windows 8 - detect the different versions?

[francoiste]

by now there are:

1. window 8
2. windows 8.1
3. windows 8.1 + update 1 (april 2014)

using the regular macros i'm not able to distinguish between the above:

• @OSVersion
• @OSServicePack
• @OSBuild

for the most recent variant 3 i'm just getting: version = WIN_8, servicepack = <empty>, build = 9200.

not being able to distinguish between 1 and 2 mainly is because of some crazy decision by microsoft:
unless you embed a specific manifest into your application the windows API will "lie" to you. it will report back it was regular windows 8 "initial release".
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dn302074.aspx

not being able to detect 3 (update 1) also is because of some doubtful decision by microsoft:
"update 1" is different from the "service packs" seen in the past.

even though it replaces almost each and every file in the windows OS it's considered just a cumulative "rollup".

it does not set any service pack number (i.e. the "CSDBuildNumber").

any ideas how to reliably detect the specific version of windows 8.x?

 

right now the only way seems to be manually reading and parsing the REG_SZ "BuildLabEx" below "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersion".

on my test system it currently reads:

• CurrentVersion = 6.3
• CurrentBuild = 9600
• CurrentBuildNumber = 9600
• BuildLab = 9600.winblue_gdr.140305-1710
• BuildLabEx = 9600.17041.amd64fre.winblue_gdr.140305-1710
• CSDBuildNumber = <does_not_exist>
• CSDVersion = <does_not_exist>

Edited May 3, 2014 by francoiste

[UEZ]

You can use WMI to get the information:

$objWMI= ObjGet("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & @ComputerName & "\root\cimv2")
$oItems = $objWMI.InstancesOf("Win32_OperatingSystem")

For $oTokens In $oItems
    ConsoleWrite("Operating System: " & $oTokens.Caption & @LF)
    ConsoleWrite("Version: " & $oTokens.Version & @LF)
    ConsoleWrite("Build: " & $oTokens.BuildNumber & @LF)
Next
$bUpdate1 = ((StringRegExpReplace(RegRead("HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion", "BuildLabEx"), "\d+\.(\d+)\..*", "$1") = 17041) ? "True": "False")
ConsoleWrite("Win8.1 Update 1 installed: " & $bUpdate1 & @CRLF)
$CSDBuildNumber = RegRead("HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion", "CSDBuildNumber")
ConsoleWrite("CSDBuildNumber: " & (($CSDBuildNumber = "") ? "n/a" : $CSDBuildNumber) & @CRLF)
$CSDVersion = RegRead("HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion", "CSDVersion")
ConsoleWrite("CSDVersion: " & (($CSDVersion = "") ? "n/a" : $CSDVersion) & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("Winver.exe File Version: " & FileGetVersion("winver.exe") & @CRLF)

Br,

UEZ

Edited May 3, 2014 by UEZ

[UEZ]

I think there is no "Upate 1" available. You have to check whether KB2919355 has been installed. If yes Win 8.1 Update 1 is installed.
 
 

Or read the registry, as you already mentioned, for the key BuildLabEx. -> see post#2

 

Br,
UEZ

Edited May 3, 2014 by UEZ

[BrewManNH]

What does FileGetVersion return when you use it on Winver.exe in the system32 folder on the various versions of Windows 8?

[francoiste]

sorry, i was lagging behind.

after upgrading from AutoIt 3.3.8.1 to 3.3.10.2 i noticed the following:

per default the microsoft manifest is being added to the compiled script:

>17:47:39 Performing the Program Resource Update steps:
...>Updating Program Version information.
...>Setting Program ExecutionLevel Manifest information to asInvoker
...>Setting Program Compatibility Manifest information to Windows8.1
...>Updating Program Manifest information.
>17:47:40 Program Resource updating finished successfully.

because of this the regular macro "@OSVersion" is able to distinguish between "WIN_8" and "WIN_81" just fine.

the only remaining problem is detect "update 1" - where currently the only solution seems to be manually reading and parsing the registry for "BuildLabEx".

[francoiste]

for reference:

some "related" thread has been started here: https://www.autoitscript.com/forum/topic/166932-os-version/

 

Edited June 16, 2015 by francoiste