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How to check whether your windows vista or windows XP is a 32-bit or 64-bit operating system?

 March 27, 2008 No Comment

Do you know whether your windows vista or windows XP is a 32-bit or 64-bit operating system? Microsoft usually labels them as x86 and x64 respectively. Here are the various methods to check whether windows vista, windows XP installed on your PC/system is a 32-bit or 64-bit operating system(x86 or x64).

Update: If you have Windows 7 read this article to find out about 32 bit/ 64 bit Windows 7

How to check whether windows vista installed on your PC/system is a 32-bit or 64-bit version (x86 or x64)?

Method 1:

  • Click Start –> Run or Start Search.
  • Type msinfo32.exe and then press Enter.
  • Under “System Information“, find the value for the System Type item: 
    For 32-bit editions of Windows vista, the value of the System Type item is x86-based PC. 
    For 64-bit editions of Windows vista, the value of the System Type item is x64-based PC.

Method 2:

  • Click Start, type system in the “Start Search” box, and then click system in the “Programs” list.
  • The operating system information appears as follows: 
    For a 64-bit version of windows vista operating system: 64-bit Operating System appears for the “System type” under “System“. 
    For a 32-bit version of windows vista operating system: 32-bit Operating System appears for the “System type” under “System“.

Method 3:

  • Click Start, type system in the “Start Search” box, and then click System Information in the “Programs” list.
  • The operating system appears as follows: 
    For a 64-bit version of windows vista operating system: x64-based PC appears for the “System type” under “Item“.  
    For a 32-bit version of windows vista operating system: x86-based PC appears for the “System type” under “Item“.

How to check whether windows XP installed on your PC/system is a 32-bit or 64-bit version (x86 or x64)?

Method 1:

  • Click Start, then click on Run or Start Search.
  • Type msinfo32.exe and then press Enter key.
  • Under “System Information“, review the value for the System Type item:  
    For 32-bit editions of Windows XP, the value of the System Type item is x86-based PC. 
    For 64-bit editions of Windows XP, the value of the System Type item is x64-based PC.

Method 2:

  • Click Start, Run, type sysdm.cpl, and click OK.
  • Click the General tab. The operating system information appears as follows:  
    For a 64-bit version operating system: Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Version appears under System. 
    For a 32-bit version operating system: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Version appears under System.

Method 3:

  • Click Start, Run, type winmsd.exe, and click OK.
  • In the details pane, locate Processor under Item. Note the value. 
    If the value that corresponds to processor starts with x86, the computer is running a 32-bit version of the Windows XP operating system. 
    If the value that corresponds to processor starts with ia64 or AMD64, the computer is running a 64-bit version of the Windows XP operating system.