Email Clients Tutorials
Microsoft Windows TutorialsWhich Version of Windows Am I Running?
This tutorial will show you how to find out which version of Windows you are running. This information is especially useful when you are about to get new hardware or software, whose configuration may only be compatible with some versions of Windows.
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.
- Major Windows Versions (for Desktop Computers)
- Windows NT
- Windows 95
- Windows 98
- Windows 98 SE ("Second Edition")
- Windows ME ("Millenium Edition")
- Windows 2000
- Windows XP (Sometimes referred to as "Windows 2002")
- Windows 2003
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 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.