A family of Windows operating systems. Windows Operating System Family End of Support Cyber \u200b\u200bRisk Increases

Windows NT family operating system, following Windows Vista. In the Windows NT line, the system is version 6.1 (Windows 2000 - 5.0, Windows XP - 5.1, Windows Server 2003 - 5.2, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 - 6.0). Server version is Windows Server 2008 R2, version for integrated systems is Windows Embedded Standard 2011 (Quebec), mobile version is Windows Embedded Compact 2011 (Chelan, Windows CE 7.0)

The operating system went on sale on October 22, 2009, less than three years after the release of the previous operating system, Windows Vista. Volume Licensing partners and customers were granted access to RTM on July 24, 2009. Final (copy from discs, which later went on sale) pirate version was available to everyone from the first days of August 2009.

Windows 7 includes some developments that were excluded from Windows Vista, as well as innovations in the interface and built-in programs. Inkball, Ultimate Extras were excluded from Windows 7; applications that have analogues in Windows Live (Windows Mail, etc.), Microsoft Agent technology, Windows Meeting Space; the ability to return to the classic menu and automatic docking of the browser and client disappeared from the Start menu email... Also, Windows Calendar has disappeared from Windows.

System use

According to the data collection service NetMarketShare for December 2014, Windows 7 is installed on almost every second computer in the world, while the combined share of Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 in the desktop operating system market is less than 13%. The legacy Windows XP has a 24.3 percent asset.

Innovations

The operating system has support for multi-touch control. This capability was first demonstrated by Microsoft at the annual TechEd'08 conference in Orlando. During the demonstration, we used system build 6.1.6856, as well as a prototype laptop with a multitouch screen.

Branch Cache network technology allows you to cache the content of Internet traffic. If a user on the local network needs a file that has already been downloaded by one of the users on his network, he will be able to get it from the local cache storage, and not use a channel with limited bandwidth. The network cache can operate in two modes - Hosted Cache and Distributed Cache. In the first case, the file is stored on a dedicated local server running Windows Server 2008 R2, in the second case, the server is not required, and the cache is distributed for storage on users' computers. The technology is designed for large networks and is offered for implementation at enterprises as part of the Corporate and Maximum OS versions.

The OS also has about 120 built-in wallpapers that are unique for each country and language version. Thus, the Russian version includes the theme "Russia" with six unique high-resolution wallpapers. All versions include 50 new fonts. Existing fonts have been improved to correctly display all symbols. Windows 7 is the first windows versionwhich includes more fonts for displaying non-Latin characters than for displaying Latin characters. The font control panel has also been improved - by default, it will display only those fonts for which the layout is installed on the system. Support for Unicode 5.1 has been implemented. Instant Search now recognizes more languages. For example, Russian cases, declensions, gender, singular and plural are recognized.

An additional benefit of Windows 7 is tighter integration with driver manufacturers. Most of them are detected automatically, while in 90% of cases backward compatibility with drivers for Windows Vista is preserved.

Windows 7 supports folder aliases internally. For example, the folder Program Files in some localized versions of Windows it was translated and displayed with the translated name, but at the file system level it remained in English.

Multimedia

New 11 directX version, first released as part of this operating system, has the following improvements: added support for new computational shaders, the ability to multithreaded rendering, improved tessellation, new texture compression algorithms, etc.

Windows in Windows 7

Turntable Windows Media Player 12 received a new interface and became truly "omnivorous", unlike its predecessor, which required a large number of codecs to play. However, it cannot play licensed Blu-ray discs with video, but it can read and write data on them.

Mobility

Although Windows Mobility Center hasn't changed significantly since Windows Vista, Windows 7 runs longer on laptops and uses less power, especially when playing DVDs. On a system presented at the end of August 2009 with two identical laptops with Windows 7 and Windows Vista preinstalled, the gain was up to 20%. It also showed a record speed of loading the system - 11 seconds. The system included an SSD drive and other high-performance components. A similar test has inspired enthusiasts to test the browser's impact on battery life. Included with Windows 7 internet browser Explorer 8 performed best on the Intel platform.

