How to Tell Which Operating System I Have: XP 32- or 64-Bit?

Knowing the exact version of Windows XP is running on a computer can be found in the Control Panel.

While they may appear identical, knowing whether a computer is running the 32-bit version of Windows XP or the 64-bit version can help determine how well the operating system will process information. Specifically, the 64-bit version can more efficiently process large amounts of information than the 32-bit system. That means it can process information from several programs running simultaneously faster, meaning multitasking is a more-efficient process on a 64-bit version of XP than the 32-bit version. And, the exact version running on a specific computer can be easily found inside Windows' Control Panel.

Instructions

1. Turn on the computer and allow Windows XP to boot up completely.

2. Click the "Start" button, and then select the "Control Panel" option from the menu that pops up. It will be found on the right side of the menu.

3. Select the "System" option from the Control Panel menu that appears. The icon for that option is a small computer with a large, red check mark on the monitor.

4. Look at the box that pops up to determine what version of XP is running on that particular computer. The information will be found in the upper-right corner of the screen directly underneath where it says the computer is running Windows XP.

References

• 32-bit and 64-bit Windows: Frequently Asked Questions