Windows 7 major version

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Windows 7, a major release of the Microsoft Windows operating system, has been released in several editions since its original release in 2009. Only Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate were widely available at retailers (including Enterprise for big businesses, companies etc.).^[1] The other editions focus on other markets such as the software development world. All editions support 32-bit IA-32 CPUs and all editions except Starter support 64-bit x64 CPUs. 64-bit installation media are not included in Home-Basic edition packages, but can be obtained separately from Microsoft.

According to Microsoft, the features for all editions of Windows 7 are stored on the machine, regardless of which edition is in use.^[2] Users who wish to upgrade to an edition of Windows 7 with more features were able to use Windows Anytime Upgrade to purchase the upgrade and to unlock the features of those editions, until it was discontinued in 2015.^[1][2][3] Microsoft announced Windows 7 pricing information for some editions on June 25, 2009, and Windows Anytime Upgrade and Family Pack pricing on July 31, 2009.^[1][4][5]

Mainstream support for all Windows 7 editions ended on January 13, 2015, and extended support ended on January 14, 2020. After that, the operating system ceased receiving further support.^[6] Professional and Enterprise volume licensed editions had paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) available until at most January 10, 2023.^[7] Since October 31, 2013, Windows 7 is no longer available in retail, except for remaining stocks of the preinstalled Professional edition, which was officially discontinued on October 31, 2016.^[8]

Windows 7 Starter

Windows 7 Starter is the edition of Windows 7 that contains the fewest features. It was only available in a 32-bit version and does not include the Windows Aero theme. The desktop wallpaper and visual styles (Windows 7 Basic) are not user-changeable. It was initially intended to be restricted to running up to three simultaneous programs like previous Starter releases of Windows, however this was dropped in the final release.^[9] It only supports up to 2 GB of RAM.

This edition was available pre-installed on computers, especially netbooks or Windows Tablets, through system integrators or computer manufacturers using OEM licenses.^[1][10][11]

Windows 7 Home Basic

Windows 7 Home Basic was available in «emerging markets», in 141 countries.^[12] Some Windows Aero options are excluded along with several new features.^[1] This edition was available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions and supports up to 8 GB of RAM. Home Basic, along with other editions sold in emerging markets, includes geographical activation restriction, which requires users to activate Windows within a certain region or country.^[13]

Windows 7 Home Premium

This edition contains features aimed at the home market segment, such as Windows Media Center, Windows Aero and multi-touch support. It supports up to 16 GB of RAM and was available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.^[14]

Windows 7 Professional

This edition is targeted towards enthusiasts, small-business users, and schools.^[1] It includes all the features of Windows 7 Home Premium, and adds the ability to participate in a Windows Server domain.^[1] Additional features include support for up to 192 GB of RAM (increased from 16 GB),^[15] up to two physical CPUs, operating as a Remote Desktop server, location aware printing, backup to a network location, Encrypting File System, Presentation Mode, Software Restriction Policies (but not the extra management features of AppLocker) and Windows XP Mode.^[1] It was available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.^[14]

Windows 7 Enterprise

This edition targeted the enterprise segment of the market and was sold through volume licensing to companies which have a Software Assurance (SA) contract with Microsoft.^[1] Additional features include support for Multilingual User Interface (MUI) packages, BitLocker Drive Encryption, and UNIX application support.^[1] Not available through retail or OEM channels, this edition is distributed through SA.^[1] As a result, it includes several SA-only benefits, including a license allowing the operating of diskless nodes (diskless PCs) and activation via Volume License Key (VLK).^[16]

Windows 7 Ultimate

Windows 7 Ultimate is the edition of Windows 7 that contains the most features. It includes all the features of Windows 7 Home Premium and Professional while also adding some additional enterprise-oriented features that were available on the SA-exclusive Windows 7 Enterprise, making it feature-complete with the latter; this edition was also available to home users on an individual license basis.^[1] If a Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional user wished to upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate, they would be able to do so by using Windows Anytime Upgrade, for an additional fee. This service was still available for any users who wish to upgrade.^[1] Like Windows 7 Professional, it supports up to 192 GB of RAM and up to two physical CPUs, and was available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. Unlike Windows Vista Ultimate, it does not include the Windows Ultimate Extras feature or any other exclusive features that Microsoft has stated.^[1]