However, independent tests have shown that Windows 7 is noticeably faster than Windows XP in draining laptop battery. Laptop magazine (laptopmag.com) has been testing since August final version Windows 7, including measuring the battery life of laptop PCs under its control. The overall result turned out to be disappointing: the average netbook under the control of "seven" as a whole runs on battery 47 minutes less compared to XP. In the case of the ASUS 1008HA model the "shortage" was 57 minutes or 16.7%. Other publications have also conducted similar studies and have also come to these conclusions. The loss is 10 to 30 percent in terms of work time.

A possible reason is the optimization of Windows 7 for graphics accelerators, while many netbooks run on integrated Intel and VIA graphics cards, which sometimes do not support Aero functions. Also, many netbooks run under windows management 7 Starter Edition, which does not fully support Aero. Other possible reason is the lack of OS support from netbook manufacturers. So, with new drivers and BIOS dated November 2009, the Asus Eee 1000HA has been running Windows 7 as long as it has been running Windows XP.

Remote Desktop

The Remote Desktop feature has also undergone changes, including support for the Aero Peek interface, Direct 2D and Direct3D 10.1, support for multiple monitors, media extensions, DirectShow, and low latency audio playback.

Safety

Windows 7 implements a more flexible User Account Control (UAC) setting, which, unlike Windows Vista, has two more intermediate states between the "Always notify" and "Never notify" modes - "Notify, only when programs try to make changes to the computer" (default position), "Notify only when programs try to make changes to the computer (do not darken the desktop)". It is worth noting that unlike Vista, dimming occurs only if the program is active and in the foreground. If you clicked while opening UAC and deactivated the program, the blackout may not happen.

Changes have been made to the BitLocker encryption technology, and added the BitLocker to go encryption function for removable media, which allows you to encrypt removable media, even if there is no TPM module.

Improvements touched and windows firewall - the function of notifying the user about blocking the program that is trying to access the network is back.

Using Group Policy and AppLocker, you can prevent certain applications from running.

DirectAccess allows a secure connection to the server in the background, unlike VPN, which requires user interaction. DirectAccess can also enforce Group Policy prior to user logon.

backward compatibility

In July 2010 it became known that an addendum to the agreement on the disclosure of the source codes of the company's software for the FSUE STC Atlas and the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia was signed. According to it, Russian structures got access to codes, Windows Server 2008 R2, Office 2010 and SQL Server 2008 R2. The agreement itself was signed back in 2002.

According to the first deputy general director of Atlas, Alexander Alferov, the FSB of Russia has already certified Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, SharePoint Server 2007 and SQL Server 2008 with integrated Russian information security tools. The term of the agreement is now not limited, changes in the code of the products mentioned in it are constantly sent for analysis for the absence of bookmarks and vulnerabilities in Atlas. The American side is signed by Microsoft headquarters.

After signing the supplement, as before, only the FSB and Atlas gain access to the source code. However, now the Russian parties to the agreement have the right to share the results of the analysis with "authorized state organizations" As Microsoft explained to CNews, the choice of these structures does not depend on the company in any way, their list is entirely determined by the Russian side.

Microsoft unambiguously associates the expansion of the program with the desire to cooperate with the Russian public sector. “The signing of this agreement means for us entering a qualitatively new level of cooperation with government agencies Russian Federation", - said Nikolay Pryanishnikov, President of Microsoft Russia.

The company has long openly declared its desire to participate in the construction of an electronic government in Russia. An example is given of working in the interdepartmental segment, allowing different departments to exchange electronic documents... However, at the federal level, Microsoft currently has no implementations in this area, the company cooperates only with certain regions. In Russia, there is now a second attempt to create an interdepartmental segment (at first there was OGIC at FSUE NII Voskhod, now - the work of Rostelecom, which has become an operator of the electronic government infrastructure), but none of them uses Microsoft software similar to the British experience.

Sales results

As of March 2011, the total number of Windows 7 licenses shipped to the channel (enterprise customers, OEM partners and retail chains), according to Microsoft

2010

In the first six months of sales, the vendor shipped 100 million licenses, in 9 months - 175 million, the result of the first year of sales - more than 240 million licenses.

