Whether you're troubleshooting or upgrading your PC, you need to know which version of Windows you're using. Hardware driver programs, software fixes, and advice from support technicians all depend on which version of Windows your PC is using. Here's how to get the exact version number.
- Turn on your computer and watch the screen. Note the version of Windows. You should see one of the following: Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows XP.
- In Windows 98 or Windows Me, click Start | Settings | Control Panel | System. Under the General tab you will find the version number.
- In Windows 2000 or Windows XP, click Start | Control Panel | Performance and Maintenance | System. (If Windows is set to display the classic view of Control Panel, the view displayed in some previous versions of Windows, then once in Control Panel select System.) Under the General tab you will find the version number.
Write down or print out all the information you see, including any Service Pack listings. For instance, the computer shown in Figure 1 has the following version information: Microsoft Windows XP, Home Edition, Version 2002, Service Pack 1. You can save or print an image of any Windows screen by copying it with the PRINT SCREEN button on your keyboard. Open Windows' Paint program from Start | All Programs | Accessories | Paint and press CTRL-V to paste the image into the program. Then you can save it or print it.
Figure 1: Writing down all of your Windows version information can speed up troubleshooting.
