Today, there are several operating systems that are widely used among users. But if everything is clear with Linux and Mac OS operating systems, then Microsoft showed its originality in full. They have churned out a whole line of OS, which is why for many users the question of how to determine the operating system of a computer has become urgent. Maybe someone will ask, why is it needed at all? For computer gurus, such a question will indeed be funny. But for beginners, or, no offense intended, dummies, this topic is a dense forest. After all, novice users often order courses to learn how to work in a particular operating system, but do not know which Windows they have installed. Often you have to install drivers after installing the system. And not only are they selected separately for different axes, they also come in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. Yes, Microsoft did their best in this regard, thereby puzzling equipment manufacturers. But that's a completely different story. We are interested in how to find out the operating system of a computer. It is not always possible to visually identify the installed system, since the creators of most assemblies use different designs. There are several ways to answer the question posed. These are:

1. Using the winver command;
2. Using the “properties” item;
3. While loading the OS.

Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Determining the system using the winver command

Windows 7 and Vista have a start menu designed in two columns. If your menu is exactly like this, then you are the owner of one of these systems. To more accurately determine the operating system, follow these steps:

• Click the start menu or press the key with the same name on the keyboard (it is marked with a flag);
• In the editor window to search for programs, type the command winver;
• An icon with the appropriate name will appear. Double-click on its mouse, after which a window will open with information about the installed system.

When the start menu has the usual one-column appearance for us, it means, most likely, we are dealing with the good old XP. To make sure of this completely, we perform the following manipulations:

• Open start;
• We find the command “execute”;
• Click it and enter winver in the window that opens. The system will obediently open a window in which it will be written who it is.

But there is an axis in which Microsoft again distinguished itself with its uniqueness. This is Windows 8. There is no “start menu” as such at all. Its elements are scattered at the corners of the screen. But the assumptions may turn out to be incorrect, since there are such designs for the seven, and even for XP. Therefore, to establish whether we are mistaken or not, we do this:

• tap or click to expand the item "all applications";
• click “Run”;
• In the editor, type winver and press enter. As in previous versions, the system will tell us comprehensive information about its version.

Note:Microsoft, oddly enough, took care of users by providing hotkeys that open the “run” command on all systems. This is a combination of “start menu” + r.

How to find out the operating system using system properties

There is a simpler answer to the question of how to determine the operating system of a computer. You don’t have to climb far and you don’t need to enter any commands. You just have to look at the start menu again, or rather at its design. As described above, in seven and whist its elements are distributed over two columns. So, if we see exactly this design, it means it is very likely that we have one of these axes in front of us. Now let's talk about how to find out which one is installed on your computer. Here's what you need to do to do this:

1. Click “start”;
2. We find “computer” and right-click it with the rat;
3. Select properties from the list that appears. The window that opens will display all the information about the OS, its activation, as well as the amount of RAM, the number of processor cores and its frequency.

As for the good old XP, you can recognize it by the “my computer” icon on the desktop. If you doubt that this is XP, then:

1. Right-click “my computer”;
2. Select "properties";
3. A system properties window will open, in which, on the “general” tab, information about the operating system and technical characteristics of the processor and RAM will be displayed.

Detecting the system when it boots

The last method is the simplest. There is no need to open anything or click anywhere. It is enough to carefully monitor the loading screen while loading the OS. After the “Microsoft Corporation” message appears, after a certain time the exact name of the boot system will be shown.

We have listed all the ways to determine the OS installed on a computer. Now you know how to accurately recognize its version.

Greetings to everyone who doesn’t know the answer to the simplest question - how to find out what Windows is on the computer... it looks like a simple question, but at work it quite often confuses people, and it is absolutely necessary to find out this point. Actually, after these awkward situations, I decided to quickly write a note with the easiest ways to find out the version of the operating system that is currently in use.

I will not use such points as - what icon does you see when you boot or what does the start menu look like? Yes, you can understand from the interface which operating system you are using, but such leading questions can confuse you even more (and if various system modifications and third-party themes were used, then turn out the lights altogether)

Working on a computer and not knowing the version of Windows installed is not exactly a crime, but it can throw you into a couple of unpleasant moments. For example, you forcibly installed drivers that are not intended for your version of the system and you will receive, sign - ... Any application has system requirements and most new games may not work on Windows 7, perhaps you just need it and everything will work for you.

