How To: Check if You Have Widows XP, Vista, Widows 7, 8, or 10

What Kind of Operating System Do You Have?

Do you know what version of Windows you have? While you usually don’t need to know the exact version number for whatever Windows version you have installed, general information about the operating system version you’re running is very important. So check if you have windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, or 10!

Everyone should know 3 things about the Windows version they have installed: the major version of Windows, like 10, 8, 7, etc.; the edition of that Windows version, like Pro, Ultimate, etc.; and whether that Windows version is 64-bit or 32-bit.

If you don’t know what version of Windows you have, you won’t know what software you can install, which device driver to choose to update… you may not even know which directions to follow for help with something!

Quick Video on How to Check if you have Windows XP, Vista, or 7!

Windows 10

Windows 10 Start Menu.

You have Windows 10 if you see a Start Menu like this when you click or tap the Start Button from the Desktop.

The Windows 10 edition you have installed, as well as the system type (64-bit or 32-bit), can all be found listed in the System applet in Control Panel.

Windows 10 is the name given to Windows version 10.0 and is the latest version of Windows. If you just got a new computer, there’s a 99% chance you have Windows 10 installed. (Maybe closer to 99.9%!)

Windows 9 never did exist. See What Happened to Windows 9? for more on that.

Windows 8 or 8.1

Windows 8.1 Start Button

You have Windows 8.1 if you see a Start Button on the bottom-left of the Desktop and tapping or clicking on it takes you to the Start Menu.

You have Windows 8 if you don’t see a Start Button at all on the Desktop.

The edition of Windows 8 or 8.1 you’re using, as well as information on whether or not that version of Windows 8 is 32-bit or 64-bit, is all found in Control Panel from the System applet.

Windows 8.1 is the name given to Windows version 6.3 and Windows 8 is Windows version 6.2

Lastly, if you have anymore issues on this same topic, please give My Computer Works a call at (800) 935-6704. Their techs are patient and get the job done well.