In fiscal 2010, which ran from July 1, 2009 to June 31, 2010, 175 million copies of Windows 7 were sold worldwide.

“Based on data for December 2010, when making a similar comparison, it turned out that the number of requests from PCs with XP installed was less than from versions of Vista and Windows 7 in total,” says Larin. "Now version 7 has outgrown XP for the first time without the help of other operating systems."

At the stage of addressing Windows Update the service does not check the licensing of the installed software, so this method compares the number of OS installations (including pirated ones), and not the sale of their licenses. Authentication may be required to install major updates such as Service Pack, adds Larin.

Total shipped per channel (Enterprise, OEM, and Retail) windows licenses 7, according to Microsoft, the world has reached 300 million units.

It is worth noting that third-party evaluations do not yet confirm the greater popularity of Windows 7 compared to XP. According to the statistics of the Statcounter service, which is collected by the project counters on various sites around the world, about 30% of the total number of requests come from computers on Windows 7, and about 48% on XP.

Data on Russia is collected by the Liveinternet service, according to its statistics the difference is even more serious. Over the past 4 weeks, on average, 52.2% of site visitors with installed project counters have used XP and only 27.5% - Windows 7.

Yuri Larin explains this discrepancy by the fact that network meters do not cover all PCs: “ Windows data Updates are more accurate because they take into account all computers using the update service, regardless of which sites their host visits. "

End of support for Windows 7

2020

Developers demand from Microsoft to turn Windows 7 into open source software

On January 27, 2020 it became known that the Free Software Foundation (FSF) called on Microsoft to open the source code of Windows 7. On its website, he posted a petition, inviting everyone who would like to receive updates of this system in the future and not switch on Windows 10, sign it.

The publication of the petition, called Upcycle Windows 7, is directly related to the complete end of support for Windows 7 - from January 14, 2020, regular users can no longer receive updates for it, they are only available to Microsoft corporate customers for a fee. In addition, installing the final update released by Microsoft on the day it ended support disabled the ability to set wallpaper to the desktop.

The petitioners formulated three basic requirements for Microsoft. The first and foremost is the release of Windows 7 as free software. “Her life must not end. Give the (developer) community the opportunity to learn, modify and share it. "

The FSF has demanded that Microsoft respect the freedom and privacy of users instead of forcing them to switch to other versions of Windows. In fact, Microsoft has repeatedly used various methods to force users to upgrade to Windows 10. As CNews reported, one of the users sued the company for having lost all information as a result of an unauthorized update of his Windows 7 to Windows 10.

The third requirement of the Foundation is: "We want to get additional evidence that you really respect both the users themselves and their freedom of users, and do not use these concepts for marketing when it suits you."

According to the terms of the petition, it must collect 7777 signatures before the authors submit it to Microsoft. The petition itself was posted on the FSF website on January 23, 2020.

In less than four days, the fund's initiative was supported by over 5150 people. The time frame for collecting the required number of signatures was not set by the initiators of the movement.

As of the time of publication, the software giant did not comment on the Software Foundation's initiative in any way. The authors of the petition also do not guarantee that collecting the required number of signatures will take effect, but, according to them, Microsoft has repeatedly disclosed the source code of its developments.

FSTEC recommended to government agencies to transfer their systems from Windows 7 to newer versions

However, on January 14, 2020, Microsoft discontinued support and release of updates for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 due to the end of their life cycle.

In this regard, FSTEC terminates the validity of certificates of conformity for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. From January 20, 2020, certificates for systems equipped with the first service pack (SP1) will no longer be valid, and from June 1, 2020, information about certificates of conformity for versions of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 with a second service will be excluded from the State Register of Certified Information Security Means. -pack (SP2).

Organizations and institutions that continue to use these operating systems for the time being are advised to plan activities for the transition to more latest versions Windows certified by FSTEC.

