Windows 7 editions

Windows 7 was a major version of the Microsoft Windows operating system that came out in 2009. It came in several editions to suit different needs. The main editions available in stores were Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate. There was also an Enterprise edition for big businesses, and other editions aimed at software developers.

All versions of Windows 7 could run on 32-bit IA-32 CPUs, and most could also use 64-bit x64 CPUs, except for the Starter edition. Users could upgrade their version using Windows Anytime Upgrade until 2015, which let them unlock more features without reinstalling the whole system.

Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020, meaning Microsoft no longer provided updates or help for it. However, businesses with special licenses could get extra security updates until January 10, 2023. After October 2013, you could no longer buy Windows 7 new from stores, except for some remaining copies of the Professional edition until 2016.

Main editions

Windows 7 Starter is the simplest version of Windows 7. It only works in 32-bit and does not let you change the desktop wallpaper. It was mainly pre-installed on small computers like netbooks.

Windows 7 Home Basic was made for growing markets and includes some but not all features. It supports up to 8 GB of memory and comes in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Windows 7 Home Premium adds features for home users like Windows Media Center and support for touching the screen. It works with up to 16 GB of memory.

Windows 7 Professional is for small businesses and schools. It has all Home Premium features plus extra tools for connecting to work networks. It supports up to 192 GB of memory.

Windows 7 Enterprise was for big companies and had special tools for managing many computers. You could not buy it in stores.

Windows 7 Ultimate has every feature from both Home Premium and Professional, plus the special tools from Enterprise. Home users could buy it directly, and it also supports up to 192 GB of memory.

Special-purpose editions

The main editions of Windows 7 also come in special versions for different needs.

The N and KN editions work like the regular versions but do not include Windows Media Player or related tools like Windows Media Center and Windows DVD Maker. This is because of rules from the European Union and South Korea. You can add these features back for free by downloading a pack from Microsoft.

The E edition was planned to not include Internet Explorer because of rules from the European Union. It was supposed to cost less, but it was never sold to people because it might have caused confusion. Instead, a different system called BrowserChoice.eu was used.

The Signature Edition is a special version of Windows 7 Ultimate made just for people celebrating the launch of Windows 7. It works exactly the same as Windows 7 Ultimate.

Embedded editions

Windows 7 had special versions made just for embedded systems. These versions need less hardware and are good for things like digital signs and kiosks.

There were a few types of these special versions. One was called Windows Embedded 7, which had different levels like Entry, Professional, and Compact. Another was Windows 7 Professional for Embedded Systems, used for things like ATMs and industrial machines. There was also Windows 7 Ultimate for Embedded Systems, which had all the features of the regular Ultimate version but was meant for special devices like medical imaging tools.

Upgrade editions

You can move from Windows Vista to Windows 7 if your computer uses the same type of processor and language, and you have the right version of Windows Vista. For older Windows versions, you need to start over with a new installation of Windows 7, which means removing the old system and putting Windows 7 on instead. There are special cheaper versions of Windows 7 for people who already own older Windows versions.

There are two ways to get to Windows 7 from an older version:

• In-place install: This keeps your settings and programs and only works sometimes, mainly from Windows Vista.
• Clean install: This wipes out the old Windows and starts fresh. You'll need to set everything up again, and this is needed for Windows XP and older versions.

Anytime Upgrade editions

You can move from a lower version of Windows 7 to a higher one using the Windows Anytime Upgrade tool. You can upgrade from:

• 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

Derivatives

On February 9, 2011, Microsoft announced Windows Thin PC, a special version of Windows 7 made for older or slower computers. It was created as an easy-to-use option instead of needing special devices. This version was released on June 6, 2011.

Windows 7 also came in special versions for embedded systems, called Windows Embedded Standard 7 and Windows Embedded POSReady 7. These versions were made for specific business uses and received extra security updates for several years after regular support ended.

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