How to find out what version you have. How to find out the Windows version
In the modern world, a computer is our first assistant in various matters, be it work or leisure. To understand exactly where the limit of its capabilities is, you need to know the parameters and characteristics. You can find and view them using standard built-in methods in Windows 7 or using external software.
Why do you need information about the characteristics of a computer running Windows 7?
Of course, every owner of a personal computer or laptop with the Windows 7 operating system has an approximate idea of its computing power and speed of work in a particular program. But there are cases when parameters expressed in numerical values need to be known more accurately.
For example, a PC owner decides to buy a new game. Modern games are very demanding on computer resources - a good video card or a stronger processor may be required. If the current PC specifications do not meet the requirements, the gamer may think about upgrading, that is, improving the computer’s parameters, purchasing new or additional configuration elements. Then it will be necessary to take into account the compatibility of new components with existing ones, which means you need to know their composition.
The problem is relevant not only for those who like to play computer games, but also for any person who is in one way or another involved in installing programs and applications on a computer. Programs usually have minimum system requirements, especially for serious professional software - graphics packages, 3D processing programs, publishing systems, powerful word processors.
You can also determine the upper limit of PC performance experimentally, when the installed program begins to slow down when performing certain actions. However, why spend extra time installing it if you can immediately see whether the PC parameters meet the requirements. Moreover, this can be done easily and quickly using standard methods, that is, using built-in utility programs, and by installing additional software.
How to find out the parameters, properties and information of a PC or laptop
Standard methods
The Windows 7 operating system already has a set of built-in programs and methods to quickly find out the PC settings without resorting to installing other software. Methods for obtaining information differ in the level of complexity of the call, so the user can choose the most convenient and easily accessible options for himself. Every PC user knows at least two methods.
There are no differences for different OS versions. These methods will work in all versions of Windows 7: Home, Professional, Ultimate and other builds.
System Information utility
The built-in system information utility program can be launched in a few mouse clicks:
The call is made by clicking on the computer icon
That, in fact, is all you need to view information about the system. The window that opens will display information about the version of the Windows 7 operating system, installed updates, and licenses. The following contains information about the characteristics of the processor, RAM memory, OS bit depth, as well as the system performance index. Below is the computer name.
The main part of the window contains information about the OS, processor parameters and other information
Hotkeys for calling the window with system properties
You can access this window even faster by using the hotkey combination Win (Windows window icon) + Pause/Break. The Pause/Break key is present on standard personal computer keyboards, but may not be present on laptop keyboards whose creators strive for compactness and abandon some rarely used keys for the sake of other functions.
Via control panel
It's not always easy to remember keyboard shortcuts for different programs. There is no need to despair. It is worth remembering that any computer has a main central point for controlling all devices and parameters. This is the Control Panel. Just remember how to launch it, and you will always have access to all important functions and information.
Features are divided into categories
If the window looks like this, select “System and Security”.
If icons with names are displayed on the screen, without breakdown into categories, then you should immediately go to the “System” item. You can change the display type to one that suits you in the upper right corner of the window, the “View” option, then change it to “Category” or “Large/small icons”.
Display all Control Panel items without categorizing them
After selecting the appropriate item, the same system information window will appear with information about the version of Windows 7, processor properties and other data.
How to open using Device Manager
Often, the information provided in the system properties window is not enough to make a decision about upgrading a PC. For example, you need to know the exact model of the processor, audio and video device, or information about other components. This is where Device Manager comes to the rescue. It contains information about absolutely all components inside your PC and connected external devices.
You can access the “Device Manager” through the “System Properties” window, from the tab in the left side menu.
To launch the dispatcher, you need to select the appropriate item in the left menu of system properties
The Device Manager itself looks like this and contains a list of PC components divided into categories. To view the composition of each category, you need to expand it by clicking on the triangle on the left side of each item.
The manager contains information about components by category
In addition to general information about the composition of your PC's hardware, Device Manager can provide even more valuable information - whether it's time to update the device driver or whether there are any conflicts between devices. You can right-click on each list item and select “Properties”, where detailed information about the component, installed drivers and other information needed in exceptional cases will be presented. Conflicting devices will be marked with a yellow triangle - by this icon you can determine that there is a problem with the component, perhaps it is incompatible with some other device, then you need to reinstall the component or update its driver.