The main editions also can take the form of one of the following special editions:

N and KN editions

The features in the N and KN Editions are the same as their equivalent full versions, but do not include Windows Media Player or other Windows Media-related technologies, such as Windows Media Center and Windows DVD Maker due to limitations set by the European Union and South Korea, respectively.^[17] The cost of the N and KN Editions are the same as the full versions, as the Media Feature Pack for Windows 7 N or Windows 7 KN can be downloaded without charge from Microsoft.^[18]

E edition

The features in the E edition are the same as their equivalent full versions, but does not include Internet Explorer due to limitations set by the European Union. The cost of the E edition was cheaper than the full version.^[19]

Signature Edition

The Signature Edition of Windows 7 is a commemorative edition of Windows 7 Ultimate for those throwing a Windows 7 launch party.^[20] It is functionally the same as Windows 7 Ultimate.

In-place upgrade from Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 to Windows 7 is supported if the processor architecture and the language are the same and their editions match (see below).^[1][3][21] In-place upgrade is not supported for earlier versions of Windows; moving to Windows 7 on these machines requires a clean installation, i.e. removal of the old operating system, installing Windows 7 and reinstalling all previously installed programs. Windows Easy Transfer can assist in this process.^{[1][3][22][23]}
Microsoft made upgrade SKUs of Windows 7 for selected editions of Windows XP and Windows Vista. The difference between these SKUs and full SKUs of Windows 7 is their lower price and proof of license ownership of a qualifying previous version of Windows. Same restrictions on in-place upgrading applies to these SKUs as well.^[24] In addition, Windows 7 is available as a Family Pack upgrade edition in certain markets, to upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium only. It gives licenses to upgrade three machines from Vista or Windows XP to the Windows 7 Home Premium edition. These are not full versions, so each machine to be upgraded must have one of these qualifying previous versions of Windows for them to work.^[25] In the United States, this offer expired in early December 2009.^[26] In October 2010, to commemorate the anniversary of Windows 7, Microsoft once again made Windows 7 Home Premium Family Pack available for a limited time, while supplies lasted.^[27]

There are two possible ways to upgrade to Windows 7 from an earlier version of Windows:

• An in-place install (labelled «Upgrade» in the installer), where settings and programs are preserved from an older version of Windows. This option is only sometimes available, depending on the editions of Windows being used, and is not available at all unless upgrading from Windows Vista.^[28]
• A clean install (labelled «Custom» in the installer), where all settings including but not limited to user accounts, applications, user settings, music, photos, and programs are erased entirely and the current operating system is erased and replaced with Windows 7. This option is always available and is required for all versions of Windows XP.^[29]

The table below lists which upgrade paths allow for an in-place install. Note that in-place upgrades can only be performed when the previous version of Windows is of the same architecture. If upgrading from a 32-bit installation to a 64-bit installation or downgrading from 64-bit installation to 32-bit installation, a clean install is mandatory regardless of the editions being used.

  In-place installation option available.

  Requires clean install.

  Ineligible for upgrade pricing; requires full version of Windows and a clean install.

Microsoft supports in-place upgrades from a lower edition of Windows 7 to a higher one, using the Windows Anytime Upgrade tool.^[1] There are currently three retail options available (though it is currently unclear whether they can be used with previous installations of the N versions),^[30] however there are no family pack versions of the Anytime Upgrade editions. It was possible to use the Product Key from a Standard upgrade edition to accomplish an in-place upgrade (e.g. Home Premium to Ultimate).^[31][32]

• Starter to Home Premium
• Starter to Professional¹
• Starter to Ultimate¹
• Home Premium to Professional
• Home Premium to Ultimate
• Professional to Ultimate¹

¹ Available in retail, and at the Microsoft Store

Windows Thin PC

On February 9, 2011, Microsoft announced Windows Thin PC, a branded derivative of Windows Embedded Standard 7 with Service Pack 1, designed as a lightweight version of Windows 7 for installation on low performance PCs as an alternative to using a dedicated thin client device. It succeeded Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs, which was based on Windows XP Embedded. Windows Thin PC was released on June 6, 2011.

