Identify the Operating System details in C#

Question

How can I get the OS details using C# code in my WPF application?

Answer 1

Using the registry is something that is possible for any application. In C# I have made myself a utility class for this. Note that Microsoft has changed the key for Windows 10+ (which this class is designed to already handle). The class should give you the information you need, I think:

namespace Inspection
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Static class that adds convenient methods for getting information on the running computers basic hardware and os setup.
    /// </summary>
    public static class ComputerInfo
    {
        /// <summary>
        ///     Returns the Windows major version number for this computer.
        /// </summary>
        public static uint WinMajorVersion
        {
            get
            {
                dynamic major;
                // The 'CurrentMajorVersionNumber' string value in the CurrentVersion key is new for Windows 10, 
                // and will most likely (hopefully) be there for some time before MS decides to change this - again...
                if (TryGeRegistryKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion", "CurrentMajorVersionNumber", out major))
                {
                    return (uint) major;
                }

                // When the 'CurrentMajorVersionNumber' value is not present we fallback to reading the previous key used for this: 'CurrentVersion'
                dynamic version;
                if (!TryGeRegistryKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion", "CurrentVersion", out version))
                    return 0;

                var versionParts = ((string) version).Split('.');
                if (versionParts.Length != 2) return 0;
                uint majorAsUInt;
                return uint.TryParse(versionParts[0], out majorAsUInt) ? majorAsUInt : 0;
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        ///     Returns the Windows minor version number for this computer.
        /// </summary>
        public static uint WinMinorVersion
        {
            get
            {
                dynamic minor;
                // The 'CurrentMinorVersionNumber' string value in the CurrentVersion key is new for Windows 10, 
                // and will most likely (hopefully) be there for some time before MS decides to change this - again...
                if (TryGeRegistryKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion", "CurrentMinorVersionNumber",
                    out minor))
                {
                    return (uint) minor;
                }

                // When the 'CurrentMinorVersionNumber' value is not present we fallback to reading the previous key used for this: 'CurrentVersion'
                dynamic version;
                if (!TryGeRegistryKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion", "CurrentVersion", out version))
                    return 0;

                var versionParts = ((string) version).Split('.');
                if (versionParts.Length != 2) return 0;
                uint minorAsUInt;
                return uint.TryParse(versionParts[1], out minorAsUInt) ? minorAsUInt : 0;
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        ///     Returns whether or not the current computer is a server or not.
        /// </summary>
        public static uint IsServer
        {
            get
            {
                dynamic installationType;
                if (TryGeRegistryKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion", "InstallationType",
                    out installationType))
                {
                    return (uint) (installationType.Equals("Client") ? 0 : 1);
                }

                return 0;
            }
        }

        private static bool TryGeRegistryKey(string path, string key, out dynamic value)
        {
            value = null;
            try
            {
                var rk = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(path);
                if (rk == null) return false;
                value = rk.GetValue(key);
                return value != null;
            }
            catch
            {
                return false;
            }
        }
    }
}

Answer 2

The Environment class provides properties that can be used to obtain system information.

Answer 3

You can get OS information from System. Environment.OSVersion Here

Answer 4

Since I only have to care about non server editions, I do:

enum OS { _2000, XP, Vista, _7, _8 }

public static OS GetOS()
{
    var version = Environment.OSVersion.Version;
    switch (version.Major)
    {
        case 5:
            switch (version.Minor)
            {
                case 0:
                    return OS._2000;
                case 1:
                    return OS.XP;
                case 2:
                    return OS.XP; //could also be Server 2003, Server 2003 R2
            }
            break;
        case 6:
            switch (version.Minor)
            {
                case 0:
                    return OS.Vista; //could also be Server 2008
                case 1:
                    return OS._7; //could also be Server 2008 R2
                case 2:
                    return OS._8; //could also be Server 20012, Server 2012 R2
            }
            break;
    }

    throw new Exception("Strange OS");
}

If you really need to consider server editions as well, then your options are:

1. WMI, you will have to some manual parsing. Not sure if user privilege is going to hurt non admin users.

2. GetVersionEx as described in this answer.

3. Checking for ProductName at

   HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\
   

4. IsOS function, as described in this answer. Of all I prefer this..

I provided a bit more complete answer here.

Answer 5

Have a look at System.Environment It has property OSVersion