Via the command line
A little more information than the “System Information” window is provided by launching a special utility through the Windows 7 command line.
Result of executing the systeminfo command
How to open by launching the Run applet
The Run applet also allows you to launch the system properties window directly from it, you just need to know a special command.
System properties can be accessed through the control system command
If this method does not work and gives an error, try writing the full name of the command “control /name Microsoft.System” in the applet (without quotes, with a space before the slash (slash) and without a space after it). Click OK.
Full name of the command to view system information
The convenience of this method is that the “Run” applet remembers all the commands you previously entered. It is enough to remember approximately what words it contains or what letter it begins with. When you enter this letter into a line, the applet will display all the commands that you entered that begin with this letter.
How to Check Specifications Using the DirectX Diagnostic Tool
Detailed information about the main devices can be obtained using the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, this utility is also included in the system.
The utility is launched through the execution applet and the dxdiag command
How to log in via BIOS
If the above methods of obtaining information about the system are still not enough, you can be determined and “get into” the very core of the computer - the BIOS. In addition to basic information, you can find out there, for example, the temperature of the hard drive and processor.
This method of finding out the parameters is not recommended for beginners, since, firstly, to enter the BIOS you will need to determine its type in order to find the required entry key, because it is different for all manufacturers. Secondly, you will need to press this key very quickly when loading the PC, since this only takes a few seconds. Thirdly, the BIOS in most cases is a blue or black screen with text, which is unusual for GUI users. Accidentally changing settings in it can lead to a malfunction of the PC.
Below you can find information about the button to enter the BIOS
Popular keys to access the BIOS are DEL or F2.
And also knowing the name of the BIOS on your PC (you can see it in the very top line of the black screen during boot if you did not notice the BIOS entry key), you can find information about the key combination, this depends on the PC manufacturer.
The most common brands of PCs and laptops and buttons for entering BIOS:
If the input does not work the first time, even when you press the desired key, try again. It happens that the key simply does not have time to work, and the OS boot process proceeds as usual.
The BIOS looks different on every PC and the information presented may vary greatly. The main thing to remember is that you don’t need to change settings unless you need to and understand what this might lead to.
Displays information about PC components
Using third-party programs and utilities
The most complete information about the system, presented in one place in a user-friendly form with graphs, can be obtained using specialized programs that are installed separately on the PC. With them you can not only have data about your computer, but also monitor the temperature, memory and hard drive load in “real time”.
Aida
It is considered the most popular program for obtaining complete information about the characteristics and current state of the PC. Here you can learn everything about computer hardware and software, operating system, and additional external devices. In addition, the program has a number of tests to determine PC performance, analyze configuration features (which allows you to find out even what is not in the documentation), check system stability, and much more.
The program is very functional, but therefore it is not free. The Extreme Edition and Engineer Edition are available to download for free with a 30-day trial. The versions are almost fully functional; they only lack some reports. However, this will be more than enough to test the system and identify faults.
You can download the program from the official website using the link - http://www.aida64.ru/download.
After launching the program, an interface similar to “Device Manager” appears, where all PC components are divided into categories.
PC components are categorized and you can view information for each
Everest
Previously, it was also one of the most famous programs for monitoring the configuration and status of a PC. Now its support has been discontinued, the program has been replaced by AIDA64. However, you can still find versions of this software on the Internet. However, you can’t hope for stability of its operation, and it’s better to use other utilities.
HWInfo
In the HWInfo utility, information about a PC is not displayed as structured as in other programs, but the software has a number of details that may seem convenient to someone.
The only negative is that there is no Russian language.
Display system data on one screen
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PC Wizard
The functionality of the PC Wizard program is similar to previous programs. Through it you can obtain information about the system, test PC performance, check driver updates, and more. It contains less data than the AIDA leader, but for some this is more than enough.
The program quickly minimizes to the tray and displays indicators and notifications there. The only drawback is that when you first start the software, it may freeze for several minutes as it collects data about the system.