Mainstream support for Windows Thin PC ended on October 11, 2016, and extended support ended on October 12, 2021.^[33]

Embedded versions

Windows 7 is also available in two distinct forms of Windows Embedded, named as Windows Embedded Standard 7 (known as Windows Embedded Standard 2011 prior to release, the newest being Windows Embedded Standard 7 with Service Pack 1) and Windows Embedded POSReady 7. Both versions are eligible for Extended Security Updates (ESU) for up to 3 years after their end of extended support dates.^[7] In addition, binary identical for Embedded Systems (FES) variants of Professional and Ultimate editions are also available, differing only in licensing, and with their support periods also matching their non FES variants.

Mainstream support for Windows Embedded 7 Standard ended on October 13, 2015, and extended support ended on October 13, 2020.^[34] Mainstream support for Windows Embedded POSReady 7 ended on October 11, 2016, and extended support ended on October 12, 2021.^[35] Extended Security Updates (ESU) ended for Windows Embedded 7 Standard on October 10, 2023^[34] and for Windows Embedded POSReady 7 on October 8, 2024.^{[36][35][37][38]}

Windows 7 edition comparison chart^{[1][3][4][16][22][39][40][41]}

• Windows 2000 editions
• Windows XP editions
• Windows Vista editions
• Windows 8 editions
• Windows 10 editions
• Windows 11 editions

Tracing the history of Microsoft Windows reveals a steady progression of operating systems, each building on the foundation laid by its predecessors. The original Windows 1.0 was introduced in 1985, creating a graphical interface for users accustomed to the command-line MS-DOS. It marked the beginning of a new era in personal computing, focusing on accessibility through graphical icons and multitasking capabilities. Subsequent versions like Windows 2.0 and Windows 3.1 brought enhancements that solidified Windows as a platform appealing to a broad user base.

Major milestones such as Windows 95 introduced the iconic Start button and taskbar, revolutionizing the way people interact with their PCs and setting a standard for future interfaces. As hardware capabilities expanded, so did Windows, with each new version offering significant improvements in usability, performance, and security. The operating system evolved from an MS-DOS-based environment to one that could take full advantage of the rapid developments in computer technology.

Windows Version History

Over the years, Microsoft has released a variety of Windows versions, each signifying an important step in the evolution of the operating system, including advancements in technology and changes in user interface. These upgrades reflect the shift in user needs and the progression toward more touch-friendly interfaces, enhanced security, and seamless integration across devices. Here’s a list of major Windows versions in order, with details about each one:

Windows 1.0

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• Released: November 20, 1985
• Major Changes:
  • The first graphical user interface (GUI) based version of Microsoft Windows.
  • Introduced basic programs like Paint, Notepad, and Calculator.
  • Limited multitasking capabilities.

Windows 2.0

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• Released: December 9, 1987
• Major Changes:
  • Improved GUI with overlapping windows and icons.
  • Better memory management.
  • Introduced Control Panel for system settings.

Windows 3.0

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• Released: May 22, 1990
• Major Changes:
  • Significant performance improvements.
  • Enhanced GUI with 3D look and feel.
  • Support for virtual memory.
  • Popularized Windows as a mainstream operating system.

Windows 3.1

• Released: April 6, 1992
• Major Changes:
  • Primarily a bug fix and stability update to Windows 3.0
  • Introduced TrueType fonts for improved desktop publishing capabilities.

Windows 95

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• Released: August 24, 1995
• Major Changes:
  • Start button and taskbar introduced.
  • 32-bit architecture.
  • Plug and Play support for easier hardware installation.
  • Internet Explorer included.

Windows 98

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• Released: June 25, 1998
• Major Changes:
  • Improved support for USB devices.
  • Integration of Internet Explorer 4 into the desktop.
  • Active Desktop for web content on the desktop.

