C++ How to detect Windows 10

Question

I have written a PC auditing tool many years ago and have been keeping it up to date. One of basic functions is reporting the version of Windows running on the PC being audited for which I have always used the GetVersionEx call.

This works up to and including Windows 8 but is not supported under Windows 10 and indeed Windows 10 returns 8.2 just as windows 8 does. Microsoft do not seem to have introduced anything as a direct replacement suggesting instead that you check for specific features required rather than looking at the OS but for the purpose of the audit I actually want the OS name.

The 'scanner' is a C++ program which must run under non-privileged accounts so I don't think another suggestion I have read - picking up the version of a system DLL such as kernel32.dll will work as these folders are typically not accessible to users.

Any other suggestions/thoughts are most welcome!

Answer 1

GetVersion and GetVersionEx were superseded by various version helper functions. The one you want is IsWindows10OrGreater. They can be found in VersionHelpers.h.

IsWindows10OrGreater is only available in the latest SDK/Visual Studio 2015. You can use IsWindowsVersionOrGreater in the general case however. For example on my 7 box I get TRUE for IsWindowsVersionOrGreater(6, 0, 0).

Remember that the parameters this function takes relate to Windows build number and NOT marketing name. So Windows 8 is build 6.2. Windows 7 is 6.0 etc.