I have prepared for you several ways to find out what version of Windows is installed on your computer (those who read me know that I like to describe in as much detail as possible any aspect of using a computer)

Find out the version of Windows installed on your computer through system properties

Probably the easiest way to answer our question is to go to the computer properties, for this you should have the “This PC” icon or similar (note that it is an icon, not a shortcut). Right-click on it and select “Properties”...

At the top of the “System” window that opens, we see what Windows is installed on our computer and its edition (in my case it's Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 with Long Term Servicing), and just below we can find the bit depth (system type), but this is a topic for a whole separate note.

As you can see, everything is elementary, but some users display the “My Computer” shortcut on the desktop; there will be properties of the shortcut, not your system. For such cases, there are alternative options.

Determine which Windows is installed using the winver command

Let's move on to the next way to find out which Windows is on your computer. In this case, the winver command will help us, which must be entered into the Run application window. You can open this window by pressing the Win + R keys on your keyboard.

The “Windows: Details” window will open, where you can find out what Windows is installed on your computer (similarly, the build of your operating system is displayed here, which is very helpful when searching for errors on the Internet)

In my opinion, this method provides more complete information about the version of Windows installed on a computer or laptop... but not all that is possible - let’s move on to more interesting methods.

Determining Windows using the systeminfo command

Probably, this method can be called the most comprehensive... this option will not only allow you to find out what Windows is installed on your computer, but will also tell you about the build, installation date and other useful things. To use the systeminfo command we need to open the Windows command line (for those who don’t know how to do this, there is an excellent note “” - there you will certainly find an option that you like).

Once you have opened the command line, enter the command there systeminfo and wait until the end of collecting information about your computer. The second line in the report will indicate the version of Windows installed on the computer.

Or you can get confused and make a kind of sandwich of commands for the “Run” window. Enter the command cmd /k systeminfo and click OK. In this version, cmd launches the Windows command line, the /k key says that you need to execute the command when you start cmd, and systeminfo is the same command that will show the information that interests us.

These three ways to find out which Windows is installed on the computer are enough for any user, but as a bonus I’ll tell you one more option

Bonus. Find out your version of Windows through “System Information”

Well, the last method for today, everything is as usual, only the command is different - msinfo32. It is entered, as you already understood, into the “Run” command window.

The “System Information” window will open, where you can find out what Windows is installed on the computer (in the “OS Name” line)

I did not focus on this option, since it almost completely repeats the ones described above - for general development it is simply useful to know them all.

Everything you need to know about which Windows is installed on your computer

As you can see, it won’t be difficult to find out which Windows is on the computer, but this is only if the system starts and works. I did not use the opportunity to find out the version of the killed system in this note. (for example, when you need to run recovery, but you don’t know the version) since this is not necessary for an untrained user, but a pro already knows how to do it. I'm not even talking about such indirect signs as the folder on the C:\ drive - “Document and Settings” is found only in Windows XP; there are dozens of such differences. Agree that entering a command and finding out the answer to your question is much easier than looking for signs of a particular operating system from Microsoft.

P.S. If the first method to find out which Windows is installed on your computer cannot be used due to the fact that instead of an icon you have a shortcut, this window can be opened with the combination Win + Pause/Break. Good mood to you all…

The most common reason why users are interested in this question is to determine software compatibility. For example, older versions of programs are not always able to work perfectly under a particular generation of Windows. Thus, knowing exactly which OS is currently running, all that remains is to compare it with the software requirements.
The second reason why interest arises is the need for repairs. Service centers almost always ask this question if the source of the problem is in the software part. The newer the OS version, the more you will have to pay. Because software complexity increases every year. New functions appear that have unique algorithms. Accordingly, it is more difficult to restore software.

Windows 10?

At the time of writing this material, the Windows 10 operating system is the newest. To find out if it really works at the moment, just follow the steps below.

1. Go to menu "Start" .
2. In the menu that opens, select the option "Options" .
3. A section will open in front of you "Options" . It contains a tab "System" .
4. By clicking on it, you need to select the option in the window "About the system" .
5. The interface will display information about when Windows 10 was released, what version is currently running, what build code is installed on the computer, and what type of system is supported.

Windows 8?

As a rule, you can already determine the presence of Windows 8 through a unique visual interface. However, some users also need to know a number of other details. To view the full details, simply follow these steps:
1. Activate the panel. To do this, just hover the cursor on the right side of the interface, then click on the option "Options" .