Windows ME (Millennium Edition)

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• Released: September 14, 2000
• Major Changes:
  • Focused on home users with multimedia and internet features
  • System Restore introduced
  • Often criticized for instability and bugs

Windows 2000

• Released: February 17, 2000
• Major Changes:
  • Aimed at business users
  • Built on the more stable NT kernel
  • Improved security and reliability

Windows XP

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• Released: October 25, 2001
• Major Changes:
  • User-friendly interface with the Luna theme
  • Combined the best of the 9x and NT lines
  • Widely adopted and supported for a long time

Windows Vista

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• Released: January 30, 2007
• Major Changes:
  • Aero Glass interface
  • User Account Control (UAC) for security
  • Often criticized for performance issues and high system requirements

Windows 7

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• Released: October 22, 2009
• Major Changes:
  • Improved performance and stability compared to Vista
  • Refined Aero interface
  • Taskbar enhancements
  • Widely praised and adopted

Windows 8

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• Released: October 26, 2012
• Major Changes:
  • Touch-centric interface with the Metro UI (later renamed Modern UI)
  • Start screen replaced the Start menu
  • Mixed reception due to the drastic interface changes

Windows 8.1

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• Released: October 17, 2013
• Major Changes:
  • Addressed some of Windows 8’s criticisms
  • Boot to desktop option
  • Start button returned (but still opened the Start screen)

Windows 10

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• Released: July 29, 2015
• Major Changes:
  • Start menu returned
  • Universal apps for multiple devices
  • Cortana virtual assistant
  • Microsoft Edge browser
  • Designed to be the “last version of Windows” with ongoing updates

Windows 11

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• Released: October 5, 2021
• Major Changes:
  • Redesigned interface with centered taskbar and Start menu
  • New Microsoft Store
  • Support for Android apps (through Amazon Appstore)
  • Improved performance and security
  • Stricter hardware requirements

Microsoft Windows Through the Ages

Early Versions

Microsoft’s journey in operating systems began with Windows 1.0 in 1985, a graphical user interface layered over MS-DOS. Subsequent releases, Windows 2.0 and 3.0, gradually refined the interface and introduced features like overlapping windows and improved graphics.

The Rise of Windows 9x

The Windows 9x family marked a significant shift, with Windows 95 offering a user-friendly experience and a Start menu. Windows 98 followed suit, focusing on Internet integration and improved hardware support. Windows Me, the final iteration, faced criticism for its instability.

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The Windows NT Era

Parallel to the Windows 9x series, the Windows NT line catered to businesses and power users. Windows NT 3.1 introduced a more robust architecture, while Windows NT 4.0 refined the interface. Windows 2000 brought further enhancements, and Windows XP became a widely adopted and beloved operating system.

Modern Windows: Vista to Windows 11

Windows Vista, released in 2007, showcased a visually appealing Aero interface but was plagued by performance issues. Windows 7 addressed these concerns, offering a smoother experience and becoming a popular choice. Windows 8 introduced a touch-centric design, while Windows 10 aimed for a balance between traditional and modern interfaces. Windows 11, the latest release, features a redesigned interface and enhanced security features.

Windows Server Editions

Alongside consumer versions, Microsoft has released server editions tailored for businesses. These versions, such as Windows Server 2003, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2019, provide advanced features for network management, security, and data storage.

A Table of Windows Versions

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Key Takeaways

• Windows has evolved from a simple graphical interface in 1985 to a comprehensive operating system.
• Each version of Windows builds upon the last, introducing new features and improvements.
• The evolution of Windows mirrors advancements in computer technology and user expectations.

Evolution of Windows Versions

Through its history, Microsoft Windows has evolved from simple beginnings to become an advanced operating system that powers a wide array of devices all over the world.

Early Windows Operating Systems

Microsoft introduced Windows 1.0 in 1985. This early version laid the foundation for a graphical user interface (GUI) on top of MS-DOS. Windows 2.0 followed, bringing with it improved graphics support. Key developments continued with Windows 3.0 and Windows 3.1, leading to improved program management and hardware support.