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The program displays system data
Speccy
Another convenient program in its class is Piriform Speccy. The program is completely free and also offers many PC characteristics and indicators for all major devices to view. At the same time, various brands and manufacturers of PCs, laptops, and netbooks are supported. It works quickly and is Russified. Conveniently, there is a portable version of this program - that is, it does not require installation and starts immediately after downloading. You can carry it with you on a flash drive and open it directly from it.
">http://www.piriform.com/speccy/download">http://www.piriform.com/speccy/download.
Displaying system characteristics by partition
Video: where to find and view information about the properties of the operating system
Having become familiar with the information on viewing system parameters using various standard methods and built-in programs, the user will always be able to accurately find out the configuration of his PC, the status of the devices, and also check their stable operation.
My name is Elizaveta, I am 27 years old. Higher education in pedagogy, specialty: teacher of computer science and English; the second is a systems engineer. She worked in the educational field, as well as in the IT field. Since childhood, I have been interested in writing articles, stories and other literary opuses :-), with spelling, punctuation and grammar, everything is in perfect order. As a student, I worked part-time as a rewriter/copywriter. I wrote on topics that were suggested to me, most often these were children’s/women’s topics: health, pregnancy, children, development. Less frequently came across news and announcements on finance/business and technology. Now I run my own thematic communities on social networks, and I write articles for them myself.
Many users ask the question: “How can I find out which Windows is on my computer?” You need to know whether you're running 32-bit or 64-bit Windows for many reasons. Most importantly, knowing this will ensure that you can install the right type of software and drivers designed to work with the operating system.
What is it for?
For example, if you are running Windows XP 32-bit and want a device, you need to install 32-bit drivers designed for the hardware. 64-bit drivers will not work in the 32-bit version of Windows XP and vice versa.
Luckily, it's really easy to find out what flavor your copy of Windows XP is.
How to do it
Click on "Start" and select "Control Panel" from the menu. Click on the "Performance and Maintenance" link. Note: If you're viewing the classic view of Control Panel, you won't see this link. Simply double-click on the "System" icon and go to step 4.
How can I find out which Windows is installed on my computer if the XP version is downloaded? In the Performance and Maintenance window, click the System link. When the System Properties window opens, look for the System area to the right of the Windows logo.
Note: You must be on the "General" tab in the "shell" properties.
In the “System” section you will see basic information about the OS version installed on the computer:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional version [year] means that you are running Windows XP 32-bit.
Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition version [year] means that you are running the 64-bit version.
Important: There are no 64-bit versions of XP Home or XP Media Center Edition. If you have any of these editions of XP, then you are running a 32-bit operating system. This will help you decide how to find out which Windows is on your computer.
Now that you've figured out which flavor of Windows XP you're running, you can rest easy in choosing the right drivers and software for your device.
How to do this on Windows 7?
How can I find out which Windows version 7 is installed? Click on "Start" and find "Control Panel" in the menu. Click on "System" and select the "Security" link. Click on the System link.
When the system window opens, under its name you can see basic information about your computer below the Windows logo. In the System section, look for the System Type tab among other statistics about your computer. The system type will indicate whether the computer is running a 32-bit or 64-bit OS.
Important: There is no 64-bit version of Windows 7 Starter Edition.
How to find out which Windows version 8 is installed?
There are two main editions of Windows 8 - the standard OS and the Pro version. Each of them can be in either 64- or 32-bit format. As with previous shell releases, knowing what type your computer is using is very important in the first place in order to install drivers and software correctly.
Open Control Panel in Windows 8.
Tip: You can check your Windows 8 system type much faster from the Power User menu, but this is only available if you are using a keyboard or mouse.
On the touch screen, touch or click with the cursor on System and Security in Control Panel, then select the System tab. After that, you should open the menu item called “View basic information about your computer” and find the System tab located under the large Windows 8 logo. The system type will indicate what system is installed on your device. This is the answer to the question “how to find out which Windows is on your computer.” As you can see, this process is quite simple, and its execution is similar in all versions of the operating system.
Remember that you should not install applications designed for a 64-bit shell on a computer running a 32-bit OS. Otherwise, you may cause serious problems with the device, which may result in the loss of much saved data and even the need to reinstall Windows.
Good day, dear readers of my blog! It happens that situations arise when you need to find out the version of Windows that is installed on your computer.
This need occurs when installing a program or for drivers.
