Windows 7 was released on October 22, 2009 in 11 versions operating system: Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate. All versions except Starter (32 bit only) have sub-variants with 32-bit and 64-bit architecture. The enterprise version of Windows 7 is functionally identical to the Ultimate version, with the exception of differences in licensing rules (purchase and use rules) and stated end of support dates. Below is a table showing differences Windows versions 7 .

Windows 7 - version differences

Version name:	Initial	home Basic	Home extended	Professional	Corporate	Maximum
Terms of purchase:	Only under OEM licenses	Retail and OEM licenses (emerging markets only)	Retail and OEM licenses	Retail, OEM and corporate licenses	Only with corporate licenses	Retail and OEM licenses
End of support:	13.01.2015	13.01.2015	13.01.2015	14.01.2020	14.01.2020	13.01.2015
64-bit version:	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Maximum size random access memory for 64-bit versions:	2 GB	8 GB	16 GB	128 GB	128 GB	128 GB
Center Windows recovery:	No domain support	No domain support	No domain support	Yes	Yes	Yes
Home Group feature, creating and joining a group:	Join only	Join only	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Windows Aero interface:	No	Basic theme only	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Multiple monitors:	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Fast user switching:	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Changing the desktop picture:	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Desktop Manager:	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Windows Mobility Center:	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Improved handwriting recognition and Multitouch:	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Windows Media Center:	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Additional games:	No	No	Yes	Disabled by default	Disabled by default	Yes
Emulator	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
EFS data encryption system:	No	No	No		Yes	Yes
Printing based on location information:	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ability to act as a remote desktop host:	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Connecting to a domain:	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Possibility to go to:	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Support for multiple hardware processors:	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
AppLocker:	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
BitLocker and BitLocker To Go:	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Branch Cache:	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
DirectAccess:	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Subsystem for launching Unix applications:	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Multilingual user environment:	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Downloading from a VHD image file of Microsoft Virtual PC:	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Launching the snap-ins lusrmgr.msc (Local Users and Groups), gpedit.msc (Local Group Policy Editor), secpol.msc (Local Security Policy):	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes

When compiling this table, data was used from the sites: microsoft.com, wikipedia.org.

To be able to install any version of Windows, if you have Windows 7 Ultimate, you must remove the release configuration file from the distribution: sourcesei.cfg. Don't forget that in 64-bit Windows version 7 Starter does not exist.

Windows 7 32 bit or 64?

Most users have the opinion that 64-bit editions Windows 7 faster than 32-bit. In fact, this is true, but only with the adjustment that the application must support x64 architecture, and even in this case, the difference in performance with applications that only support x86 architecture will not be significant.

Choice of 32 or 64-bit version of Windows 7 Basically, only 2 factors influence: whether the computer’s processor (CPU) supports x64 architecture and the amount of installed RAM. And if with the processor everything is extremely simple: almost all new processors can work with 64-bit applications (in case of doubt, especially if the computer was purchased a long time ago, this issue should be clarified), then the amount of RAM plays a decisive role when choosing the operating capacity Windows systems 7. 32-bit Windows can only work with no more than 4 GB. RAM is the limit for the x86 architecture. And if the computer has 4 GB installed. and more RAM, then for its entire volume to be available, a 64-bit version of the OS is required. It also makes no sense to operate a 64-bit OS with a small amount of RAM: Windows with x64 architecture consumes, on average, 300 MB more RAM than its 32-bit version. Therefore, before you say anything, you must first understand the purpose and capabilities of these platforms. And outdated software can be used on XP and other, older OSes. It all depends on the purpose for which you purchased the PC or Laptop.

Nikolay (NIL), you are also wrong! 32-bit versions support more than 4 GB, if only because Win2K Server could work with 128 GB of memory using PAE mode (https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAE). Another thing is that in practice, each program can be allocated no more than 2 GB, although the program can address up to 4 GB (and if the programmer wishes, even more). Moreover, in 32-bit systems, not 3.25 GB or even 3.5 GB will be used, but all 4 GB, but part of them, usually 1/8 (that is, about 0.5 GB), is used by the system to work with peripheral devices and expansion cards. In 64-bit systems, the system naturally also uses part of the memory for its needs, but for some reason the full amount of memory is shown in the system properties.

Installing the system on a PC is very simple and generally does not differ from installing Windows Vista. And it should be noted that system requirements for a 64-bit system are somewhat overestimated - it can work on 1 GB of RAM. Below in the article we will discuss the pros and cons of 64-bit versions, as well as “which is better – a 32-bit or 64-bit version.”
Windows 7 comes in several editions (editions). Data on them is given in the table:

Possibilities versions	Initial (Starter)	home Basic (Home Basic)	Home extended (Home Premium)	Professional (Professional)	Maximum and Corporate (Enterprise)
Improved taskbar and jump lists	+	+	+	+	+
Windows Search	+	+	+	+	+
Joining home group	+	+	+	+	+
Archiving and recovery	+	+	+	+	+
Support Center	+	+	+	+	+
Control devices (Device Stage)	+	+	+	+	+
Streaming broadcast media files, including Play To technology	+	+	+	+	+
Support Bluetooth	+	+	+	+	+
Faxes and scanning	+	+	+	+	+
Base set of games	+	+	+	+	+
Dispatcher credentials	+	+	+	+	+
Aero Snap	+	+	+	+	+
"Live" sketches in the taskbar	-	+	+	+	+
Fast switching users	-	+	+	+	+
Connection to wireless networks on the fly	-	+	+	+	+
Sharing connection to Internet	-	+	+	+	+
Support several monitors	-	+	+	+	+
Center mobility Windows (without regime presentations) *	-	+	+	+	+
Aero Glass and extended navigation in Windows (Aero Shake and Aero Peek)	-	-	+	+	+
Windows Touch (sensory and handwritten input)	-	-	+	+	+
Creation home groups	-	-	+	+	+
Windows Media Center	-	-	+	+	+
Playback and editing DVD video	-	-	+	+	+
Advanced set of games	-	-	+	+	+
Scissors, Notes	-	-	+	+	+
Windows Sideshow (on additional display)	-	-	+	+	+
Printing tailored locations	-	-	-	+	+
Joining domain and group politicians	-	-	-	+	+
Connections to remote desktops (host)	-	-	-	+	+
Extended archiving (network and group politicians)	-	-	-	+	+
Encrypting file system (EFS)	-	-	-	+	+
Center mobility Windows: mode presentations *	-	-	-	+	+
Autonomous folders	-	-	-	+	+
Windows XP Mode	-	-	-	+	+
BitLocker and BitLocker To Go	-	-	-	-	+
AppLocker	-	-	-	-	+
DirectAccess	-	-	-	-	+
BranchCache	-	-	-	-	+
Multilingual custom interface (linguistic packages)	-	-	-	-	+
"Corporate" search	-	-	-	-	+
Improvements in deployment virtual medium (VDI)**	-	-	-	-	+
Download from virtual hard drives (VHD)	-	-	-	-	+

*Windows Mobility Center is only available for laptops and netbooks
**Windows 7 Ultimate is not licensed for VDI scenarios, but these features enrich the experience of connecting remotely to this OS
*** The table is compiled based on information from Microsoft:
http://windows.microsoft.com/ru-RU/windows7/products/compare?T1=tab20

But you can see such signs (or similar ones) on any site where Windows 7 is mentioned. And, frankly, for regular user they are not very informative: it appears that you need to take the Maximum version (you won’t be able to buy the Corporate version - this version is not for free sale). But do you need it? Let's try to figure it out...

What to install - 32-bit or 64-bit?

Here we are considering the situation that we install on a home computer to solve typical household tasks: watching movies, simple work (like typing in MS Word), the Internet, games.
Most sites advise installing the 64-bit version, citing the fact that it “works faster.” Opponents of the 64-bit system motivate their position with a “problem with drivers.” In fact, now there is practically no such problem - you can almost always find a 64-bit driver for more or less modern equipment. In some cases, 32-bit ones are also available - but this risks slowing down the system or even causing it to fall into the “blue screen of death”. Therefore, it is better to install only 64-bit drivers.
In fact, for home computers the performance increase is not as significant as we would like; it is clearly noticeable in mathematical calculations, for example, but in everyday life it is practically unnoticeable; moreover, given that most programs are now 32-bit, it can happen slowing down your computer. This is due to the peculiarity of executing 32-bit programs on a 64-bit system. Therefore, at the moment it is more desirable to install a 32-bit system (since a 32-bit analogue of a 64-bit program can almost always be found, and the opposite is not always true).
For home computers, there is one exception to the rule - you must install a 64-bit OS if the amount of RAM on your computer is more than 3 gigabytes. 32-bit systems cannot address memory larger than 4 GB, in fact - no more than 3 GB (memory allocation feature). You can enable "advanced" addressing (PAE), but this is a "crutch" that does not always work.
Conclusion: if you have 4 GB or more, install 64-bit Windows 7, in other cases install 32-bit.

Deciding on the edition of Windows 7

Not everything is clear here - even “home” users have different needs. Therefore, we will explain the features of each edition, based on the table above. As you can see, in the table the “features” of the system are grouped in such a way that the subsequent edition contains all the features that were in the previous one (unlike the table on the Microsoft website - it is grouped there by categories (“entertainment”, “opportunities”, etc. .d.), but the comparison is somewhat difficult. Therefore, for those who need to look by category, you are welcome here:
http://windows.microsoft.com/ru-RU/windows7/products/compare?T1=tab20
All editions allow you to simultaneously run an unlimited number of applications (as long as your computer resources allow).

Note. It is recommended to open all links to the Microsoft website that will be in the article in Internet Explorer.

Windows 7 Starter

Improved taskbar and jump lists is a feature that allows you to quickly jump to frequently used files. The contents of the jump list depend on the specific program. To view the Jump List, you can right-click on the program icon in the taskbar or call it from the Start menu:
The improved taskbar is a redesigned taskbar (compared to previous versions of Windows) with improved functionality(which are expanded in more “advanced” editions).
Windows Search: A tool for finding files on your computer. Includes indexing services to speed up file searches. Available in the upper right corner of the window.
Joining a HomeGroup: provides the ability to join a computer to a homegroup. HomeGroup is a tool that makes it easy to share files, folders, and printers in your home network(i.e. between computers in your apartment/house). Readers of MirSovetov should understand that Windows Starter only supports joining a homegroup, but not creating them!
Archiving and recovery: a program designed to archive important files (both yours and system ones) so that they can be restored if necessary. You can choose which files and folders you want to archive. You can also make an emergency copy of the entire system (system snapshot) with installed drivers, programs... In order to have fewer problems with reinstallation if something happens.
Support Center: built-in program for displaying important Windows notifications that require user attention. These notifications pop up mainly when there are any violations in the system that threaten its security or normal functioning, as well as when there are updates on the Microsoft website. The support center also offers ways to solve problems that have arisen and routinely maintain your computer, allowing it to maintain normal operation.

