Which version of Windows

[D.Currie]

On a non-booting hard drive where the files are readable...

is there any way to tell which version of XP is installed -- home, pro,
media center...retail full or upgrade / oem?

This has happened to me more than once when someone brings in a computer,
and I figure a repair install is what's needed, and I ask them to bring in
their disk(s) for the computer, and I get every disk from every computer
currently or formerly owned.

If there's a sticker on the side of the case, that's obvious, but if there's
no sticker, and I'm looking at a couple of upgrade CDs and a full version
and a generic oem cd...you get the picture.

Usually this entails a painful conversation where we try to figure out
what's on the computers that are still working, so I can exclude those CDs.
It's not a conversation I care to have very often.

Any ideas?

 

[WM]

If you don't have WinPE, get it. If you can't get WinPE, buy yourself a copy
of the Winternals Administrator's Pak -
http://www.winternals.com/Products/AdministratorsPak/), or download a copy
of BartPE: http://www.nu2.nu.

From there you can mount the registry of a dead system and view the
appropriate keys to discern what version is installed - unless it is
completely hosed.

 

[D.Currie]

I've got that, but which key tells me which version it is? I'm probably
missing something obvious, so I'm poised to smack myself in the head, just
in case.

If you don't have WinPE, get it. If you can't get WinPE, buy yourself a
copy of the Winternals Administrator's Pak -
http://www.winternals.com/Products/AdministratorsPak/), or download a copy
of BartPE: http://www.nu2.nu.

From there you can mount the registry of a dead system and view the
appropriate keys to discern what version is installed - unless it is
completely hosed.

 

[WM]

Several to check:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion -
specifically the CurrentVersion value
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\WPA\TabletPC\Installed
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\WPA\MediaCenter\Installed
HKLM\System\ControlSet001\Control\ProductOptions

The first will always give you version number info, the second and third
will tell you if a system is Tablet or Media Center. The fourth, with
research, will tell you what the OS is. The masks for the last one aren't
clear, but you should be able to google for the values.

I've got that, but which key tells me which version it is? I'm probably
missing something obvious, so I'm poised to smack myself in the head, just
in case.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

As near as I can tell Windows 2000 and up, you can check this key...
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Updates\%OS%

For Windows NT, 2000, XP and later versions if Windows.

This key...
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
Value Name: BuildLab
Value Name: CSDVersion
Value Name: DigitalProductId
Value Name: CurrentBuildNumber
Value Name: CurrentVersion
Value Name: ProductId
Value Name: ProductName
------

I pulled these out of my registry. I have Windows XP Pro SP1.

Value Name: BuildLab = Mine 2600.xpsp2.050301-1526
Looks like 2600.xpsp2.050301-1526 can be for both Home & Pro.

Value Name: CSDVersion = Service Pack #
Service Pack 1, Service Pack 2, etc.

Value Name: DigitalProductId = Product key??

Value Name: CurrentBuildNumber = Build #
Mine 2600

Value Name: CurrentVersion = OS #
Windows NT 3.1
Windows NT 3.5
Windows NT 3.51
Windows NT 4.0
Windows 2000 (Professional and Server) - 5.0
Windows XP - 5.1
Windows Server 2003 - 5.2

Value Name: ProductId =
AAAAA-BBB-CCCCCCC-DDEEE

Value Name: ProductName = Microsoft Windows XP
Windows Version name

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[D.Currie]

Thanks to both of you. I'll check a few systems. I just hate it when I ask
someone what version of Windows they have and they say, "Plus."

FYI, I asked the same question in a system builder newsgroup a while back,
and I was told it wasn't possible to find out.

 

[Jetro]

On a side note I believe this is Microsoft policy violation to recover
Windows on your premises when the owner cannot provide you with genuine
Microsoft software licence and you risk the business.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

LOL It probably wasn't possible for that poster to find out.

BTW, I have Minus. *eg*

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[D.Currie]

On a side note I believe this is Microsoft policy violation to recover
Windows on your premises when the owner cannot provide you with genuine
Microsoft software licence and you risk the business.

If you'll note in the original post, I'm referring to situations where I've
got all their software and keys, but need to figure out what's really on the
computer that I'm working on.

 

[D.Currie]

I miss the good old days when everyone had Office 98 running on Windows 97.

 

[Jetro]

Sorry, you said you "get every disk" and that's it. Didn't want to offend
you, because I know how repair specialist makes ends meet.
It's not so obvious that real OS and Licence sticker affixed to the dead
case ore wherever else are matching. If I had to recover a dead blackbox I
always cloned the original HDD first.