jj, you can still build exes for 2000 because the version helpers use APIs that 2000 has.
Yes, it uses VerifyVersionInfoW, which in turn calls good ol' RtlGetVersion, the one I used in my code. Thanks for the header file, I had seen an unofficial one somewhere, good to have the original.
While you can still call the deprecated APIs, if your application does not specifically target Windows 8.1 or Windows 10, you will get Windows 8 version (6.2.0.0).
RtlGetVersion returns 6.3 on Windows 8.1, without manifest. The logic "manifest-wise my application is not specifically targeted for 8.1, so I want the OS to fake an 8.0" is rather redmondish