Device management: When connecting a device, a window may appear in which the most frequently used functions for of this device. For example, if you have an MFP (printer-scanner-copier), then when you connect it, various scanning and printing options may be displayed. In earlier versions of Windows this was separated into different menus, which still need to be reached. An example of this function on the Microsoft website:
http://windows.microsoft.com/ru-RU/windows7/device-stage
Streaming media files, including Play To technology: Streaming is when a file is played on one computer (broadcast server), and other computers act as receivers. It turns out something like a radio broadcast, but on a local network. PlayTo technology allows you to choose which computer to play the specified file on, i.e. allows you to personalize your broadcast. You can admire the PlayTo technology by downloading a demo video from the Microsoft website:
http://windows.microsoft.com/ru-RU/windows7/products/features/play-to
Bluetooth support: support for Bluetooth devices.
Basic set of games: standard set of games (Klondike, Minesweeper, Spider...).
Credential Manager: allows you to work with accounts users (add, change name, set password and other account-related features).

Aero Snap: a very useful feature, according to MirSovetov: quick resizing of windows when dragging them to the edges of the screen. For example, when you want to view two side by side Word document at the same time: previously you had to adjust the dimensions manually, now you just have to drag one document to the left and the second to the right side of the screen. When you “drag” the windows from these positions, the windows will restore their former size. Oddly enough, it is available even on systems that do not have an Aero interface.

Demonstration (video) on the Microsoft website:
http://windows.microsoft.com/ru-RU/windows7/products/features/snap
In addition, in the Initial version you cannot change the wallpaper on your desktop. The initial version is usually supplied on netbooks, but on them it is quite possible to replace it with some more powerful edition. There are also restrictions on running some applications, for example, some games do not run on this OS.

Windows 7 Home Basic

Includes everything that is in the Primary, and in addition to this a number of possibilities.
"Live" thumbnails in the taskbar: When you hover and hold the cursor over the program icon in the taskbar, a window thumbnail appears showing what the program is currently doing. Video playback can even occur in this window. One program can have several thumbnails if several windows are open in it. In short, these are something like screenshots of a window in the taskbar:

Fast user switching: support for switching to another user without first closing all windows and programs of the current user.
Connect to wireless networks on the fly: when left clicking on the icon wireless networks the taskbar displays a list of available wireless networks (and information about them in tooltips) that you can connect to
Internet Connection Sharing: the ability to access the Internet of computers on a local network through a computer on the same network connected to the Internet.
Multiple monitor support: display of working Windows desktop and programs on other monitors connected to this computer; There are various display options. These options can be accessed by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting “screen resolution”:

In this case, the system has one monitor. If there were several of them, then next to the monitor with the number 1, a monitor with the number 2 would appear, and in the “screen” drop-down list you would be asked to select the desired monitor.
Windows Mobility Center: This is for laptops and netbooks, allowing you to access quickly used tasks typical for this type of system:

This edition does not support equipment for displaying presentations (the ability to connect projectors).

Windows 7 Home Premium

Includes everything that is in Home Basic, plus some functionality on top of that.
Aero Glass and advanced navigation in Windows (Aero Shake and Aero Peek, Aero Snap): Aero Glass is a translucent window display style and animation, with the ability to customize translucency, colors, etc. "for yourself." Aero Shake hides all windows except the selected one. To restore all windows, simply shake the active window. Demonstration (video):
http://windows.microsoft.com/ru-RU/windows7/products/features/shake
Aero Peek – “X-ray” for windows – allows you to look “through windows”, while the outlines of windows remain on the screen, but their contents disappear (except for the selected window). Demonstration (video):
http://windows.microsoft.com/ru-RU/windows7/products/features/peek
Windows Touch (touch and handwriting): Designed for tablet computers. Allows you to work with the system by clicking on interface elements on the screen.
Create a homegroup: what is a home group - see the corresponding paragraph in the description of the capabilities of the “initial” edition. In this edition, in addition to joining, you can already create home groups. The fundamental difference is that in the “initial” edition it was impossible to select files and printers to open in this way general access, but in this one it’s possible.
Windows Media Center: program for quick access to multimedia functions of Windows: watching and recording TV shows, viewing videos and photos, listening to music... Optimized for use on devices with touch screens.
Playing and editing DVD video: If you can play a DVD on any edition, providing the appropriate codec if necessary, then here this codec is already available “out of the box”.

Extended set of games: To standard games chess, mahjong, backgammon and others are added.
Scissors, Notes:“Scissors” allow you not only to take screenshots of the screen, but also to select any area of ​​the screen and take a screenshot only from this area. Sticky notes are like “sticky notes” on your desktop for memory. This function will be useful for MirSovetov readers who own tablet PCs - you can take notes by hand.
Windows Sideshow (on secondary display): technology for receiving and displaying data from a computer on other displays. For example, displaying a photo from a computer in a photo frame.

