Find Windows Version

eduhalt

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Hi.
I've just received a PC with a dead motherboard. The hard disk is ok. I can attach it to another computer as an extra drive using USB or sata. There is a way to find out which windows version has installed (XP, Vista, 7, 8) looking to the files (or one file) in it? Thanks in advance for your help.

Best regards.
 

eduhalt

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Thanks for your answer but I need to know the windows version installed in the attached disk of the broked pc, not the windows version in my working pc where I attached the drive.
 

USAFRet

Titan
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(this for Win 7 & 8/8.1. I do not have a previous version set up to test)
Go to the Windows folder
Search for the word 'version'
That will lead to a folder
A subfolder of that will indicate the Windows version.

Win 7 = 6.1.xxxx
Win 8 = 6.2.xxxx
Win 8.1 = 6.3.xxxx

EDIT: the folder path for Windows 7 will be /Windows/servicing/version/...
For Windows 8.1 Pro it will be /Windows/version/...


Wiki on versions here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_NT
 

eduhalt

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eduhalt

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Thanks USAFret. Your answer worked too because in this case the Windows version installed in the disk was Windows 7. However the answer from Phantom010 was more generic and could work for older windows versions.
My only concern with that solution is that I couldn't erase the hive I added to the registry after I found the windows version in the hard disk.
Best regards and thanks to both of you.