Prior to this transition, it is recommended that you install all current and required certified updates for Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 and set a prohibition on automatic updates for certified versions of Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 operating systems. And also, if possible, exclude the connection to the Internet and to departmental or corporate local networks of "computer equipment or segments of information systems running under the operating systems Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2". If this is not possible, FSTEC strongly recommends that measures should be taken without fail to segment information systems and protect the perimeter of the information system and dedicated segments, including through the use of certified firewalls, anti-virus protection, intrusion detection systems, protection against unauthorized transmission of information ( DLP systems) and information flow control facilities.

It is also proposed to periodically analyze the vulnerabilities of segments of information systems running Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, using certified information security control (analysis) tools, as well as monitor the integrity of installed operating systems. The FSTEC message also proposes to monitor publicly available sources that publish information about vulnerabilities for information about the latest vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 and take measures to eliminate these vulnerabilities.

In addition, it is proposed to develop and implement rules and procedures for officials to act in case of vulnerabilities in the operating systems Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 or the occurrence of information security incidents associated with their use.

The Windows 7 operating system was released by Microsoft in the fall of 2009. This operating system is second only to Windows XP, which was released in 2001 and retired in 2014 in terms of the duration of support.

Over the past ten years, Microsoft has released two more versions of its operating system - 8 / 8.1 and Windows 10. Windows 8 did not gain much popularity, but Windows 10 by January 2020 is the most popular operating system in the world - about 50% of traditional PCs run it.

Windows 7, however, is in second place - its share is still around 22%.

China is not ready to give up Windows 7

Russian banks were not ready to abandon Windows 7

On January 15, 2020, it became known that Russian banks were not ready to completely abandon Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 - operating systems that Microsoft stopped supporting.

It is impossible to use an unsupported operating system according to information security rules - computers become vulnerable to attacks, and banks can receive an order from the Central Bank.

According to Alexei Lukatsky, Cisco security business consultant, Windows 7 is installed on about every fifth computer in Russian banks. Upgrading 20% \u200b\u200bof this fleet to Windows 10 will require at least RUB 15 billion, including volume discounts.

Several Russian banks have entered into an agreement with Microsoft on paid support for Windows 7 (EAS), but the architect of the Microsoft technology center in Russia, Ivan Budylin, clarified that this is only a temporary measure.

Increased cyber risk due to end of support

With the additional cyber risks associated with the burgeoning financial services industry and the much deeper sources of data held by banks and other businesses, the National Cyber \u200b\u200bSecurity Center's warnings should not be taken lightly.

2019

Free support for voting systems in the US and allied countries

Some companies will receive updates for Windows 7 for free

At the end of August 2019, it became known that some Microsoft customers will be able to receive updates for Windows 7 for free even after the end of support for this operating system. The service will not be available to everyone and not always.

Enterprise users who purchase active Windows 10 subscriptions by the end of 2019 will be able to receive a Windows 7 and Office 2010 end of support FAQ posted on Microsoft's Windows 7 and Office 2010 end of support FAQ. free year support for the transition to Windows 10.

The innovation will be available to users who have entered into an Enterprise and Enterprise Subscription agreement with active subscriptions to Windows E5, Microsoft 365 E5 and Microsoft 365 E5 Security as of December 31, 2019.

No action by users or system administrators not required, everything will happen automatically. The subscription must remain active for the duration of extended support, or updates will stop arriving.

For other corporate users, paid support in the first year after the end of support will cost $ 25 per device, in the second and third years - $ 50 and $ 100, respectively.

According to the NetMarketShare service (it studies the activity of more than 160 million unique users browsing more than 40 thousand sites around the world), in July 2019, Windows 10 was installed on 48.86% of personal computers in the world against 45.79% a month earlier. The share of Windows 7 for the month decreased from 35.38% to 31.83%.

To help companies move from Windows 7 to the top ten faster, Microsoft launched FastTrack in August 2019.

Starting August 13, PCs running Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 will install updates signed only with SHA-2 digital certificates. The transition to this algorithm is due to the insecurity of the previously used SHA-1. However, due to the shift to SHA-2, Symantec security solutions (including Norton) began to block or remove updates KB4512506 and KB4512486 during their installation, and systems stopped booting.

As a precautionary measure, Microsoft temporarily blocked updates for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 until Symantec resolves the issue. According to Symantec's notice, the fix will be available in future product releases.