Windows 7 Professional

Includes all the features of Home Extended, with a number of others added.
Location-based printing: Let's say you're using a laptop and connecting it to the network at work. There is a printer at work, there is a printer at home. Previously, you had to reconfigure the printer each time or, at best, select the appropriate default printer. With this feature, Windows remembers which network the printer is connected to and automatically restores the settings for it when it reconnects to that network.
Joining a domain and group policies: allows you to configure group policies (sets of rules in accordance with which the Windows environment is configured, typical for multi-user systems) and the ability to enter a computer into a domain (a domain is a group of computers with the same security policies).
Remote desktop connections (host): allows you to remotely connect to a computer and work on remote computer as if you were behind him.
The prefix "host" means that the computer can act as the one to be connected to using the remote desktop feature.
Advanced archiving (network and group policies): everything is the same as in regular archiving, but to this is added the ability to archive network settings and group policies.
Encrypting File System (EFS): allows you to encrypt your files and folders from other users (when using file system NTFS). How and why to encrypt is, rather, the topic of a separate article.
Windows Mobility Center: a presentation mode has been added (what a “mobility center” is – see the description of the Home Basic Edition) makes it possible to display an image on a projector:

Offline folders: opportunity automatic copying server file contents to disk local computer; the user will be able to access the files even if the server on which they are stored goes offline. Periodically, Windows synchronizes files in offline folders with the contents of files on the server.
Windows XP Mode: allows you to run the Windows XP operating system in Windows 7. And work with it as if you had it installed - i.e. install programs there, run games for XP, etc. At the same time, there is a “transparent” connection with Windows 7: for example, you can easily copy files from Win7 to Win XP (and vice versa) by simply dragging them from the Win7 desktop to Win XP and vice versa.
This function can also work as a means of launching programs in the Windows 7 environment: the Windows XP window does not open, but all conditions under which the program would run on real XP are emulated, which is not achieved by the options on the “compatibility” tab. To be fair, it is worth noting that there are few such programs.
This feature requires installation of Virtual PC, a virtualization tool.

Note for a professional. Starting with this version, the distribution includes such useful snap-ins as lusrmgr.msc (Manage local users and groups), gpedit.msc (Group Policy Editor), secpol.msc (Security Policies).

Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise

The versions include everything that is in the Professional version, and in addition:
BitLocker and BitLocker To Go: These are tools for protecting and encrypting data on hard drives (BitLocker) and USB storage devices (BitLocker To Go). A conversation about how it works and how it is configured is beyond the scope of this article. Most home users don't need these programs (unless you work with data that you don't want anyone to access).
AppLocker: This is an addition to group policies that determines which applications can/cannot run on computers on the network. A tool for administrators, controlled from the Windows Power Shell console, the average user has absolutely no need for it, unless they prevent children from playing toys. But this is a “cannon against sparrows” - there are more convenient means.
DirectAccess: allows you to gain access from home to the organization’s internal network using a special server. Again, the average user does not need it.
BranchCache: caches data from remote servers on local network resources. Saves working time on downloading files, sometimes improves the performance of web applications. Why is this on home computer?
Multilingual user interface (language packs): allows you to install localization packages, as a result of which each user can select their own native language on one computer. Relevant for transnational companies.
"Corporate" search: search on the organization's network, incl. in databases, etc., with a high degree of compliance of the returned result with the requested one.
Improvements in virtual deployment environments (VDI): technology that allows you to save on application licensing (and some other things) - when deployed on one server virtual computers, users interact with them in the same way as if they were “real”.
Booting from virtual hard disks (VHD): virtual HDD- this is a file, one might say, an image, which has its own file system, operating system, data, etc. Mainly used in virtual machines. But with this function you can boot Windows 7 from such a file. Allows you to have several copies of Windows, independent of each other, on one “real” (physical) hard drive without any special costs.

Yes, I would like to note that Windows Media Player is available in all versions of Windows 7. Also, recently it has become possible to select the desired browser when Windows installation 7 (the so-called “browser selection dialog”), almost all popular browsers are available to choose from (Opera, Chrome, Firefox, IE...).

Which version of Windows 7 should I choose?

This is where we will finish the description of the “tricks” of the various editions. Let's summarize. But before that, let’s divide the user audience into groups. The division is very arbitrary and characterizes the main range of tasks that the user solves in everyday life. The division itself was somehow imperceptibly derived by the author over 7 years of work in the IT field, perhaps it is somewhat subjective:

1. Beginners / Regular users. They are either just starting to learn the basics of working with a computer, or they use the computer as a typewriter and for surfing the Internet. They periodically watch films, listen to music;
2. Advanced users/Interested. “Just working” with a computer is no longer enough for them; they are looking for ways to make this work faster, more convenient, and easier. And also in many cases they try to understand “how it works” and “what else can be done”;
3. IT professionals / students of IT specialties. For them, computers are a profession. They use it to do everything - from hammering nails with a computer to developing large control systems and security systems. They tend to require more features from the operating system.