2. Click on the option "Change computer settings" .

3. Select an option "Computer and Devices" , as shown in the screenshot below.

4. A new window with sections will appear in front of you. In this case, we are interested in the very last of them - "Computer Information" .

After all the steps have been completed, a new window will appear on the screen, which displays information about the type of operating system used. To obtain additional information, just use the points "System type" And "Release" .

Windows 7?

Today, Windows 7 is the most popular version of the operating system in the world. The reason for this is the simplicity of the interface and minimal processor load. The simplest and most effective way to obtain information is to right-click on the icon "My computer" . It is usually located on the desktop. If for one reason or another it is missing, you can always find the shortcut in the menu "Start" . After clicking, just select the last option from the context menu.

As you can see from the screenshot below, in the case of the menu "Start" There are absolutely no differences. Of course, the result is similar, but it takes longer to complete.

Current methods for all versions of Windows operating systems

Despite the emergence of new generations of Windows software, the commands still remain the same. Accordingly, if you remember them, in the future it will be possible to quickly execute them, regardless of the type of interface.

Teams

Regardless of the current version of Windows, just hold down two buttons on the keyboard - Win+R. A new window will open in the interface called "Run" . We need to write the command into it "winner" . Having entered it, press the button "OK" , or "Enter" on keyboard.

The new window will contain all the relevant information regarding your build, bit depth, account name with administrator rights, and so on.

Advanced option via commands

Call the window again "Run" using the command we provided above. Enter the command in the input field msinfo32 .

An expanded version of the system information will become available in a new window. As a rule, this information is used by programmers and service center employees who want to reinstall, restore or improve software.

Online service

It may seem that the operating system version is only available in offline mode. In fact, this is not true. There are specialized portals that you just need to go to to get basic information about the version of your software.

In addition to the name of the operating system, using this service you can determine the type of browser, screen resolution and a number of other little things. The next question arises - in what cases can this be useful? The answer is obvious - for example, when, as a result of a virus attack on the device, icons "My computer" disappeared everywhere, or when you right-click on them, the pop-up menu does not open. Although such situations occur extremely rarely, they still occur.

Through the registry

For untrained users, the registry is a rather dangerous thing, since changing any values ​​here can lead to a complete failure of the operating system. To avoid encountering software problems in the future, you must strictly follow the instructions below.

• Call window "Run" and enter the command in the appropriate field regedit .

• Using the navigation available on the left side of the new window, you need to go through the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE – SOFTWARE – Microsoft – Windows NT – CurrentVersion.
• Having accessed the directory above, the main window area will include all the required information. For example, file ProductName allows you to get acquainted with the name and version of the operating system, and CurrentBuild – with the current build.

Based on the information above, if you know where to find the information in the registry, it will be very easy in the future to find the information you need about which OS is installed on a particular PC. Strictly adhere to the following rule - never change anything in it if you do not know what specific data is written for and how it works.

Via the console

A rather non-standard option for determining the operating system version. It is enough to execute only one command to obtain a huge package of information regarding your OS version. To use this method, just follow these steps:

• Open the window "Run" .
• In the text input line, write the command "cmd" and confirm the action.

• Enter the text in the console "systeminfo" and confirm your entry using the button "Enter" on keyboard.

As you can see from the screenshot below, you have a huge amount of information available for review.

A distinctive feature of using the presented method is that the user cannot make changes to the fields available in the open window. Thus, if you have never opened the registry or are afraid of working with it, calling the command line will be an ideal option.

By key number

At official points of sale, the vast majority of laptops already have installed software that is completely ready for use. To ensure the possibility of warranty service within the established period, at the bottom of it there is a sticker with a unique serial code of the OS version. To use this method, just go to the official Microsoft website, and then find a special program called Volume Activation Management Tool. Please note that you can only download it from the official website.
Despite the fact that the presence of a Russian-language interface is not provided, it will be very easy to understand the main capabilities of the program. After starting, you need to turn the laptop over, write down the serial code on a piece of paper or take a photo of it, and then write it separately in the field "Product Key" . After entering all the characters, click on the button "Verify" .

You will see information about the current version of the software running on your computer.

Note! The presented method is not relevant for the Windows 10 operating system.

How to find out the operating system using special programs?

The most complete list of information about a specific system, presented in one clear interface, is possible by downloading third-party programs. Some of them allow you not only to check the version, but also to obtain information about the current processor temperature, memory load indicators, analyze the hard drive for errors, and so on.

