How to Find Build and Revision Number of Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 Installed

There are many versions, build numbers, editions or revisions such as Beta, Release Candidate (RC), Release to Manufacturing (RTM) or even retail copies of Windows Vista and/or Windows Server 2008. Actually the comment is true for any Windows Operating System. So how do find out the revision number of your Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 – this article will help you find out.

Introduction

There are many different versions of the same Windows Vista or Server 2008 software because as with most software products, achieving the perfect final build is an iterative process. Most start out with a Beta, which after a period of testing will progress into a Release Candidate (RC) and after further testing may reach Escrow (Final Testing) and finally Release to Manufacturing (RTM) status.

Sometimes people inadvertently install the incorrect version, or an old release. Installing the incorrect version may restrict your ability to upgrade to future releases or may even stop functioning after a period of time, also called Time Crippled Release. Therefore it’s important to know exactly what version is installed.

Making sense of the Version, Revision and Build Numbers

As with all software project it is important to understand that versioning is an important part of the solution. Tracking version numbers allows us to identify problems in specific components or pinpoints certain pieces of software where things were working as expected.

In general Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 follow this versioning style:

6.0.6001.16497 where the parts are separated by a full stop.

Major.Minor.Build.Revision

6.0.6001.16497

Windows Server 2008 & Widnows Vista Version, Build & Revision Numbers

The following table lists some of the common build numbers:

Windows Name or Service Pack                            Version Number
----------------------------                            --------------
 
Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RTM            6.0.6001.18000
Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 1 (SP1)+               6.0.6001.18226

Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2) Pre-Beta       6.0.6002.16489
Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2) Beta           6.0.6002.16497.081017-1605
Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2) RC             6.0.6002.16670.090130-1715
Windows Server 2008 SP2 RTM-Escrow                      6.0.6002.18003
Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2) RTM            6.0.6002.18005.090410-1830

Windows Vista Beta 1                                    6.0.5112
Windows Vista Community Technology Preview 1 (CTP)      6.0.5219
Windows Vista CTP2                                      6.0.5231
Windows Vista CTP Refresh                               6.0.5342
Windows Vista Beta 2                                    6.0.5384
Windows Vista Pre-RC1                                   6.0.5456-5536
Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1)                 6.0.5600.16384
Windows Vista Pre-RC2                                   6.0.5700-5728
Windows Vista RC2                                       6.0.5744.16384
Windows Vista Pre-RTM                                   6.0.5840
Windows Vista RTM                                       6.0.6000.16386

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta                       6.0.6001.16659.070916-1443
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Release Candidate Preview  6.0.6001.17042.071107.1618
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Release Candidate          6.0.6001.17052.071129.2315
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Release Candidate Refresh  6.0.6001.17128.080101.1935
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC Refresh 2               6.0.6001.18000
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)                      6.0.6001.18000
Windows Vista Post-Service Pack 1 (KB952709)            6.0.6001.18063.080425-1930

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Pre-Beta                   6.0.6002.16489.080924-1740
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta                       6.0.6002.16497.081017-1605
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 RC-Escrow                  6.0.6002.16659.090114-1728
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Release Candidate          6.0.6002.16670.090130-1715
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 RTM-Escrow (beta testers)  6.0.6002.17043.090312-1835
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 RTM-Escrow                 6.0.6002.17506.090313-1730
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 RTM                        6.0.6002.18005.090410-1830

Windows 7 Milestone 1 (M1)                              6.1.6519
Windows 7 Milestone 2 (M2)                              6.1.6589
Windows 7 Beta 1                                        6.1.7000.0.081212-1400
Windows 7 Release Candidate 1 (RC1)                     6.1.7100.0.90421-1700

How to Get the Actual Version, Build and Revision Number of Windows Vista or Server 2008

The easiest way is to use built in tools which help you perform this task. Within easy reach you have two options, Systeminfo or Ver. Ver is the quickest to use.

Using Ver to find out the Version, Build and Revision Number of Windows Vista or Server 2008

To use any of these tools you will need to start the command prompt.

Click Start
Click Run
In the Open field type cmd and press Enter. The command prompt will open
At the command prompt type ver and press Enter.

C:\>ver 
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6001]

Using SystemInfo to find out the Version, Build and Revision Number of Windows Vista or Server 2008

System Information (SystemInfo) also gives this information, however it returns much more than is needed for this small task.

To run systeminfo, at the command prompt execute systeminfo and hit Enter.

C:\>systeminfo
Host Name:                 COMPUTER
OS Name:                   Microsoftr Windows Serverr 2008 Enterprise
OS Version:                6.0.6001 Service Pack 1 Build 6001
OS Manufacturer:           Microsoft Corporation
OS Configuration:          Member Server
OS Build Type:             Multiprocessor Free
Registered Owner:          Windows User
Product ID:                XXXXX-XXX-XXXXXXX-76084
Original Install Date:     9/8/2008, 8:54:34 PM
System Boot Time:          5/2/2009, 8:19:50 AM
System Manufacturer:       Hewlett-Packard
System Model:              HP Compaq 8510p
System Type:               x64-based PC

As you can see you get more information using the systeminfo command, such as the machine name, System model as well as the Revision and Build number. In addition SystemInfo also lists the Service Pack level.

6.0.6001 Service Pack 1 Build 6001

Advanced Method for finding the Version, Build and Revision Number

Although for most purposes the Ver or SystemInfo command will do what we want, they lack the ability to show the revision number. This may be an important piece of information when trying to figure out whether the Windows version of RC or RTM. The reason for this is that usually there aren’t many changes between these two versions and sometimes only the revision number is affected from one version to the next.

Using RegEdit to Dig Deeper

We can use the Registry Editor to get access to more detailed information:

Open Registry Editor by typing Regedit at the command prompt, then hit Enter.

Navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

In the right pane, you will see many registry keys and their values. The following summary will give you Here’s how you read the value for some of the keys.

Windows-Build-Revision-Number

The following table gives definitions for the most important settings in the registry:

Registry Value Name	Description
ProductName	The product name of Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 edition on the system. For example, Windows Server (R) 2008 Enterprise.
EditionID	The edition of the operating system. For example, ServerEnterprise.
BuildLabEx	Contains the build and revision number. For example, 6001.18226.amd64fre.vistasp1_gdr.090302-1506 where the first portion gives you the build number (6001) and the next set is the revision number (18226).

Conclusion

This article has demonstrated three methods of finding out the Major, Minor, Build and Revision version of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. The first method used the Ver command, the second the SystemInfo command, and the third and advanced method used the Registry Editor (RegEdit).