How to Determine the Japanese OEM Windows Version

 Last reviewed: January 15, 1998
Article ID: Q130054
3.10 1.20 | 3.50 1.20 
WINDOWS   | WINDOWS NT
kbhw
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows version 3.1
  • Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kit (SDK) version 3.5
  • Microsoft Win32s version 1.2

SUMMARY

Because of the variety of computer manufacturers (NEC, Fujitsu, IBMJ, and so on) in Japan, sometimes Windows-based applications need to know which OEM (original equipment manufacturer) manufactured the computer that is running the application. This article explains how.

MORE INFORMATION

There is no documented way to detect the manufacturer of the computer that is currently running an application. However, a Windows-based application can detect the type of OEM Windows by using the return value of the GetKeyboardType() function.

If an application uses the GetKeyboardType API, it can get OEM ID by specifying "1" (keyboard subtype) as argument of the function. Each OEM ID is listed here: 

   OEM Windows       OEM ID
   ------------------------------
   Microsoft         00H (DOS/V)
   all AX            01H
   EPSON             04H
   Fujitsu           05H
   IBMJ              07H
   Matsushita        0AH
   NEC               0DH
   Toshiba           12H
Application programs can use these OEM IDs to distinguish the type of OEM Windows. Note, however, that this method is not documented, so Microsoft may not support it in the future version of Windows.

As a rule, application developers should write hardware-independent code, especially when making Windows-based applications. If they need to make a hardware-dependent application, they must prepare the separated program file for each different hardware architecture.

Additional reference words: 3.10 1.20 3.50 1.20 kbinf
KBCategory: kbhw
KBSubcategory: KBIntlDev

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Last reviewed: January 15, 1998
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