btn.setEnabled(False)
-        self._admin_btn.setEnabled(False)
-        self._status.setText("Running all checks with admin (you'll be prompted)…")
-        threading.Thread(target=self._work_admin, daemon=True).start()
-
-    def _work_admin(self) -> None:
-        from ..core.health import Finding
-
-        cli = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(sys.executable), "rigdoctor")
-        if os.path.exists(cli):
-            cmd = ["pkexec", cli, "report", "--json"]
-        else:  # dev / not on PATH next to python
-            cmd = ["pkexec", sys.executable, "-m", "rigdoctor", "report", "--json"]
-        try:
-            proc = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=180)
-            findings = [Finding(**d) for d in json.loads(proc.stdout)] if proc.returncode == 0 else None
-        except Exception:
-            findings = None  # pkexec cancelled / failed / unparsable
-        self._result.emit(findings)
-
     def _render_findings(self, findings) -> None:
         self._run_btn.setEnabled(True)
-        self._admin_btn.setEnabled(shutil.which("pkexec") is not None)
-        if findings is None:  # elevated run cancelled/failed — keep current results
-            self._status.setText("admin run cancelled")
+        if findings is None:  # collection failed — keep current results
+            self._status.setText("check failed")
             return
 
         while self._list.count():

src/rigdoctor/gui/inventory_page.py

@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+"""Inventory page (M5 in the GUI): system inventory with copy/save + admin re-collect."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import threading
+
+from PySide6.QtCore import Qt, QTimer, Signal
+from PySide6.QtWidgets import (
+    QApplication,
+    QFileDialog,
+    QFrame,
+    QGridLayout,
+    QHBoxLayout,
+    QLabel,
+    QPushButton,
+    QScrollArea,
+    QVBoxLayout,
+    QWidget,
+)
+
+from ..core import inventory
+from .theme import MUTED
+
+
+def _section_card(section) -> QFrame:
+    card = QFrame()
+    card.setObjectName("Card")
+    layout = QVBoxLayout(card)
+    layout.setContentsMargins(16, 12, 16, 12)
+    layout.setSpacing(6)
+    title = QLabel(section.title)
+    title.setStyleSheet("font-weight: 700; background: transparent;")
+    layout.addWidget(title)
+    grid = QGridLayout()
+    grid.setColumnStretch(1, 1)
+    grid.setHorizontalSpacing(14)
+    grid.setVerticalSpacing(4)
+    for row, (key, value) in enumerate(section.items):
+        k = QLabel(key)
+        k.setObjectName("Muted")
+        v = QLabel(value)
+        v.setWordWrap(True)
+        v.setStyleSheet("background: transparent;")
+        grid.addWidget(k, row, 0)
+        grid.addWidget(v, row, 1)
+    layout.addLayout(grid)
+    return card
+
+
+class InventoryPage(QWidget):
+    _result = Signal(object)  # list[Section]
+
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        super().__init__()
+        self.setObjectName("Page")
+        self._sections: list = []
+        self._result.connect(self._render)
+
+        root = QVBoxLayout(self)
+        root.setContentsMargins(20, 18, 20, 18)
+        root.setSpacing(16)
+
+        header = QHBoxLayout()
+        title = QLabel("Inventory")
+        title.setObjectName("PageTitle")
+        header.addWidget(title)
+        header.addStretch(1)
+        self._status = QLabel("")
+        self._status.setObjectName("Muted")
+        header.addWidget(self._status)
+        self._copy_btn = QPushButton("Copy Markdown")
+        self._copy_btn.clicked.connect(self._copy)
+        header.addWidget(self._copy_btn)
+        self._save_btn = QPushButton("Save…")
+        self._save_btn.clicked.connect(self._save)
+        header.addWidget(self._save_btn)
+        self._refresh_btn = QPushButton("Refresh")
+        self._refresh_btn.setObjectName("PrimaryButton")
+        self._refresh_btn.clicked.connect(self._run)
+        header.addWidget(self._refresh_btn)
+        root.addLayout(header)
+
+        scroll = QScrollArea()
+        scroll.setWidgetResizable(True)
+        scroll.setFrameShape(QFrame.Shape.NoFrame)
+        scroll.setStyleSheet("background: transparent;")
+        self._container = QWidget()
+        self._list = QVBoxLayout(self._container)
+        self._list.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+        self._list.setSpacing(12)
+        self._list.setAlignment(Qt.AlignmentFlag.AlignTop)
+        scroll.setWidget(self._container)
+        root.addWidget(scroll, 1)
+
+        QTimer.singleShot(300, self._run)
+
+    def _run(self) -> None:
+        self._busy("Collecting…")
+        threading.Thread(target=self._work, daemon=True).start()
+
+    def _work(self) -> None:
+        try:
+            sections = inventory.collect()
+        except Exception:
+            sections = []
+        self._result.emit(sections)
+
+    def _busy(self, text: str) -> None:
+        self._status.setText(text)
+        for b in (self._refresh_btn, self._copy_btn, self._save_btn):
+            b.setEnabled(False)
+
+    def _render(self, sections) -> None:
+        self._refresh_btn.setEnabled(True)
+        self._copy_btn.setEnabled(True)
+        self._save_btn.setEnabled(True)
+        if sections is None:  # collection failed — keep current
+            self._status.setText("collection failed")
+            return
+
+        self._sections = sections
+        while self._list.count():
+            item = self._list.takeAt(0)
+            w = item.widget()
+            if w is not None:
+                w.deleteLater()
+        for section in sections:
+            self._list.addWidget(_section_card(section))
+        self._list.addStretch(1)
+        self._status.setText("")
+
+    def _copy(self) -> None:
+        if self._sections:
+            QApplication.clipboard().setText(inventory.render_markdown(self._sections))
+            self._status.setText("copied as Markdown")
+
+    def _save(self) -> None:
+        if not self._sections:
+            return
+        path, _ = QFileDialog.getSaveFileName(self, "Save inventory", "rigdoctor-inventory.md", "Markdown (*.md)")
+        if path:
+            with open(path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+                f.write(inventory.render_markdown(self._sections))
+            self._status.setText(f"saved {os.path.basename(path)}")

