Know your Windows version

Microsoft Windows is the name of several families of software operating systems by Microsoft. Microsoft first introduced an operating environment named Windows in November 1985. The following is a list of the versions of the operating systems offered by Microsoft as Windows.

Current versions
Windows Server 2008 for servers, Windows Mobile 6.1 for smartphones and PDA, Windows Home Server, Windows Vista, Windows XP Embedded, Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs, Windows Embedded CE 6.0

Past versions
Windows Server 2003 for servers, Windows Mobile 6 for smartphones and PDA, Windows XP for desktops and laptops (notebooks), Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows 98, Windows 95, Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 3.5, Windows NT 3.2, Windows for Workgroups 3.11, Windows NT 3.1, Windows for Workgroups 3.1, Windows 3.1, Windows 3.0, Windows 2.0, Windows 1.0

Future versions
Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7, Windows Server 7, Windows Mobile 7 for mobile devices

To know your version of Windows, you may perform the following steps:

1. Click Start and right click “My Computer” icon (or) from the desktop, right click “My Computer” and click on “Properties”.
2. Under “General” tab, you will see the version of Windows under the “System:” properties.

You may use the above steps to determine if you are running either Windows 95 or Windows 98 or Windows Millennium or Windows 2000 or Windows XP.

If you are running Windows XP Media Center and want to know the version of Windows XP Media Center Edition then follow these steps:

1. Start Media Center.
2. On the Settings menu, click General.
3. Scroll down, and then click About Media Center.

The version number of the application that you are running is displayed.

In Windows Vista, “My Computer” is changed to “Computer”. However, to know the edition of Windows Vista, you may perform the following steps:

1. Click Start and right click “Computer” icon (or) from the desktop, right click “Computer” icon and click on “Properties”
2. The edition of Windows Vista will be displayed under “Windows edition”.

You will be able to determine if you are running one of the following editions of Windows Vista:
Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise.

Related Reading
Am I using the 32 bit or 64 bit version of Windows?
How do I find the Service Pack that is installed on my copy of Windows XP?
How do I find if I am using the retail copy or OEM copy of Windows?
Differences between OEM copy and retail copy of Windows?
Which applications will I have if I purchase a copy of Windows XP or Windows Vista?

Recommended Reading
How long will I receive support for my copy of Windows?
How do I buy Windows?
Why do I receive the notification that my copy of Windows is not genuine?
I am from outside North America. How do I contact Microsoft?