How to Display Operating System Information on a Windows XP Desktop
If you have more than one computer and are using the Windows Automatic Update feature, it is cumbersome to determine the operating system version information on each PC. Use the following steps to display the operating system version, build and service pack information right on the desktop.
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Instructions
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Log in to an administrator account. Navigate to the "Start" menu and select "Run." In the Run dialog, type "regedit" (without quotes) and click "OK." The Registry Editor appears.
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Open the HKEY_CURRENT_USER branch and select "Control Panel" and then "Desktop."
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Look for a registry entry in the right pane named PaintDeskTopVersion.
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Double-click the PaintDeskTopVersion name to display the Edit DWORD window. Enter "1" (without quotes) in the Value Data field. Click "OK."
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Close the Registry Editor. Changes are automatically saved.
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Restart the computer. The operating system name and service pack information will now be displayed in the lower right corner of the desktop.
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7
Set the PaintDeskTopVersion DWORD value back to "0" to remove the operating system information from the desktop.
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Tips & Warnings
Be careful when making changes using the Registry Editor. It is recommended you save the registry settings prior to making any changes. The entire registry may be saved by selecting the top level 'Computer' registry entry and using the Rightmouse Export option.