Windows NT Lineage

The Windows NT family started with Windows NT 3.1 in 1993. It provided a more robust operating system separate from the consumer line. Successive versions like Windows NT 3.5, Windows NT 3.51, and Windows NT 4.0 introduced enhancements in system security and networking. With the launch of Windows 2000, users saw significant developments in reliability and ease of use. Windows XP built on this with a refreshed interface and improved networking capabilities.

Transition to Modern OS

Windows Vista offered visual upgrades such as Aero Snap but faced criticism for heavy system requirements. With Windows 7, Microsoft listened to feedback, delivering a more reliable and user-friendly system. The release of Windows 8 introduced a new Start screen and aimed at touch-friendly devices. It was refined with Windows 8.1. The widely acclaimed Windows 10 merged the best of Windows 7 and Windows 8, leading to a more cohesive experience. With Windows 11 or “Sun Valley,” Microsoft provided a refreshed look and features like a new Start menu, Cortana, and Microsoft Edge.

Specialized and Server Versions

Aside from consumer versions, Microsoft also released specialized and server systems to meet diverse user needs. Windows Server editions provided scalable and enterprise-grade solutions. Windows XP came in various editions like Media Center and Tablet PC to expand its use cases. Over time, these specialized versions have seen updates to security, user experience, and integration with cloud services.

It’s not too strong to say that for the first few years of early Windows history,
there was no kernel-mode version numbering at all. That kernel-mode software should
know which version of Windows it’s running on was at best an after-thought. Not
until Windows NT 4.0 in 1996 was this given explicit support in the form of a
function (PsGetVersion) that the kernel exports
so that arbitrary kernel-mode software might call it to learn of a version number—and
very nearly a decade had passed before the kernel provided a
documented function to call (RtlGetVersion,
new for Windows XP in 2001).

Version numbering and product identification in Windows had been loose from
the very start. Given a kernel whose version resource gives 3.10 as the Product
Version but which contains the text “Microsoft (R) Windows NT (TM) Version 3.1”,
is the product properly called Windows NT 3.10 or Windows NT 3.1? The corresponding
text in a later build is “Microsoft (R) Windows NT (TM) Version 3.50” but a README.TXT
file on the distribution discs announces “Microsoft Windows NT 3.5 Workstation
and Server”. Fortunately for historians, the major and minor version numbers as
recorded in the binaries’ version resources do not have this inconsistency:

The early versions have client and server editions that are distinguished simply
by adding such descriptions as Workstation or Server to a straightforward product
name: Windows NT plus the version number, with or without a trailing zero. What
was appended to this was sometimes more elaborated, as with Terminal Server. Different
editions have different selections of binaries, but the binaries that are common
to multiple editions are the same in each. This applies especially to the kernel
and HAL, and to most drivers too, such that it is reasonable to speak of these
early versions without distinguishing client and server editions.

Major Version 5

Perhaps to supplant the Windows 95 and Windows 98 line of operating systems
that run on MS-DOS and were still far and away the most popular with everyday
users—or perhaps just from excitement about the last year of a millennium—marketing
took hold for rebadging version 5.0 as Windows 2000. Still, it too had client
and server editions as just that: editions of one product, not separate products.

The immediate successor to version 5.0, given a bump in the kernel’s minor
version number, was distinctive in two ways. First, as Windows XP, it was named
in some new way that someone at the time must have thought creative but which
is problematic for historians in having no sense of sequential development. Second,
it had client editions only. Server editions came nearly two years later and kept
to the naming pattern of Windows plus a four-digit year, but they were very much
a new Windows product—with another bump in the minor version.

The server branch of major version 5 is distinctive for introducing the world
to 64-bit Windows on a processor architecture that the mass market could easily
perceive as practical. An amd64 (x64) processor had enough compatibility with
the venerable i386 (x86) architecture that it runs first as an i386 processor
and could therefore have either or both of 32-bit and 64-bit Windows installed.
This 64-bit Windows was at first provided only to the server market, and even
for this had to wait for the first service pack. The reworking of the kernel and
much else to accommodate the new processor architecture meant that even for its
32-bit edition Windows Server 2003 SP1 is more on the scale of a new minor version
than of a mere service pack.

