I’m looking at used PC laptops and am wondering if there’s an easy way to tell what version of Windows a laptop computer is running and whether it’s properly licensed and activated? Don’t want to buy one just to find it’s a bootleg or unlicensed copy of Windows…
Microsoft has become pretty lenient about letting people run Windows on their computer without it being licensed, though you don’t quite have access to every feature and function. I do that on some of our test systems and other than a warning on the lower right of the screen about it being unlicensed, it’s definitely an entirely usable setup. A licensed, properly activated copy of Windows is superior, however, if nothing else than because we should be supporting the millions of development and testing hours that have gone into Microsoft’s ongoing OS development.
There are three things that I would want to check on a used PC: Whether it’s running a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows (64-bit is preferrable as it indicates a more sophisticated CPU architecture and therefore better performance), what version of Windows it’s running (basically Home vs Pro), and whether it’s properly activated or not. Here’s how to check all three…
WHAT VERSION OF WINDOWS? 32-BIT or 64-BIT?
If you know where to look, Microsoft makes the information reasonably accessible. Start by doing a Windows 11 search for “about”, which will offer up this search result:
Indeed, you want “About your PC”, so click or tap on it to get to the correct area in System Settings. Here’s what I see on my VMware Fusion-powered Windows installation:
You can verify that the CPU is the chip you expect – this is an Intel i9 2.3Ghz emulation – and the memory you’ve been told – this is configured with a measly 4GB of RAM.
Lower down is one of our key datapoints: This system is “64-bit operating system, x64-based processor”.
IDENTIFY WINDOWS VERSION AND ACTIVATION INFO
Scroll down a bit further and you can see what version of Windows is running on this computer:
There’s the info: Windows 11 Home version 21H2, with Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000. All you’ll really care about is the Edition of Windows.
Note: What’s the difference between Windows Home and Windows Pro? First off, Windows 11 Pro is designed for people using their PC for business or work, including the ability to encrypt your disk drive, split out your work info and files from your home files (something called WIP, or Windows Information Protection), and utilize Remote Desktop. Additional Win 11 Pro features include Active Directory, Azure, and access to the Microsoft Store for Business. Suffice to say, for most people Windows 11 Home is just fine…
Scroll down a bit and click on “Product key and activation“…
The key is that little green checkmark: This copy of Windows 11 Home is properly activated and tied to my Microsoft Account, exactly as I want.
If you didn’t have an activated copy but did have a license (and fyi 99% of those cheap “OEM” licenses you can buy on eBay won’t work) you can enter the license from this same area in Settings too. Upgrading from Home to Pro? Microsoft’s got you covered with that too:
Now you know how to ascertain this basic information about a Windows install on a PC. Good luck with your shopping adventure and don’t forget to test all the ports too!
Pro Tip: I’ve been writing about Windows since the beginning. While you’re here, please check out my extensive Windows help area for hundreds of other useful tutorials and how-to articles. Thanks!