(OS) Windows 7 Professional and Enterprise editions from 2020 to January 2023. Thanks to this, corporate customers who are hesitant to upgrade to the current version of the OS, Windows 10, will be able to receive Extended security updates (ESU) for another two years after the original deadline.

Microsoft noted that ESU will be provided to the client on a paid basis with an annual increase in the cost of the service, and you will have to pay for each device running Windows 7 separately. Windows 10 Enterprise and Education owners will be eligible for a discount when purchasing Windows 7 ESU.

Corporate users of the Microsoft Office 365 Pro Plus cloud service who have paid for ESU will be able to use this office suite in Windows 7 as before.

Microsoft has decided to generally rethink its plans for Office and Windows support for enterprises and education to make the migration to a modern desktop less painful for the customer.

According to Microsoft, Windows 10 Enterprise and Education editions will receive longer support periods - 30 months instead of the standard 18. Microsoft will continue to support Office 365 Pro Plus in Windows 8.1 until January 2023, and in Windows Server 2016 until October 2025. Office 2016 with Office 365 connectivity will continue to run through October 2023 instead of the originally scheduled October 2020.

Microsoft claims that Windows 10 is currently in more demand than Windows 7. On the official Windows Trends page in the Microsoft community, this was announced back in August 2016. The company said that the share of Windows 10 has reached 43% worldwide. while the share of Windows 7 dropped to 42%. Separately, this ratio was 55% versus 35%, for - 58% versus 31%, in both cases in favor of Windows 10.

However, analysts at research firm NetMarkShare argue the opposite. According to them, in December 2016, only 24.36% of users in the world worked on Windows 10, while the share of Windows 7 users in the same month was 48.34%.

operating system Windows 10.

Microsoft stopped distributing OEM licenses for Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium and Ultimate at the end of October 2014, and two years later, the company also removed the Windows 7 Professional version from sale. Starting November 1, 2016, the world's most popular operating system (according to NetMarketShare October 2016, 48% of the world's PCs use Windows 7) will not be installed on new computers. For some time - while retailers and distributors have previously purchased equipment - consumers will be able to purchase devices with a "seven" in the basis.

In addition, on October 31, 2016, Microsoft stopped OEM shipments of Windows 8.1, so vendors had no choice when installing the Windows software platform in their products - only Windows 10 was available to them. Sales of new computers running Windows 8 were discontinued on June 30, 2016, and retail sales of this OS and Windows 8.1 - October 31, 2014 and September 1, 2015, respectively.

According to NetMarketShare calculations, in October 2016, the share of Windows 8.1 in the global computer operating system market reached 8.4% versus 22.6% for Windows 10. Windows XP, released back in 2001, runs about 8.3% of desktop PCs. and laptops.

At the end of September 2016, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 is installed on 400 million active devices worldwide, and corporate customers are switching to this OS faster than any other version of Windows in its time. The rapid spread of the "top ten" was associated with the possibility of free installation of this platform for owners of computers based on Windows 7 and 8.1. Windows Server 2008 R2

2015

The end of basic support for all versions of Windows 7 (Enterprise, Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate and Starter) means that the functional part of the OS will not be improved, and Microsoft will only provide support to customers on a paid basis. This applies to both regular users and Volume Licensing members.

Until January 14, 2020, Extended Support for Windows 7 will continue, within which the manufacturer will continue to release critical security updates. In addition to Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows Storage Server 2008 and Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 lost their main support on January 13, 2015.

Microsoft will completely ditch Windows 7 by 2020, but Gartner analysts recommend that companies start planning the transition from this OS to newer ones as soon as possible. Otherwise, they risk not having time to fully update their systems, as a result of which the information security of enterprises may be at risk, experts say.

There is another assembly of gaming Windows 7 x64 professional sp1 by cuta 2.7 download torrent for stable operation in heavy games and applications. Especially for gamers was compiled gaming Windows Seven Professional x64 download torrent is offered along with copyright changes and additions that have been introduced to improve the OS. There is also an update package. The basis was the licensed Win7 Pro from the developer Microsoft. The system takes only 20 GB and can be installed on an SSD or a regular hard drive.