Aida

One of the most popular programs. Almost all information about the software and technical characteristics of the computer is available here. There is also the opportunity to test the computer using a number of parameters. Although the application is very functional, it is paid. On the other hand, thirty days is more than enough to obtain the required information one-time. Once you launch it, a window will open that looks very much like the usual one. "Device Manager" . But to increase convenience, all components are divided into several categories.

HWInfo

The utility in question is less comfortable from an interface point of view, but it is characterized by the presence of a number of features that may seem convenient to use. For example, near the section regarding driver updates, a current link to the official website of the manufacturer is displayed. You don't need to look for it yourself. To make using your computer safer, the block where the current processor temperature is indicated tells you the recommended maximum parameters specifically for your device. All that remains is to check from time to time whether the specified level is not exceeded. The program works quite quickly, but the interface is not translated into Russian.

conclusions

As you can see, there are a huge number of ways to determine the version of the operating system you are using. With the information above, you can brag to your friends, as well as quickly solve your own equipment problems.

Good afternoon, dear readers and guests of the blog site, it’s October 2017, which means that a new Windows 10 fall creators update is coming soon, which means that many will want to switch to it. Before doing this, you must know your version of Windows, since you need to understand the current build and whether it is possible to switch from it without problems, I’ll tell you right away that it will take you 30 seconds. Today I will show at least 5 methods, let’s get started.

Why do you need to know the version of Windows?

I would like to immediately note that you do not confuse the version (build) with the Windows edition. An edition is precisely a set of functions of the operating system that are present in it; it is the editions that determine which are available and which can be obtained by updating. A simple example of the types of editions:

• Professional
• Enterprise

But the OS version is what kernel your operating system runs on; it is also called build in English literature. All editions of the same line of Windows OS will have one kernel. Now that we have understood the concepts, I will show you an example, a summary table, where Microsoft describes in detail how the kernel version belongs to the operating system version.

Windows 10 release details

https://technet.microsoft.com/ru-ru/windows/release-info.aspx

Let's go through the columns of this table:

• Maintenance option > OS lifecycle
• Version > I think without comment here
• OS Build > kernel numbering
• Availability date > when released
• Last modified date

Below you can see in a more detailed table the detailed changes to the OS build. Please note that it very usefully describes which Windows update is responsible for this, all the KBs are there.

Same for build windows 10 1607

and for build windows 10 1703.

How to find out what version of Windows is installed

Below I will describe at least 5 methods, most of them will be universal, some will be specific to a particular operating system.

How to find out the version of windows 10

Since Windows 10 is the most current OS today, it would be advisable to start with it. She has one method that is only available in her, but the universal methods described below will also work.

And so, we open the “Start” button and go to the “Options” menu, another quick way to get there is to press Win and I at the same time (about hot combinations, you will be surprised at a lot).

The next item you select "System"

At the very bottom, find the line “About the system”, here Microsoft representatives made sure that you get all the necessary information, here only a blind person would not be able to figure out the version of Windows. For this you can give the top ten 5 points. Let's now see how things are going with older systems and go over the universal methods.

Universal methods to find out the installed version of Windows

Let's go to the thread:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

Pay attention to the values ​​here:

• BuildLab
• BuildLabEx
• CurrentBuild
• CurrentBuildNumber
• Release

Additional utilities

Additional utilities include CPU-Z . Here on the "About" tab there is information about the release.

What operating system is on your computer? Users usually answer: Windows (or say something else if they use Linux or Mac). Sometimes a version is added to this (8, 10, etc.) But often this is not enough. You need to know not only the name and number of your OS, but also the build number, version of the service pack (if provided), etc. Let's look at how to find out the computer's operating system exactly depending on its version.

For Windows 10

Microsoft's most popular OS today has become famous (not in the best sense) for its intrusive upgrade offers. Sometimes these updates are really helpful and worth installing. Sometimes, on the contrary, it is better to skip the next sentence containing errors and wait until they are corrected.

But in both cases, you need to know the exact version of your OS in order to decide whether to accept the offer from Redmond or refuse.