Today I will tell you how to find out which Windows is on your computer, and also tell you the most effective ways, where and how to do this.
Why do you need to do this?
It is important to determine not only which Windows you are using, but whether 32 or 64 bits are used.
For example, if you decide to update your drivers, then 64-bit devices will not work in a 32-bit Windows program.
It is the operating system that affects the compatibility of equipment with different devices. This affects the possibility of installing one or another additional device.
To check whether your computer meets the program requirements, you need to know the following information:
- How much does Windows cost? This could be Windows 7, 8, 10, Vista or XP. Moreover, each program is available in several versions. For example, the same XP can be Home Edition and Professional.
- Availability of update packages.
- Windows type. Versions can be 32-bit or 64-bit. There are versions 86.
Such information is needed if you are installing a network adapter, video driver or antivirus.
The network adapter allows communication with other devices. In this case, you may need to determine the type of network card.
It is also necessary to know the compatibility of the operating system when installing multimedia technologies Direct x. They are often used for games.
This also performs diagnostics. You need to press a button Start and then enter dxdiag. After that click "input".
In the system tab, the number in the section is checked System Information.
How can I see which Windows is installed?
If you are wondering how to view the Windows model on my computer, then try the simple option.
Find the icon "My computer", it can be found through the start menu. Then select the menu item "Properties".
This window will display all information about the software.
It is necessary to understand which version of Windows XP.
If the message 64 is displayed, then the device is 64-bit. If there is no inscription, then the program is 32-bit.
You can also use the following method.
Follow these steps:
- Click the Win button, it is indicated by the Windows logo. Hold it press R.
- The Run or Run a Program window appears. In the “Open” column you need to enter “Winver”, and then click the OK button.
In modern versions of the software, you can use the following keyboard shortcut: Win+Pause.
A window will appear containing information.
Can be checked via the control panel. You need to go to "Security system", and then in "System".
This option is suitable for Windows 8.
Another option is to go to Start and then select options and tab "System". Then press the key "About the system".
Problems with the software often arise. Many people ask what to do if it doesn't load.
Most often you need to start in safe mode.
If you want to add something interesting, write about it in the comments.
Goodbye dear fans of my blog!
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:
- Press Win+R keys on your keyboard
- 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
- 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:
- Click on the search icon (the magnifying glass icon, to the right of the Start button in the lower left corner)
- Enter winver
- 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.
- Left click on the Start button
- In the search field that opens at the bottom of the menu, enter the winver command we are already familiar with
- Press Enter
- 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:
- Click on the "Start" button
- Select “Run” from the list
- In the “Run a program” window that opens, there is an input field. Enter the same “winver” command into it
- 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.
- Click on the Start menu with the RIGHT mouse button.
- Select “System” from the menu that opens.
- 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:
- Click on the “Search” button next to the “Start” menu
- Enter “system” in Russian
- 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:
- Find the My Computer icon on your desktop
- Right click on it
- 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.
In what cases do you need to know which Windows is installed on your computer or laptop? For example, you need to install drivers, programs or games, in which case you need to know not only which Windows is installed, but also its bitness (32 bit or 64 bit).
For advanced computer users this will not be a problem, but for beginners it may be a problem. For those who knew but forgot, let me remind you that there are several options for determining the Windows version. Let's look at them in detail.
The easiest way is to right-click on the “My Computer” icon on the desktop, then “Properties”.
The window that appears will contain information about your operating system. In the picture above I have highlighted where to look. We see here the Windows version and its bit depth. In addition, you will know how much RAM you have on your computer and what processor is installed.
If you have “My Computer” on your desktop as a shortcut (there is an arrow in the lower left corner), then you won’t be able to view the information.
You will see the following window:
Therefore, we do the following: click “Start” - “My Computer” (right mouse button) - “Properties”. As a result, we will see all the necessary information about our system.
The second method, about how to find out which Windows is installed on your computer, is more complex and is used extremely rarely. But let's look at it too.
To obtain information, you need to run the standard program winver.exe, which is located on the drive C:\Windows\System32\winver.exe. Go to the specified path or enter the name of the program into the search (click “Start” and the search bar at the bottom).
Here we will see only the Windows version; we will not find out the bit depth in this way.
