Personally, I don't like that you can execute code in the address bar of any browser: I think it is a potential security risk. But, if you are on the phone to a custard (a cross between a customer and a b@stard), then this is a simple method that even a pretty non-technical person can cope with!
The only other ways I know of for a user to check what versions (if any) are installed on a machine are to look in the registry (and some people should not be allowed near Regedit), or to check for a folder called "
Microsoft.NET\Framework\" under the main
Windows directory (which may not be available to all users) and see what sub-directories exist. Since this means them looking into the Windows directory, I don't like to go there either - the damage a "non-technical person" can do without thinking is quite staggering, sometimes.
This method can be used very easily over the phone, and requires nothing that (probably) isn't installed already: Internet Explorer (it definitely doesn't work in Chrome, and probably won't in Firefox.)
Bring up Internet Explorer and paste into the address bar (note the upper- and lower-case, it is important):
javascript:alert(navigator.userAgent)
Press ENTER.
You will get a popup saying something along the lines of:
Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE8.0; Windows NT 5.1; Trident/4.0;
Followed by a number of ".NET CLR" versions. All the user has to do is read out the message box content.
Simples!
Born at an early age, he grew older. At the same time, his hair grew longer, and was tied up behind his head.
Has problems spelling the word "the".
Invented the portable cat-flap.
Currently, has not died yet. Or has he?