How to find out what operating system is on your computer in the case of Windows 10? The simplest way is this:

1. Press Win+R keys on your keyboard
2. Enter the command “winver” (from the English words Windows Version) into the input field that opens. Quotes or any other symbols other than winver are not needed
3. Press the Enter key or the OK button

After this, a small window will appear on the screen, which provides all the key information about your OS version:

• Name and generation (in our case Windows 10)
• Version number
• Assembly
• License status (whether the copy is licensed and the user's name and organization)

When it comes to updates, the key element is the OS build number. This is what you need to look at to understand whether to update or wait for now.

If for some reason you don't have a Windows key on your keyboard (let's say you're using a Bluetooth keyboard for mobile devices), there are other ways to send a command to the system:

1. Click on the search icon (the magnifying glass icon, to the right of the Start button in the lower left corner)
2. Enter winver
3. When the “Run command” prompt appears below the text, click on it with the mouse

As a result, you will get the same window as when you entered the command through Win-R.

For Windows 8

The winver command also works for previous versions of Windows. If you run a command through the Win+R keyboard shortcut, there will be no differences either in the launch process or in the window in which the system displays the results.

If you run a command through the search menu, then instead of the command, the search will show you the winver.exe file that you are prompted to run. Run it: it will give the same result.

For Windows 7 or Vista

The operating system, released before the mass craze for touch screens, has a slightly different interface. In particular, the Start menu is launched there using a round button, although the button is located in the same left corner. But there is no separate “Search” button on the desktop.

1. Left click on the Start button
2. In the search field that opens at the bottom of the menu, enter the winver command we are already familiar with
3. Press Enter
4. When the search offers a result - the Winver.exe program, click on it, after which you will see a window with the title “About the program”.

This is the description of your version of Windows. Similar to more recent versions, this window also shows the Windows generation, version number, build number, service pack and licensing information.

The window title also shows which edition of Windows 7 you have installed (Elementary, Home Basic, Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate, etc.) Please note that in Windows 10 the title is not so informative.

For Windows XP and earlier

If you use good old XP, then the algorithm for finding out what OS is on your computer will be like this:

1. Click on the "Start" button
2. Select “Run” from the list
3. In the “Run a program” window that opens, there is an input field. Enter the same “winver” command into it
4. Click on the "OK" button in the window or press Enter

An information window will appear before your eyes, the design of which will be in the style of Windows XP. In terms of information content, it will be more reminiscent of Vista than 8 or 10. In the window you can read the following data:

• OS edition (Home, Professional, etc.)
• Version number
• Build number
• Service pack
• User License Information
• Available amount of RAM

The last item on our entire list is unique to Windows XP.

We will not go deeper and explore ways to find out the version of Millennuim, 98 or 95. If such rarities work on your computer, then you probably have special reasons for this, and therefore you already know how to find out the version of the operating system on your computer .

Universal method

We looked at the simplest way to get information about the version of your operating system. However, it produces relatively sparse data. There are enough of them to decide whether to accept or not accept the update. But sometimes you need to find out more about your system - for example, its capacity or information about hardware.

There is a more advanced method for finding out the OS on a computer. It is based on a key element of Windows - the Control Panel.

1. Click on the Start menu with the RIGHT mouse button.
2. Select “System” from the menu that opens.
3. Click on it.

In the window that opens, more modern versions of Windows (for example, 10) will not show the classic Control Panel, but its modern version, adapted for touch control. However, it will show key data:

• Device code
• Product code (i.e. Windows)
• System type (that is, its bit capacity – 32- or 64-bit)

To go to the classic “System” tab of the traditional Control Panel, in versions 8 and 10 you need:

1. Click on the “Search” button next to the “Start” menu
2. Enter “system” in Russian
3. Click on the proposed “best match” (this will be the Control Panel tab we need)

The panel that opens will contain much more data than the window that opens using the winver command. In particular, you can read there:

• System capacity
• Windows activation status
• License key (product code)
• Computer name
• The working group he belongs to
• Hardware information (processor, amount of RAM, touch screen availability)

Sometimes this data turns out to be more informative than a simple winver panel.

In other versions of the OS, you can enter this tab by launching the Control Panel using the method provided for this particular edition of Windows.

In Windows XP, to view system properties you need to:

1. Find the My Computer icon on your desktop
2. Right click on it
3. In the context menu, find the “Properties” line and left-click on it

The System Properties tab will open, showing roughly the same information as the System tab in Control Panel.

Via Microsoft website

Finally, if you have a working internet connection, you can simply follow , and the site will automatically recognize your version (though not with such precise details). There will also be instructions for a more precise definition, specifically for your OS.