Major Version 6

It is not often enough appreciated enough that although Windows XP and Windows
Server 2003 were largely contemporaneous, they were significantly different. At
least as much under-appreciated is that although Windows Vista and Windows Server
2008 were marketed as very different, being for use as client and server respectively,
most of the binaries in Windows Server 2008 are exactly those of Windows Vista
SP1. Or were we meant to think of it the other way round!

Matters are even worse for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2,
for although their names sound alike the one is a Windows Vista service pack,
as noted, and the other is Windows 7. So they are in fact very different! On the
assumption that similar unification of client and server editions is intended
forever, however much the correspondence is disguised in the names that Microsoft
chooses for marketing, I do not keep downloading releases of the server products
just to check the correspondence with client products.

Version numbering gets indisputably quirky for Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows
8 and Windows 8.1. These were each in their time promoted as a significant—even
major—release, yet they all have the same major version number which anyway isn’t
in any of the names.

What Microsoft meant by the names is itself something of a mystery. Windows
Vista may be explained as continuing the style of Windows XP, but however much
Windows 7 looks to be recapturing some sort of sequence to convey progress, it’s
specifically a seventh Windows version only with very selective counting. Even
if it’s Windows 7 just for following version 6.0, who among ordinary users will
have known, the major and minor version numbers having been disguised for years
by the marketing names?

That Microsoft kept to major version 6 for what looked like a return to having
version numbers in the product name makes it seem, at least to cynics, that 7,
8 and 8.1 are not numbers but marketing names: Windows 7 because it needed to
be distanced from the unpopular Windows Vista; and Windows 8.1 to suggest merely
a tweak of the unpopular Windows 8, enough to demonstrate Microsoft’s responsiveness
but not to undo the promotion of Windows 8 for its great new features that would
bring Windows to the mobile phone.

Major Version 10

As if to acknowledge the mismatched names and numbers for versions 6.0 to 6.3
as unsatisfactory, the major version number for Windows 10 leaps ahead to 10.
This, however, brings the different problem that the roughly half-yearly updates
of Windows 10 all have the same major and minor version numbers. So too had the
mostly less frequent service packs of each earlier version, but the variation
between successive updates of Windows 10 is mostly much greater. Some add more
functionality than would once have come with an increment of the minor version
number. Yet for now much more than half a decade, every update of Windows 10 is
version 10.0.

Build numbers are accessible programmatically but they are no substitute. They
do advance, but with no regularity and even less memorability. Some commentators,
mostly programmers, took to using Microsoft’s codenames such as TH2 and RS1, sometimes
spelled out as Threshold and Redstone. A programming interface helpfully kept
step by increasing a new type of version number, the NT Device Driver Interface
(NTDDI) version, but even programmers don’t keep it front of mind.

Year-Month Naming

Even while early updates of Windows 10 were promoted more by marketing names
such as November Update, Anniversary Update, Creators Update and even Fall Creators
Update, as if anyone should want to remember which is which, Microsoft’s names
for the corresponding ISO images contained what was soon established as the conventional
nomenclature for significant Windows 10 releases: two digits for the year and
two digits for the month. Some commentators have even retro-fitted this to the
original Windows 10 from July 2015 to call it the 1507 release.

After a little irregularity with 1511 and 1607, half-yearly releases labelled
for March and September settled in so well that after 1703, 1709, 1803, 1809 and
1903, Microsoft may have felt some pressure to keep to the programme even without
a new release to release. Thus do we get a Version 1909 that’s hardly different
(at kernel level) from 1903 and which this study disregards.

Half-Yearly Naming

As if five years of significantly different kernels all presenting as version
10.0 was not enough trouble, the advance of year to 2020 brought a problem for
the naming convention. The release from April 2020 is conventionally Version 2004.
That this sounds too much like a year seems likely as the cause for a modification
of the convention. Later releases are still named with two digits for the year
but instead of two digits for the month, they now have H1 or H2 for first and
second half. The release that followed Version 2004 is thus 20H2 and Version 2004
is often since referred to as 20H1. It is what it is. And, anyway, this study
does not yet get so far!