src/rigdoctor/gui/main_window.py

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import sys
 import threading
 
 from PySide6.QtCore import Qt, QProcess, QTimer, Signal
+from PySide6.QtGui import QTextDocument
 from PySide6.QtWidgets import (
     QApplication,
     QButtonGroup,
@@ -25,29 +26,29 @@ from PySide6.QtWidgets import (
 
 from .. import __version__
 from ..config import load_config
-from ..core import updates
+from ..core import elevation, updates
 from .dashboard import Dashboard
 from .health_page import HealthPage
+from .inventory_page import InventoryPage
 from .recorder_page import RecorderPage
 from .setup_page import SetupPage
 from .theme import ACCENT, GOOD, MUTED
 from .worker import SamplerWorker
 
 _NAV_ITEMS = ["Dashboard", "Logs", "Health", "Setup", "Inventory"]
-_PLACEHOLDERS = {
-    "Inventory": "System inventory (M5) — CPU/GPU/board/RAM/drivers — lands here.",
-}
 
 
 class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
     _update_checked = Signal(object)  # (state, tag, notes)
     _update_applied = Signal(int)     # pip exit code
     _changelog_ready = Signal(object)  # ([(tag, date, notes)], error)
+    _elevated = Signal()              # privileged data collected at launch
 
     def __init__(self, interval: float = 1.0) -> None:
         super().__init__()
         self.setWindowTitle("RigDoctor")
         self.resize(1000, 680)
+        cfg = load_config()
 
         central = QWidget()
         self.setCentralWidget(central)
@@ -65,11 +66,12 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         self.recorder_page = RecorderPage()
         self.health_page = HealthPage()
         self.setup_page = SetupPage()
+        self.inventory_page = InventoryPage()
         self._stack.addWidget(self.dashboard)            # 0 Dashboard
         self._stack.addWidget(self.recorder_page)        # 1 Logs
         self._stack.addWidget(self.health_page)          # 2 Health
         self._stack.addWidget(self.setup_page)           # 3 Setup
-        self._stack.addWidget(self._placeholder_page("Inventory", _PLACEHOLDERS["Inventory"]))  # 4
+        self._stack.addWidget(self.inventory_page)       # 4 Inventory
         content_layout.addWidget(self._stack)
 
         layout.addWidget(self._build_sidebar())
@@ -79,6 +81,13 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         self._worker.sampled.connect(self.dashboard.update_sample)
         self._worker.start()
 
+        # Ask for the password once at launch and collect root-only data (SMART +
+        # dmidecode); Health/Inventory then always show the full picture (config:
+        # elevate_on_launch). Falls back silently to non-root if cancelled/unavailable.
+        if cfg.get("elevate_on_launch", True) and elevation.available():
+            self._elevated.connect(self._on_elevated)
+            threading.Thread(target=self._collect_privileged, daemon=True).start()
+
         # Update check (M13): once at launch, then periodically so a newly published
         # release is detected without restarting (interval from config; 0 disables).
         self._latest_tag = None
@@ -88,7 +97,7 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         self._update_applied.connect(self._on_update_applied)
         self._changelog_ready.connect(self._on_changelog)
         self._start_update_check()
-        minutes = float(load_config().get("update_check_minutes", 30) or 0)
+        minutes = float(cfg.get("update_check_minutes", 30) or 0)
         if minutes > 0:
             self._update_timer = QTimer(self)
             self._update_timer.setInterval(int(minutes * 60_000))
@@ -134,6 +143,11 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         changelog_btn.setCursor(Qt.CursorShape.PointingHandCursor)
         changelog_btn.clicked.connect(self._show_changelog)
         v.addWidget(changelog_btn)
+        check_btn = QPushButton("Check for updates")
+        check_btn.setObjectName("LinkButton")
+        check_btn.setCursor(Qt.CursorShape.PointingHandCursor)
+        check_btn.clicked.connect(self._manual_check)
+        v.addWidget(check_btn)
 