For category 1 best choice, there will be Windows 7 Home Premium - it has everything you need for work and entertainment and even a little more. At the same time, you don’t overpay for functionality you don’t need, which you won’t use anyway.

Windows 7 Ultimate can be recommended to those who work in a large organization as at least a system administrator or want to encrypt data using BitLocker out of the box, without having to worry about purchasing and configuring third-party software, which is not always able to work as expected (i.e. e. may not be compatible with this version of Windows).
Why don’t we recommend “Elementary” and “Home Basic” to any of our readers? Because, in our opinion, these are slightly inferior systems, greatly reduced and devoid of useful functions that are often needed in the modern world. It's just a matter of saving money. In addition, the “Initial” edition is not sold in Russia and the CIS.
All of the above is not presented as truth in the highest authority, the choice is yours, given that many do not buy Windows, but download from various Internet resources - there is no question of saving money here. Well, those who honestly buy an OS should approach the choice of editors responsibly, because the money is yours and overpaying for something that you will never use is stupid, to say the least.
Exceptions (where would we be without them!). If you have a tablet computer or a device with a touch screen, it is better for you to install at least Windows 7 Home Premium. If you need a presentation function (seamless connection of a projector), then it would seem that your choice is “Professional”? Not necessary. Of all the features of this edition, you only need one function - and pay almost double the amount for it? Wouldn't it be easier to use a third-party utility - it comes with almost every projector and laptop?

Current official prices can be found here:
http://www.microsoftstore.ru/shop/ru-RU?WT.mc_id=StoreCountryToggle_RU

Source mirsovetov.ru

That's all. Thank you for reading the article. I hope it was useful to you.

Windows 8 is a new stage in the development of the Microsoft operating system. Here the developers paid great attention to voice control and voice recognition. Among other innovations, we can note the improvement of virtualization, with which you can virtualize the entire OS.

Windows 10

Windows 10 is the most complete, comprehensive and modernized operating system in the history of Microsoft's Windows. This is a complete rethinking of the Windows concept, taking into account negative reviews from Windows 8 users.

Windows 7 is a Microsoft operating system of the Windows NT family, officially released on October 22, 2009. The Windows 7 operating system has several editions that differ in functionality.

Windows 7 came out shortly after the release of the Windows Vista operating system, which was received coolly by users. Essentially new Windows 7 was a modified version of Windows Vista.

A few years later, in October 2012, Windows 7 was replaced by the Windows 8 operating system. Then, the Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 operating systems were released successively.

Despite the release of newer operating systems, the “seven” still remains one of the most popular OS in the world. Only recently, the Windows 10 operating system, despite the possibilities for free update, was able to surpass Windows 7 in terms of the number of users in the world. At the present time, in Russia both operating systems are installed on approximately the same number of computers.

Microsoft has announced that extended support for Windows 7 will end on January 14, 2019. PCs running Windows 7 will continue to work, but will no longer receive security updates and operating system patches.

In this article you will find a comparison of versions of Windows 7 between different editions of the operating system, which I have compiled in a table.

Windows 7 versions

The Windows 7 operating system has several editions aimed at performing different tasks. Some versions are designed for installation on desktop computers, laptops and netbooks by device manufacturers; the PC is sold together with the installed operating system. Other editions are available for retail sale to users who independently install the system on their computer.

Windows 7 was released in 6 editions, differing from each other in their functionality:

• Windows 7 Starter - Windows 7 Initial;
• Windows 7 Home Basic - Windows 7 Home Basic;
• Windows 7 Home Premium - Windows 7 Home Premium;
• Windows 7 Professional - Windows 7 Professional;
• Windows 7 Enterprise - Windows 7 Enterprise;
• Windows 7 Ultimate - Windows 7 Maximum.

The Starter edition of Windows 7 was released in the OEM version (for installation on devices by product manufacturers) only in a 32-bit system. Other editions of Windows have 32 bit and 64 bit versions.

Older versions of Windows 7 have Windows mode XP Mode, which includes the Windows XP Professional operating system running on virtual machine from Microsoft.

Service Pack 1 was released for Windows 7; subsequently, the system received cumulative and cumulative updates, mainly related to computer security.

How to find out the version of Windows 7

If the user does not know which edition of Windows 7 is installed on his computer, there are several ways to obtain the necessary information. Read the article about this published on my website.

Here is one way to find out the edition of Windows 7:

1. Go to the Start menu.
2. Right-click on "Computer" context menu select Properties.
3. The View Basic Information about Your Computer window displays information about your Windows edition and some specifications PC.

Pay attention to the bitness of the operating system: 32-bit or 64-bit Windows. This may be needed when reinstalling the system, installing drivers, selecting programs of the appropriate bit depth, etc.

Windows 7 Starter

The Windows 7 Starter edition is designed for installation on netbooks. Quite a lot of functionality has been removed from the operating system in order to make it easier to use this edition on low-power computers.

The initial version is not intended for retail sale. The operating system is installed on the computer by assemblers or device manufacturers.

Windows 7 Home Basic

Windows 7 Home Basic is designed for home users with a basic set of features. This version of Windows lacks many additional multimedia features and tools for professional work.

The home base edition will be distributed in retail sales, and under an OEM license only in emerging markets, including Russia.