Date of updates: 17-09-2019 UpdatePack7 R2
Version: Windows 7 64bit SP1 Professional
Interface language: RUS Russian
Tablet: included
Primary source: www.microsoft.com
Assembly author: by Cuta 2.7
Folder size: 4.63 Gb

Download gaming Windows 7 x64 professional sp1 by cuta 2.7 torrent

Computer requirements
20 free gigabytes for installation;
Direct X 9 support;
Processor frequency from 1 gigahertz;
2 gigabytes random access memory.

Screenshots Gaming Windows Seven Professional x64

Useful add-ons
After installation in the classic system, applications that users do not use are disabled, thus saving space.
Installed UpdatePack7R2 with OS updates up to date September 17, 2019. It contains drivers for NVMe and the new USB.
The standard icons of files and disks have changed, the background picture at the start of the OS has changed, a gaming theme has appeared.
Boot.wim Sevens were replaced with the file extracted from the Ten. Also installed the eleventh IE, improved Windows performance and ease of use.

Changes from CUTA
For convenience, the game Windows Seven Professional x64 download the torrent image on this page, installed from remote applications, new tweaks.
What was off
The author turned off Super fetch, File Indexing, Diagnostic Policy, and a number of unnecessary services for users: Tablet PC Input, Compatibility Assistant, and System Error Registration Form.
Auto-leveling audio settings, hibernation mode, animation effects in windows, setting off HDD, UAC, browser and system auto-update, network parking of cores.
What has been added
Actions to optimize the start of Windows, demonstration of file extensions. Added calculation of the power plan of the device, fixing the weight of the paging file. There are new icons, separate folders for the PC and the user.
Preset
Tweaks have been implemented to achieve high performance Windows, Direct X 3D and NTFS. Active processes have a higher priority. USB devices stop working when the media is removed.
What is checked out from the assembly

A number of software and services:
Autochk;
Defender;
MemoryDiagnostic;
RAC;
Diagnosis;
ErrorReporting;
MobilePC;
Media Center;
WDI;
Customer and Application Experience;
PowerEfficiency Diagnostics.

What's different in 2.7 from previous versions
This is another assembly of CUTA - gaming Windows Seven Professional x64 torrent download of the new version is possible with the updated ASMedia driver, without the function of forced DVD check during installation, and also with the update pack.

A little about the game mode
Gamers have introduced a special mode that can be launched when playing games. GameMode.exe is responsible for it, you can find the utility in the shortcuts unpacked on the desktop.

Drivers included in the system
For NVMe, a driver package was integrated on IntelStorage, Micron, SamsungController, OCZ, Open Fabrics Alliance.
For the latest USB: Texas, AMD, FrescoLogic, AS Media, VIA, IntelMod, Cypress, Renesas, Etron.

Work tips
Stabilize the work of gaming Windows Seven Professional x64 download torrent ISO will not be enough, you also need to install frameworks and a number of libraries (Visual C ++, Direct X 9).
Defragmentation of disks is enabled in their properties - there is no way to set the mode automatically, just start and stop manually each time.

Installing UEFI Flash Media on GPT
You can make a bootable flash drive through portable software: for example, Rufus. In the first window that opens, files are selected ISO image Game Sevens, which were downloaded by torrent.
Next, you need to specify the medium and set the settings in accordance with which the recording of the original image will take place.
Getting started (the start button of the program) means that the flash drive will be formatted and cleared of unnecessary information, then the ISO with Windows 7 will be written to the blank media. At the end, a flash card with UEFI mode will be ready.
Attention! In some assemblies, the default settings are already set for chrome browser, the start page leads to the go.mail.ru search engine. Everyone has the ability to change the search engine to any other.

Some users do this: buying a new computer with a preinstalled starting or home version of Windows 7, without even starting to use it, they remove the system that is “defective” in their opinion and set the maximum system instead. Or professional, not really understanding why she is better than what she was.

For some reason, many people believe that Ultimate (maximum), Enterprise (corporate) and Professional (professional) windows versions 7 is better because “they have more options”. Although home users do not need 90% of these features, the word “professional” in the title of an operating system release has not yet made anyone a professional.

