How to Determine the Original Operating System Software
When you buy a used computer, it’s often purchased without an operating system installed. Many computers are built to the specific requirements of a particular operating system. For optimal performance from the computer, it is often best to know which operating system the computer originally came with.
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Instructions
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Determine your computer’s make and model number. This should be either on a sticker on the back of the computer or printed on the computer itself.
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Connect to the Internet. Do a search for the computer make and model. This should bring up several different websites in the search. Look for those sites that offer reviews of the machine you are looking for. These reviews will often list the specifications of the computer when it was purchased new. Almost always, they will include the operating system that was installed on the system at that time. Computer Net and PC Magazine offer reviews onlin,e and you can search their archives for the make and model you have. Consumer Reports has also tested and reviewed many different models.
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Look at the manufacturer's website. They may still have support for the machine and give the specifications of how it shipped when new.
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Contact the manufacturer if you cannot find the information elsewhere. Most computer companies will be more than happy to tell you what operating system was installed when they first sold the machine.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are computer savvy, you can also look for a hidden partition on the existing hard drive to determine what operating system was installed originally.
Older computers are great for simple word processing and basic tasks such as manipulating photos or surfing the Internet or downloading email.
When contacting the computer manufacturer, try to use email instead of a phone call. They might attempt to sell you a new computer.
Before installing any new operating system, make sure the computer meets or exceeds the requirements listed by the OS manufacturer.