Windows 7 Home Premium

Windows 7 Home Premium is designed for home users. Unlike the Home Basic Edition, the Home Advanced Edition has online games, Windows Media Center, Windows DVD Maker for burning discs, full support for Windows Aero, and other useful features.

Perhaps the Home Premium version of Windows 7 is optimal for home use.

Windows 7 Professional

Windows 7 Professional is designed for use by small and medium businesses. This edition is sold in retail for ordinary users. This version of the operating system has the necessary functionality for running business applications, network printing, remote control, file system encryption, etc.

Windows 7 Enterprise

Windows 7 Enterprise was released for corporate clients, for large companies. This version of the operating system is distributed only under a corporate license and is not sold at retail.

Most of the features of the enterprise edition will not be needed by home users, because they are mainly used in business processes.

Windows 7 Ultimate

Windows 7 Ultimate version has almost all the features of all other versions of the operating system. The maximum edition is sold in retail stores, so a copy of the OS can be purchased by a user who does not have financial problems.

This version of Windows 7 is suitable for use at work or at home, by those users who do not tolerate any compromises in terms of the capabilities of their computer's operating system.

Windows 7 comparison of editions: table

The summary table contains the main characteristics of all editions of Windows 7: Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 7 Ultimate.

This table has horizontal scrolling due to the fact that all columns do not fit the width of the article.

Editorial staff	Windows 7 Starter	Windows 7 Home Basic	Windows 7 Home Premium	Windows 7 Professional	Windows 7 Ultimate	Windows 7 Enterprise
Distribution method	OEM licenses	Retail and OEM licenses	Retail and OEM licenses	Retail, OEM licenses, corporate licenses	Retail and OEM licenses	Corporate licenses
Maximum physical memory (32-bit)	2GB	4GB	4GB	4GB	4GB	4GB
Maximum physical memory (64-bit)	No	8GB	16 GB	192GB	192GB	192GB
64-bit version	No	Yes, only in OEM version	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Number of physical processors	1	1	1	2	2	2
Windows Recovery Center	No domain support	No domain support	No domain support	Yes	Yes	Yes
Home group	Join only	Join only	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Remote Desktop	Client only	Client only	Client only	Yes	Yes	Yes
Multiple monitors	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Fast user switching	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Windows Aero	No	Basic theme	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Changing the desktop background image	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Desktop Window Manager	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mobility Center	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Multi-touch support	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Online Games	No	No	Yes	Yes, disabled	Yes	Yes, disabled
Windows Media Center	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Windows DVD Maker	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Parental control	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Windows Defender	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Windows Firewall	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
EFS (Encrypting File System)	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Print based on network location	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Presentation mode	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Joining a Windows Domain	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Windows XP Mode	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Software Restriction Policies	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
AppLocker	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
BitLocker	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
BitLocker To Go	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
BranchCache	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
DirectAccess	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Subsystem for UNIX applications	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Multilingual User Interface Pack	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Creating and connecting VHD	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Launching system snap-ins	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes

Conclusions of the article

The Windows 7 operating system has several editions, which, along with basic capabilities, differ in functionality from each other. The table contains the main functions of all editions of the Windows 7 operating system: Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 7 Ultimate.

Before the seventh version of Windows appeared, each new release of this OS had one or two subversions. Thus, XP was released in two versions: “Professional” and “Home” - this was quite suitable for most users. Those who wanted to save money purchased the modest “Home”, while those who wanted to enjoy full functionality purchased the professional edition of this system.

Domestic users rarely thought about this issue, since they traditionally installed a pirated version of the operating system on their home or work PC. Today the situation has changed. Firstly, no one will allow you to install an unlicensed OS at your workplace, and secondly, the marketing policy has given rise to a whole brood of subversions of the next product - Windows 7 (we are not considering Vista due to the complete failure of this project).

Now even our user has to delve into the differences between individual branches of the system. Some of them are intended for the average home user. Here is a list of these branches with brief explanations about them:

Alternatives for the pros

The difference between the following branches and the previous ones is that, strictly speaking, they are not intended for the average user inexperienced in programming and administration.

Or for those who do not need to squeeze maximum capabilities out of the system (like those who like to play resource-intensive toys). There are also three such alternatives:

• Professional version.
• Ultimate version (Maximum).
• Enterprise.

Everything is clear with the latest OS - it is installed in large enterprises to ensure increased productivity and security. But what is the difference between the Professional and Ultimate versions is really worth discussing. How does the Windows 7 maximum axis differ from the professional axis? Windows 7 professional is not positioned as a version for home use. Its main feature is the availability of system administration tools, which are really useful only in industrial operation conditions.

This includes a mechanism for encrypting data on the disk, group policies for user rights to access local and network resources, remote desktop technology, advanced printing options on network printers, and the like.

None of this is useful at home. The system interface is not adapted to the needs of inexperienced users. It only makes sense to install such a system on your home computer for the sake of studying it.

The maximum branch includes absolutely everything that is in Windows 7, but is aimed at the average household user.

This is the Enterprise version adapted to his needs. One might wonder: which of these OSs is better? The answer will hang in the air - none.

It all depends on your interests and needs. But if you’re going to install something more powerful than Home, then it’s better to pay attention to Ultimate. In addition to all the advantages of Windows 7 professional, Ultimate has many decorations for real enthusiasts and those who like to delve into the innards and nooks and crannies of the operating system.

