Open the Control Panel by clicking on the Start button then Settings then Control Panel. Or, if you are using the default Windows XP Start menu, click Control Panel (Settings does not appear). If, when Control Panel opens, you are prompted to "Pick a category," click on the "Switch to classic view" option at the top of the left column.

Double-click the System icon (see Figure 41) to open the System Properties.

Depending on what operating system you are using, the "tabs" appearing in System Properties may vary. However, the first item at the top of the General tab on almost every Windows operating system is the "System" information that will tell you whether you are using Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, or XP.