VBScript Win32_OperatingSystem Class

last modified April 9, 2025

The Win32_OperatingSystem class in VBScript is part of Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). It provides detailed information about the installed operating system. This class contains properties like version, installation date, and system directory. It's essential for system administration scripts.

Win32_OperatingSystem enables querying OS configuration and status. It can retrieve both static information and dynamic system metrics. This tutorial covers the class with practical examples to demonstrate its capabilities. You'll learn to access valuable system information through VBScript.

Win32_OperatingSystem Class Overview

The Win32_OperatingSystem class represents the operating system installed on a computer. It inherits from CIM_OperatingSystem and provides Windows-specific properties. The class is accessed through WMI queries in VBScript.

Key properties include Caption, Version, and BuildNumber. Methods like Reboot and Shutdown allow system control. Understanding this class helps create powerful system management scripts. It's available on all modern Windows versions.

Retrieving Basic OS Information

This example demonstrates how to retrieve basic operating system information. It shows the OS name, version, and build number. The script connects to WMI and queries the Win32_OperatingSystem class.

basic_os_info.vbs

Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:\\.\root\cimv2")
Set colOS = objWMIService.ExecQuery("Select * from Win32_OperatingSystem")

For Each objOS in colOS
    WScript.Echo "OS Name: " & objOS.Caption
    WScript.Echo "Version: " & objOS.Version
    WScript.Echo "Build Number: " & objOS.BuildNumber
Next

The script connects to WMI using GetObject. It queries all instances of Win32_OperatingSystem. The loop outputs three key properties: Caption, Version, and BuildNumber. These provide basic identification of the OS.

Checking System Uptime

This example calculates system uptime using the LastBootUpTime property. It converts WMI's datetime format to a readable value. The script shows how long the system has been running since last boot.

system_uptime.vbs

Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:\\.\root\cimv2")
Set colOS = objWMIService.ExecQuery("Select * from Win32_OperatingSystem")

For Each objOS in colOS
    dtmBootup = objOS.LastBootUpTime
    dtmLastBootupTime = WMIDateStringToDate(dtmBootup)
    dtmSystemUptime = DateDiff("h", dtmLastBootupTime, Now)
    WScript.Echo "System Uptime: " & dtmSystemUptime & " hours"
Next

Function WMIDateStringToDate(dtmDate)
    WMIDateStringToDate = CDate(Mid(dtmDate, 5, 2) & "/" & _
        Mid(dtmDate, 7, 2) & "/" & Left(dtmDate, 4) _
        & " " & Mid(dtmDate, 9, 2) & ":" & _
        Mid(dtmDate, 11, 2) & ":" & Mid(dtmDate, 13, 2))
End Function

The script retrieves LastBootUpTime and converts it using a helper function. DateDiff calculates hours between boot time and now. The WMIDateStringToDate function handles WMI's unique datetime format. This provides accurate uptime measurement.

Checking Free Physical Memory

This example shows how to check available physical memory using the FreePhysicalMemory property. It converts the value from KB to GB for better readability. The script demonstrates monitoring system resources.

free_memory.vbs

Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:\\.\root\cimv2")
Set colOS = objWMIService.ExecQuery("Select * from Win32_OperatingSystem")

For Each objOS in colOS
    freeKB = objOS.FreePhysicalMemory
    freeGB = Round(freeKB / 1048576, 2)
    WScript.Echo "Free Physical Memory: " & freeGB & " GB"
Next

The script queries FreePhysicalMemory which returns kilobytes. It converts this to gigabytes by dividing by 1048576 (1024*1024). The Round function formats the output to two decimal places. This helps monitor system memory usage.

Determining OS Architecture

This example determines whether the OS is 32-bit or 64-bit using the OSArchitecture property. It provides clear output about the system type. The script shows how to check processor architecture compatibility.

os_architecture.vbs

Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:\\.\root\cimv2")
Set colOS = objWMIService.ExecQuery("Select * from Win32_OperatingSystem")

For Each objOS in colOS
    WScript.Echo "OS Architecture: " & objOS.OSArchitecture
Next

The script simply outputs the OSArchitecture property value. This returns strings like "32-bit" or "64-bit" directly. Knowing the OS architecture is crucial for software compatibility. The property is available on Windows Vista and later.

Getting System Directory Path

This example retrieves the Windows system directory path using the SystemDirectory property. It shows where critical system files are located. The script demonstrates accessing important system paths.

system_directory.vbs

Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:\\.\root\cimv2")
Set colOS = objWMIService.ExecQuery("Select * from Win32_OperatingSystem")

For Each objOS in colOS
    WScript.Echo "System Directory: " & objOS.SystemDirectory
Next

The script outputs the full path to the system directory (typically C:\Windows\System32). This information is useful for file operations involving system files. The property reliably returns the correct path regardless of Windows version or installation location.

Source

Win32_OperatingSystem Documentation

In this article, we have explored the Win32_OperatingSystem class in VBScript, covering its usage and practical applications. From basic OS identification to resource monitoring, these examples demonstrate powerful system information retrieval. With this knowledge, you can create sophisticated system administration scripts.

Author

My name is Jan Bodnar and I am a passionate programmer with many years of programming experience. I have been writing programming articles since 2007. So far, I have written over 1400 articles and 8 e-books. I have over eight years of experience in teaching programming.

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