Any user who knows at least something about computers is well aware that the Windows 7 operating system from Microsoft has several versions. According to some, the company did this on purpose, since the price for each edition is different. And the higher the level of “coolness” of the OS, the higher the price. But in fact, different versions of Windows 7 are needed for certain tasks. For example, for those who use the operating system exclusively for music and movies, there is no point in purchasing the Pro version. The usual Home will be enough. But in order for the last doubts to dissipate, it is necessary to analyze each edition in detail. And that's what we'll do now.

General classification of Windows editions

Currently, there are several versions of Windows 7: Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate. Each of them has its own parameters and functions. The number of enabled options depends on the distribution itself. Naturally, the Ultimate version (aka “Maximum”) is considered the “coolest” one. This same edition costs more than all the others. It is worth noting that the corporate version of the "seven" (Enterprise) is not available for Russia and the CIS countries. What is the reason for this “disrespect” for domestic companies is unknown. But there are also various builds of the "seven" for different needs and computers. As a rule, such assemblies are pirated. An example is Windows 7 Lite - a version created specifically for low-power computers. However, let's start reviewing the various editions of Windows. First on the list is Starter Edition. That's where we'll start.

As the name suggests, this operating system is the initial version. It only has a 32-bit architecture, can only use one language, and lacks many options. So, for example, playback of H.265 and MPEG-2 video formats is not available for this OS. The Aero desktop with beautiful effects is also not here. Such a system is usually installed on netbooks and laptops when sold. Is it worth mentioning that a license for this edition of Windows costs a penny? There is definitely nothing to pay for here. Microsoft Windows 7 version has never looked so poor. It is not clear what the company was guided by when releasing this parody of the operating system. It is not surprising that many users, after purchasing a laptop, quickly change the pre-installed OS to a full-fledged one (albeit a pirated one). In general, Starter is the initial set of functions needed to get started. And nothing more.

The entry-level operating system cannot boast of rich functionality. But it installs perfectly on low-power PCs. This OS is perfect for those users who have not had time to update their computer. This is the initial edition of Windows 7. Full version Includes support from Microsoft in the form of weekly updates. True, they will also be severely limited in functionality. But the license for this version of Windows is inexpensive. There must be at least something pleasant about it. Let's move on to the next edition.

Home Basic

It's also called "Home Basic". In terms of functionality, it is not very different from the initial edition, but there are some changes. For example, there is Windows 7 64 Russian version. It's not exactly a dramatic change, but 64-bit systems work much better with modern hardware. It is also possible to play videos of any format. However, there is still no Aero interface. There is also no Internet sharing or window previews in the taskbar. This version of Windows is being shipped to developing countries. These include Russia and the CIS countries at Microsoft. This edition of the operating system is designed for weak computers and laptops.

The home basic version of Windows 7 is good for housewives who, apart from TV series and Odnoklassniki, do not need anything else. It is not suitable for serious users. A significant disadvantage is also the inability to run old applications. Please use only new ones. And I would like to see the proprietary “Aero” interface in this edition. But he’s still not there. The home base edition of Windows 7 is definitely not worth the money Microsoft is asking for it. Therefore, let's move on to other editions of the operating system.

Home Premium

This edition of the operating system already looks like something. The Russian version of Windows 7 Home Premium has an "Aero" interface and a built-in media center. There is also support for all multimedia files, an adequate Explorer menu and all the delights of Windows themes (including Aero Peak, Shake and other effects). There is support for creating user groups and multi-profile Internet access. This version of the operating system is quite suitable for use on a home computer or laptop. Of course, if you do not need to solve any special problems. It is worth noting that this version has good performance. It can be used as a gaming platform. For the average user, this edition of Windows is just what you need. And there is absolutely no need to look for other versions of Windows 7. But some users think differently.

It is worth noting that most domestic retailers install Windows 7 Home Premium on the laptops they sell. This decision is due to the fact that sellers need to demonstrate all the capabilities of the laptop. And the Aero interface consumes a lot of system resources. Therefore, if the laptop reproduces all the effects without difficulty, then it is good and should be taken. But the fact that retailers use unlicensed versions of Windows no longer worries anyone. A novice user cannot distinguish Windows 7 from Vista. What can we say about the license? Nevertheless, on the part of sellers, the use of unlicensed software is somehow unsightly. And what’s more, it’s criminal.

Professional

Version for "professionals". At the time of Windows XP, this edition was considered the most advanced. But times are changing. And now she is just one of many. The main feature of this edition is the presence of a built-in software to encrypt files. The full version of Windows 7 Professional also supports automatic creation of system restore points, the ability to run legacy programs using the system compatibility option, and the ability to use remote access to the computer. The Pro version also boasts greater multimedia capabilities. This operating system is already more attractive than other “stripped-down” editions. However, its license costs a lot. However, there are a lot of builds on torrents with different versions.

The professional edition of Windows 7 is ideal for business. The whole point here is the ability to encrypt data and normal operation system recovery utilities. Doing business requires protecting user data at the highest level. Therefore, there is no way to do without encryption. Also, the user must be guaranteed complete safety of his data. And if Windows unexpectedly crashes (and this often happens with Microsoft products), then you can quickly restore the operating system using the recovery utility without losing important data. However, there are several other versions of Windows that deserve attention.

