How to determine Windows Version

The easiest thing to do is look at Environment.OSVersion.ToString() which returns the system's platform, major version, minor version, build, and revision number as in "Microsoft Windows NT 5.0.2195.0".

Unfortunately the platform (in this case, "Microsoft Windows NT") doesn't tell you the operating system. The following table lets you look up the operating system name based on the platform ID, major version, and minor version.

Code:

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OS        Platform ID        Major Version        Minor Version
Win3.1        0        ?        ?
Win95        1        4        0
Win98        1        4        10
WinME        1        4        90
NT 3.51        2        3        51
NT 4.0        2        4        0
Win2000        2        5        0
WinXP        2        5        1
Win2003        2        5        2
Vista/Windows Server 2008        2        6        0

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The GetOSVersion function shown in the following code uses this information to return the operating system name.

Code:

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Public Function GetOSVersion() As String
    Select Case Environment.OSVersion.Platform
        Case PlatformID.Win32S
            Return "Win 3.1"
        Case PlatformID.Win32Windows
            Select Case Environment.OSVersion.Version.Minor
                Case 0
                    Return "Win95"
                Case 10
                    Return "Win98"
                Case 90
                    Return "WinME"
                Case Else
                    Return "Unknown"
            End Select
        Case PlatformID.Win32NT
            Select Case Environment.OSVersion.Version.Major
                Case 3
                    Return "NT 3.51"
                Case 4
                    Return "NT 4.0"
                Case 5
                    Select Case _
                        Environment.OSVersion.Version.Minor
                        Case 0
                            Return "Win2000"
                        Case 1
                            Return "WinXP"
                        Case 2
                            Return "Win2003"
                    End Select
                Case 6
                    Return "Vista/Win2008Server"
                Case Else
                    Return "Unknown"
            End Select
        Case PlatformID.WinCE
            Return "Win CE"
    End Select
End Function

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The following code shows how the example program uses function GetOSVersion and various Environment.OSVersion properties to get operating system version information.

Code:

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Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal _
    e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
    ' Get the Environment.OSVersion.
    Label1.Text = Environment.OSVersion.ToString()

    ' Get the interpreted version information.
    lblPlatform.Text = _
        Environment.OSVersion.Platform.ToString
    lblOSVersion.Text = GetOSVersion()
    lblMajor.Text = _
        Environment.OSVersion.Version.Major.ToString
    lblMinor.Text = _
        Environment.OSVersion.Version.Minor.ToString
    lblBuild.Text = _
        Environment.OSVersion.Version.Build.ToString
    lblRevision.Text = _
        Environment.OSVersion.Version.Revision.ToString
End Sub

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Check the original thread here

Didn't I post that function (one that has detection for Vista, Win2008 and Win7 separately) a while back: http://www.vbforums.com/showpost.php...3&postcount=12

Sorry, I just found it on the web and forgot to check the code bank :(

why you don't use My.Computer.Info.OSFullName ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ardhagp

why you don't use My.Computer.Info.OSFullName ?

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First, you'd basicaly be doing the same thing either way.

But, with that method, you're returning a different type of string and is not as reliable as checking the version numbers.

For instance, I just used 'My.Computer.Info.OSFullName' on my Vista machine and got this:

"Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Ultimate"

Even though you could just run a .Contains on something like this, it's definitely not ideal. And of course, the TM and Registered marks could cause an issue =/