Many users are wondering: "How do I know which Windows is on the computer?" You should know if you work in 32-bit or 64-bit versions of Windows for many reasons. The most important thing - knowing this, you will be sure 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 to update drivers for the device, you need to install 32-bit drivers designed for hardware. 64-bit drivers will not work in the 32-bit version of Windows XP and vice versa.
Fortunately, it's really easy to figure out which version your copy of Windows XP is.
How to do it
Click on "Start" and select "Control Panel" from the menu. Click on the link "Performance and Maintenance". Note: if you are viewing the classic view of the control panel, you will not see this link. Just double click on the “System” icon and go to step 4.
How to find out which Windows is on the computer if the XP version is loaded? In the "Performance and Maintenance" window, click on the System link. When the System Properties window opens, locate 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 version of the OS 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 a 64-bit version.
Important: there are no 64-bit versions of XP Home or XP Media Center Edition. If you have any of these XP editions, then you are running a 32-bit operating system. This will help you decide how to find out which Windows is on the computer.
Now that you have figured out which version of Windows XP you are running in, you can rest assured in choosing the right drivers and software for your device.
How to accomplish this on Windows 7?
How to find out which "Windows" is installed in the seventh version? Click on “Start” and in the menu find “Control Panel”. 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, find the "System Type" tab among other statistics about your computer. The type of system will indicate whether the 32-bit OS or 64-bit is used on the computer.
Important: there is no 64-bit version of Windows 7 Starter Edition.
How to find out which Windows is in version 8?
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 in previous releases of the shell, knowing what type is used on the computer is very important in the first place to correctly install drivers and software.
Open the Control Panel in Windows 8.
Tip: you can check your type of Windows 8 system much faster from the Power User menu, but this is only available if you use a keyboard or mouse.
Touch on the touch screen or use the cursor on “System and Security” in the control panel, then select the “System” tab. After that, open the menu item entitled “View basic computer information” and find the System tab located under the large Windows 8 logo. The type of system will indicate which system is installed on your device. This is the answer to the question "how to find out which Windows is on the 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 with a 32-bit OS installed. Otherwise, you can cause serious malfunctions in the device, which can lead to the loss of many saved data and even the need to reinstall Windows.