Ultimate

She is also "Maximum". As the name suggests, it should have everything possible. And indeed it is. This edition allows you to copy content to network drives, has even greater multimedia capabilities, includes BitLocker, can work with encryption, includes more than thirty language packs and has a User Account Control option (those annoying pop-up windows that appear when you try to install any program and ask you to confirm the action). Windows 7 64, the latest version of the "Ultimate" edition, works much better with the hardware, is able to see a fairly large amount of RAM and has certain system registry tweaks designed for performance. The maximum edition of the operating system gives the user access to all the functions of the Seven. But the license is quite expensive. It's unfortunate.

The maximum edition of Windows 7 is ideal for upgrading, overclocking and other abuses of your computer. It is this version of the operating system that supports new hardware. By the way, programs for overclocking the processor and video card will not work on operating systems of other editions. It is unknown why. Therefore, true gamers prefer the “Maximum” version of Windows 7. And the high price of a licensed product does not stop them at all. Apparently, this is where some fanaticism of game lovers manifests itself.

Enterprise

The corporate edition is the same one that is not published for Russia. It has all the functionality of the "Maximum" version. However, it also has additional network functionality. But its potential is revealed only when working in large corporations on a decent number of computers. Is it worth mentioning that a license for this version of Windows costs exorbitant amounts of money? And there are no discounts for bulk purchases. The latest Russian version of Windows 7 Enterprise is a mythical unicorn that does not exist in nature. An operating system of this kind can only be found on torrent trackers in the form of a pirated build. But it's free. However, using pirated assemblies is strongly discouraged, since it is unknown what the creator of the assembly “put” there. It is still better to use licensed software. This is the only way to be sure that no one is watching you. Although with the release of “ten” the last statement became quite controversial.

Windows 7 Enterprise edition (latest version) is different increased protection network connections. This is vital for large corporations, since there are quite a lot of attackers who want to take over confidential data. In the USA and Europe, the share of Windows 7 in the corporate segment is still quite high. Despite the fact that the company announced the end of support for the product. But the "seven" will still be alive as long as the corporate sector sits on it. But with the eighth version of Windows, the issue has already been resolved. Just last week, Microsoft management announced that support for versions 8 and 8.1 has officially ended. This is exactly how the company from Redmond is trying to force all users to switch to “Ten”. The same operating system with spyware tendencies.

Which edition should I choose for home use?

It all depends on the specific tasks that will need to be solved using personal computer. For most users, the Home Premium edition is sufficient. But she doesn’t know how to run old programs at all. In general, it is recommended to set it to "Maximum". Then you won't have to suffer with unsupported applications. Also, using the maximum edition is quite justified from a performance point of view. Yes, and when updating the computer configuration, there will be no problems, since the “Maximum” version works perfectly with the equipment and can detect new components. Let's not forget about the possibility of restoring the system from a checkpoint. Sometimes it is simply necessary. Versions of Windows 7 differ in the set of options and options for working with equipment. That's all. But from the user's perspective, this behavior by Microsoft seems outrageous. This is understandable. Who wants to use a “stripped down” operating system.

However, if you are the owner of a game server, then all of the above editions (even Windows 7, the latest version) will not suit your needs. Here you will need to install a special version - Server Edition. Although knowledgeable administrators prefer to use server editions of Linux distributions (especially Debian) for these needs. They are more secure, stable and always work correctly with the network. And the latter is very important for the server administrator.

There is also a special assembly - Windows 7 Flash version. There is nothing unusual about her. It's just an operating system that can be installed from a USB drive. Now many people use this installation method, since the reading speed of a USB port is much faster than reading from a regular disk. Moreover, versions of Windows 10 are now distributed by Microsoft itself in digital form for subsequent installation from any drive.

Is it worth updating the OS to the latest version?

This is a controversial issue. Quite recently, a serious vulnerability was discovered in processors (both Intel and AMD). In this regard, Microsoft and the developers of Linux distributions quickly began releasing security updates. And if everything is fine with Linux after the update, then the comrades from Microsoft screwed it up. The latest Russian version of Windows 7 (if you update to it through the Update Center) takes the system to the “blue screen of death”. Here's a security update for you. They also say that Microsoft employs professionals highest level. In operating systems such as Linux or MacOS, such a situation is even impossible to imagine. But these guys were able to distinguish themselves.

Therefore, if you currently have Windows 7 installed, the old version works quite normally and there are no glitches, then do not even think about upgrading. As a result, you will have to reinstall the entire operating system. Wait a little, and the Redmond programmers will find their mistake and fix it. In the meantime, you can completely sit on the old version. Moreover, if it works quite stably for you. As for processor vulnerabilities, just put it out of your mind. Your computer and personal photos from the sea are completely uninteresting to attackers. You're not a celebrity, right?

Conclusion

So, we looked at various editions of Windows 7. They all differ in options, support for various applications and work with equipment. For home use, "Home Premium" is suitable. Russian version for Windows 7 64 bit is available. But if you need all the features of the operating system, then your choice is the “Maximum” edition. It works best with new hardware, supports large amounts of RAM, and can run legacy programs in Windows XP compatibility mode. It has only one drawback - the high cost of the license. But you can pay for such rich functionality.