[Python-talk] recognizing XP systems

[Ben Scott]

On 4/17/06, Ray Cote <rgacote at appropriatesolutions.com> wrote:
>> ('Microsoft', 'vm2k3', 'Windows', '5.2.3790', '', '')
>>
>> [1] is the machine name.  Maybe [3] is reliable?
>
> I'd have to dig into some Knowledgebase, but I'm fairly sure the
> first two digits of the OS version are a reliable indicator of the OS.

  Nothing with Microsoft is reliable.

  There are two Windows product lines, "classic Windows" (my term) and
"Windows NT".  They have independent, sometimes overlapping, version
numbers.

  Windows 95 = Win 4.0
  Win 98 = Win 4.something
  Win ME = Win 4.something

  Win NT 4.0 = Win NT 4.0
  Windows 2000 = Windows NT 5.0
  Win XP = Win NT 5.1
  2003 = Win NT 5.2

  So, "4.0" could mean NT 4.0 or Win 95/98/ME.

  And, of course, knowing Microsoft, they'll decide to use roman
numerals for version numbers in the next release or something...  :)

-- Ben