         # Update state (filled in by the background check).
         self._update_label = QLabel("checking for updates…")
@@ -167,7 +181,9 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         box = QMessageBox(self)
         box.setWindowTitle(f"Update to {self._latest_tag}")
         box.setText(f"Update RigDoctor to {self._latest_tag}?")
-        box.setInformativeText(self._latest_notes or "(no release notes)")
+        notes_doc = QTextDocument()
+        notes_doc.setMarkdown(self._latest_notes or "_(no release notes)_")
+        box.setInformativeText(notes_doc.toHtml())  # render Markdown as rich text (#1)
         box.setStandardButtons(QMessageBox.StandardButton.Ok | QMessageBox.StandardButton.Cancel)
         box.button(QMessageBox.StandardButton.Ok).setText("Update")
         if box.exec() != QMessageBox.StandardButton.Ok:
@@ -189,6 +205,23 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
             self._update_label.setText("update failed")
             self._update_btn.setEnabled(True)
 
+    def _collect_privileged(self) -> None:
+        data = elevation.collect_via_pkexec()
+        if data is not None:
+            elevation.set_privileged(data)
+            self._elevated.emit()
+
+    def _on_elevated(self) -> None:
+        # Re-run Health and Inventory now that root-only data (SMART/dmidecode) is available.
+        self.health_page._run()
+        self.inventory_page._run()
+
+    def _manual_check(self) -> None:
+        if self._applied:
+            return
+        self._update_label.setText("checking for updates…")
+        self._start_update_check()
+
     def _start_update_check(self) -> None:
         threading.Thread(target=self._check_updates, daemon=True).start()
 
@@ -222,9 +255,9 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
             return
         blocks = []
         for tag, date, notes in releases:
-            head = tag + (f"   ({date})" if date else "")
-            blocks.append(f"{head}\n{'─' * len(head)}\n{notes or '(no notes)'}")
-        view.setPlainText("\n\n".join(blocks))
+            title = f"## {tag}" + (f" — {date}" if date else "")
+            blocks.append(f"{title}\n\n{notes or '_(no notes)_'}")
+        view.setMarkdown("\n\n".join(blocks))  # render Markdown instead of raw text (#1)
 
     def _check_updates(self) -> None:
         self._update_checked.emit(updates.update_state())
@@ -249,29 +282,6 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         else:  # UP_TO_DATE
             self._update_label.setText("up-to-date")
 
-    def _placeholder_page(self, title: str, description: str) -> QWidget:
-        page = QWidget()
-        page.setObjectName("Page")
-        v = QVBoxLayout(page)
-        v.setContentsMargins(20, 18, 20, 18)
-        v.setSpacing(16)
-        head = QLabel(title)
-        head.setObjectName("PageTitle")
-        v.addWidget(head)
-
-        card = QFrame()
-        card.setObjectName("Card")
-        cv = QVBoxLayout(card)
-        cv.setContentsMargins(24, 48, 24, 48)
-        msg = QLabel(description)
-        msg.setObjectName("Muted")
-        msg.setWordWrap(True)
-        msg.setAlignment(Qt.AlignmentFlag.AlignCenter)
-        cv.addWidget(msg)
-        v.addWidget(card)
-        v.addStretch(1)
-        return page
-
     def closeEvent(self, event) -> None:  # noqa: N802 (Qt override)
         self._worker.stop()
         super().closeEvent(event)

tests/test_inventory.py

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+"""Tests for the M5 system inventory (render + dict round-trip; collect on real system)."""
+
+import unittest
+
+from rigdoctor.core import inventory
+from rigdoctor.core.inventory import Section
+
+
+class InventoryTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_collect_returns_sections(self):
+        sections = inventory.collect()
+        self.assertTrue(sections)
+        titles = {s.title for s in sections}
+        self.assertIn("System", titles)
+        self.assertIn("CPU", titles)
+
+    def test_dict_round_trip(self):
+        sections = [Section("System", [("Kernel", "7.0.0"), ("Distro", "Ubuntu")])]
+        restored = inventory.from_dict(inventory.to_dict(sections))
+        self.assertEqual(restored[0].title, "System")
+        self.assertEqual(restored[0].items, [("Kernel", "7.0.0"), ("Distro", "Ubuntu")])
+
+    def test_render_markdown(self):
+        md = inventory.render_markdown([Section("CPU", [("Model", "Test CPU")])])
+        self.assertIn("## CPU", md)
+        self.assertIn("- **Model:** Test CPU", md)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()