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Microsoft Windows TutorialsWhat Version of Windows Am I Running?
What version of Windows am I running? This tutorial explains how to find out which version of Windows you are running. What version of Windows you run often determines which programs can be installed on your computer, or helps IT staff and friends help you troubleshoot Windows problems. This information is also useful when you are about to get new hardware or software, whose configuration may only be compatible with some versions of Windows. Let's get started, and figure out what version of Windows you have installed on your PC.
Major Microsoft Windows Versions
Here are the main Windows versions for desktop computers (excluding Windows versions for mobile device); your PC probably runs one of these. (The end of this tutorial will explain the subtle distinctions you may need to know about between Windows versions and editions, 32- vs. 64-bits, service packs, etc.)
- Major Windows Versions (for Desktop Computers)
- Windows NT
- Windows 95
- Windows 98
- Windows 98 SE ("Second Edition")
- Windows ME ("Millennium Edition")
- Windows 2000
- Windows XP (Sometimes referred to as "Windows 2002")
- Windows 2003 (a Windows edition for server)
- Windows Vista
- Windows 2008, and Windows 2008 R2 (both editions designed for servers)
- Windows 7
Finding Out Which Windows Version You Are Running
The easiest way to determine which version of Windows you are running is to locate the My Computer icon on your desktop.
Give it a right-click, and choose Properties from the context menu that opens.
The System Properties will open. Depending on your version of Windows, there will be more or less tabs than shown on this screenshot.
However, regardless of your version of Windows, the selected tab should by default be the one that lists your system's properties and technical support information, including at the top the main Windows version running on your computer.
In this screenshot, the Windows version spreads across two lines; it is Windows XP Professional. "Professional" indicates which "edition" of Windows XP is running. Further below, "Service Pack 2" indicates that the Service Pack 2 ("SP2") has been installed.
Windows "Versions" vs. Windows "Editions"; Bits; Services Packs
Before continuing, we should add that there are "Windows versions" and "Windows editions" - "Windows 7" is the version of Windows, but "Windows 7 Home Premium", "Windows 7 Professional", and "Windows 7 Ultimate" are three "editions" of the same version of the Windows operating system, namely Windows 7.
So, in doubt, when someone asks you what version of Windows you have, you should give in answer both the Windows version and edition ("I run Windows Vista Ultimate"). Though in most cases, knowing which version of Windows is installed on your computer will be enough information for troubleshooting, determining program compatibility, etc.
"32 Bits" or "64 Bits"?
Hang on to your hats, there is more: recent versions of Windows, and their respective editions, can also come in one of two flavors — 32-bit or 64-bit. Just know that this information will also be displayed on the system information page.
Windows Service Pack Information ("SP")
In many cases, Service Pack information is important, since it represents the "major upgrades" you or your IT Department has applied on your PC. "Software Requirements" often include Service Packs that must at least be installed on your computer.
For example, system requirements for Microsoft Outlook 2003 are Windows XP SP2 and later, or Windows 2000 SP3 and later. Again, SP stands for "Service Pack." If you were running Windows 2000 SP4, you could use Outlook 2003.