ARCHIVED: How can I determine what version of Windows 95 my CD-ROM will install?

Note: UITS recommends that you use a current version of Windows on computers connected to the Indiana University network. For more information, see For Windows computers on the IU network, why does UITS recommend Windows 2000, XP Professional, or Vista Enterprise or Ultimate? Security features on the IU network prevent Windows 95, 98, 98SE, and Me computers from authenticating to ADS, printing to some network printers in departments and campus housing, and mapping drives to other computers.

Note: The retail version of Windows 95 is the original version made available in August 1995. This version is not compatible with computer systems running Windows 95 OSR2. OSR2 (OEM Service Release 2) is a service release of Windows 95 that Microsoft released in early 1997, but which was available only with the purchase of a new computer or hard drive. Before using any Windows 95 CD, verify what version is currently running on your computer system. Do not use the retail version of Windows 95 with any version of OSR2. Doing so can cause system problems that may require a clean installation of Windows 95 and all applications. If you do not have the CD from which your computer's system software was installed, or if you remain uncertain about your version of Windows 95 after following the instructions below, see the Knowledge Base document How can I determine what version of Windows 95, 98, or Me I have?

To determine the version of Windows 95 that you're running, look for something like the following on the face of the Windows 95 installation CD: 0796 Part No. 000-45234

This is the serial number for the specific version of the Windows 95 operating system on your computer. The following is a table of serial numbers and the corresponding versions:

Also see:

• What is FAT32?
• In Mac OS or Mac OS X, how do I find the version number and product ID number of an application?