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How to identify what operating system you are using and whether it is a 32 or 64 bit system.

What operating system do I have?

If the icon in the lower left looks like , then you have an XP system.

if it looks like this , you have a windows Vista, or 7 system. To find out which

1. Click the Start button in the lower left of the screen then click System Information in the Programs list.
2. When System Summary is selected in the navigation pane, it will tell you which operating system you have and whether it is a 32or 64 bit system.
   • For a 64-bit version operating system, x64-based PC appears for the System type under Item.
   • For a 32-bit version operating system, x86-based PC appears for the System type under Item.

If it is a Windows 8 system the start screen will look like the one at the left.

If it is Windows 10 (There never was a 9) then the  icon in the lower left looks like: .

You may need to know not only what the operating system is but whether it is 32 bit or 64 bit operating system.  If it is XP it is 32 bit but the others could be either although particularly from windows 8 on, they are almost all windows 64.

If your computer was purchased new before January 2007 and the operating system was never upgraded, it is almost certainly XP./o:p>

You are running XP if the word "Start" in the lower left of your screen is in a green box. Vista has a circle with the windows Icon in it.  The newer systems tend to be 64 bit because it addresses more than 4 Gbits of memory.

Method 1: View the System window in Control Panel (Windows Vista or 7)

1. Click Start button in the lower left of the screen then click system in the Programs list.
2. The operating system is displayed as follows:
   • For a 64-bit version operating system, 64-bit Operating System appears for the System type under System.
   • For a 32-bit version operating system, 32-bit Operating System appears for the System type under System.

Method 2: View the System Information window (Windows Vista or 7)

1. Click Start button in the lower left of the screen then click System Information in the Programs list.
2. When System Summary is selected in the navigation pane, the operating system is displayed as follows:
   • For a 64-bit version operating system, x64-based PC appears for the System type under Item.
   • For a 32-bit version operating system, x86-based PC appears for the System type under Item.

Windows 8
The windows 8 start screen looks like this: 
In October 2012 Microsoft introduced Windows 8.
Everybody hated it and if you have it, I would recommend upgrading to Windows 10.

To see if your windows 8 machine is 32 or 64 bit, watch this YouTube video.

Windows 10

1. Click Start  button in the lower left of the screen then click System Information in the Programs list.
2. When System Summary is selected in the navigation pane, the operating system is displayed as follows:
   • For a 64-bit version operating system, x64-based PC appears for the System type under Item.
   • For a 32-bit version operating system, x86-based PC appears for the System type under Item.

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