How can I tell what version of Windows I have? (if it doesn't boot

[Guest]

Let's say I've got a computer that won't boot. However, I can hook the hard
drive up to a different computer and look at the contents of it.

With the information available to me, is there a way for me to tell what
version of Windows is installed on the hard drive? And if so, is there a way
to tell if it's OEM or retail?

 

[PD43]

With the information available to me, is there a way for me to tell what
version of Windows is installed on the hard drive? And if so, is there a way
to tell if it's OEM or retail?

Did you buy the computer new or used?

 

[R. McCarty]

If the Root of the drive has a Boot.Ini, then it's a NT,2000,XP,Vista
install. The file is a plain text, so you can either edit it with notepad or
just type the contents to the screen.
If no Boot.Ini is present, you can edit MSDos.Sys and it will have the
Major/Minor Windows version (4.X) which denotes 9X/ME installs.

 

[John John]

If it's an NT type operating system use Regedit and load the Software
hive of the broken operating system and take a look at:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

John

 

[BillW50]

How do you do that John from another OS? I mean that is easy to check
from a running OS, but how from another OS?

 

[John John]

Look here for easy to follow example:
http://www.rwin.ch/xp-live/regedit.htm

The hive that you want to load is the Software hive.

John

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

Let's say I've got a computer that won't boot. However, I can hook the
hard
drive up to a different computer and look at the contents of it.

With the information available to me, is there a way for me to tell what
version of Windows is installed on the hard drive? And if so, is there a
way
to tell if it's OEM or retail?

Right click My Computer and choose Properties.

 

[John John]

Right click My Computer and choose Properties.

The computer doesn't boot, he wants to mount the disk in another Windows
computer to have a look at it ;-)

John

 

[BillW50]

Oh that is so cool John. Many thanks!

--
Bill

Look here for easy to follow example:
http://www.rwin.ch/xp-live/regedit.htm

The hive that you want to load is the Software hive.

John

 

[John John]

You're welcome.

John

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

Right click My Computer and choose Properties.

Psst!!!!

It won't boot, Mr. "MVP"!

Are you related to Carey????

 

[BillW50]

Psst!!!!

It won't boot, Mr. "MVP"!

Are you related to Carey????

ROTFL! Come on though! Frank is a good guy. Maybe he just had a senior
moment.

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

ROTFL! Come on though! Frank is a good guy. Maybe he just had a senior
moment.

If anyone here has had a senior moment, it's me. I'm old.

 

[George]

If anyone here has had a senior moment, it's me. I'm old.

And a MORON

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

If anyone here has had a senior moment, it's me. I'm old.

I'm only 68. But I definitely have CRS problems.