Can my Mac run Sierra? The first thing to do is check to see if your Mac can run macOS High Sierra. This year’s version of the operating system offers compatibility with all Macs that can run macOS Sierra. Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer) iMac (Late 2009 or newer). The name and version number of your Mac’s operating system appears on the “Overview” tab in the About This Mac window. What is the current Mac operating system? Mac OS X 10.3 Panther was released on October 24, 2003 and was one of the biggest updates to OS X yet. What Operating System Do I Have On My Mac? On my 27″ iMac and most Macs, you can click on the little apple icon in the upper left-hand corner of the desktop and then select “About This Mac”. You will be presented with a small windows that displays the Mac OS or Operating System.
Learning Objectives
- Determine what operating system you have.
An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs. Put simply, this is the system that allows your computer to operate. Every computer has an operating system. The two most common operating systems are Microsoft Windows and Apple’s macOS.
It is important to know which operating system your computer has because the steps to accomplish various tasks varies between operating systems. Reading directions on how to change the desktop background in Windows 10 may not help you if you are running Windows XP, and those directions will be useless if you are using a Mac. However, nearly all versions of Windows and macOS are capable of doing the same things.
Although this class will be focusing on Windows 10 and 7, the things you will learn in this module can be done by any version of Windows or macOS. If you are not running Windows 10 or 7, you can find directions online by searching for the task you are trying to do and the name of your operating system. (For example, you might search for “create folder windows vista.”)
Windows vs. Mac
To identify your operating system, start by narrowing down which brand of OS you have. Often you can determine whether you are running Windows or macOS without even turning on your computer:
- Is there an Apple logo somewhere on your computer?
- Does your computer have a Command key (⌘) on the keyboard?
- Was your computer purchased at an Apple store?
If the answer to any of those questions is yes, then you most likely have a computer that runs macOS.
Another good way to see whether you are running Windows or Mac is simply to turn the computer on. As the operating system boots up, it will display a logo. A Windows logo means you are running Windows, while an Apple logo means you are running macOS.
If you have determined that you are running Windows, there are many methods to determine your specific operating system, not all of which are listed here. It doesn’t matter which method you use; what’s important is figuring out which operating system you have. If one method doesn’t work, try another.
Method 1
Press the Windows key (at the bottom of the keyboard, looks like four squares) and R key at the same time to open the Run dialog box. Type in “winver.”
Click OK. A window should open called About Windows that tells you which operating system you are using.
Method 2
Open the Start menu by clicking the bottom left-hand corner of your screen. If you see a search text box, select it and then type “about” or “about your pc.” If you do not see a search text box, then just start typing “about” or “about your pc.” Select About your PC. If you do not see About your PC, try a different method.
This computer is running Windows 10 Home Version 1607 with a 64-bit operating system.
Method 3
Open the Start menu by clicking the bottom left-hand corner of your screen. Right-click on Computer, then select Properties.
This computer is running Windows 7 Professional with a 64-bit operating system.
Method 4
Open the Start menu by clicking the bottom left-hand corner of your screen.If you see a search text box, select it and then type “System Information” in the search box. If you do not see a search text box, then just start typing “system” or “system information.” Select System Information under Programs. If you do not see System Information, try a different method.
This computer is running Windows 7 Professional with a 64-bit operating system.
Methods 2–4 also provide additional information on your computer that is useful for troubleshooting and determining what programs you will be able to run. For example, many software programs have a version for a x32-based processor and another for a x64-based processor. For the purposes of this course, you only need to know which edition of Windows you have.
Check Your Understanding
Answer the question(s) below to see how well you understand the topics covered in the previous section. This short quiz does not count toward your grade in the class, and you can retake it an unlimited number of times.
Mac Operating System List
Use this quiz to check your understanding and decide whether to (1) study the previous section further or (2) move on to the next section.