So is Windows 7 maximum actually better than Home Basic?

But no. And there are several reasons for this:

• the distribution kit of the starting and home editions of the seven takes up less space on the hard disk;
• the variety of functions in "uncut" versions of Windows 7 is a temptation to experiment with their settings, which without proper knowledge leads to a decrease in the level of security and often - to a system crash and loss of user data;
• missing features of the initial editions, such as the interface Windows Aero or Windows Media Center are easily compensated by installing third-party themes and applications (“Personalization Pack”, multimedia software, etc.);
• many "bells and whistles" of full-fledged sevens are often not supported by the hardware of the computer on which the manufacturer has installed the light version, and therefore are useless;
• for those who “choose the real” (licensed, not pirated) - the cost of fully functional editions is more than 4 times higher than the cut.

The minimum edition, which contains only the basic functions that provide basic solutions for working on a computer. Manufacturers install Windows 7 Starter on entry-level netbooks and laptops with limited hardware resources. The initial release of Windows does not go to retail - it is distributed only under OEM licenses.

The most significant disadvantages of this version, from the point of view of users, are the following:

• 32-bit architecture only;
• support for RAM no more than 2 GB;
• the inability to change the wallpaper on the desktop by means of the system;
• lack of support for a desktop manager with Windows Aero functionality (3D effects and transparency) and other personalization "gadgets";
• impossibility to create home group and a virtual access point without the help of third-party tools;
• lack of a number of applications, such as Windows Media Center, "Scissors", "Notes", selected games.
• no support for touchpad gestures.

How to compensate for the missing?

• Use 32-bit programs, which are, fortunately, no less than 64-bit ones.
• Install third party application to change the wallpaper and display a slideshow on your desktop.
• For the opportunity to admire the multicolored translucent window frames - install the personalization package.
• Use third-party hardware or software to create access points.
• Create a homegroup on another computer and join it.
• Use a mouse instead of a touchpad.

As for the limitations on the use of RAM, Windows 7 Starter is not installed on devices with more than 2 GB of RAM.

Windows 7 Home Basic and Premium

The basic and extended home versions have richer functionality than Windows 7 Starter. The extended edition, it can be argued, is able to satisfy almost all the needs of the home user. Unlike Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic supports up to 8GB of RAM and comes in 64-bit and 32-bit versions. The extended 64-bit home version supports up to 16GB of RAM.

home Basic is still missing:

• windows Aero support and personalization panel (there is only a basic theme);
• Windows Media Center, Sticky Notes, Scissors, Game Favorites;
• the ability to create a home group.

But in it you can already change the wallpaper on your desktop and use your computer to provide Internet access to other devices (create a hosted network).

Windows 7 Home Premium has:

• desktop manager and Windows Aero interface with full personalization package;
• supports up to 2 physical processors (Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic support one each);
• Windows Media Center and all provided types of standard applications;
• the function of creating a home group;
• dVD playback capability and TV tuner support.

That is, the extended home version contains everything that Windows 7 Starter users lack so much.

Windows 7 Professional (Professional)

Windows 7 Pro is designed for work and business. The functionality of data protection is more elaborated in it and the possibilities of use in large corporate networks are implemented. The 64-bit version of this system supports addressing up to 192 GB of RAM.

Also Windows 7 Professional supports:

• data backup over the network with the ability to quickly restore;
• EFS - Encrypting File System;
• join a domain (Windows 7 Starter and Home editions only support workgroup creation)
• windows XP emulator (XP Mode) - a mode that provides the ability to work in the built-in virtual machine outdated applications (some types and types of business programs cannot be run in Windows 7);
• remote connection to a computer via RDP (Remote Desktop Connection);
• group policy editor (lightweight versions of sevens - from Windows 7 Starter to Home Premium, also support management group policies, but only by direct entries into the register);
• selection of the most convenient network printer;
• the ability to downgrade (rollback) to Windows Vista or XP (valid until 2020).

The professional edition of the seven can be a justified choice for those who use a computer as a tool for making money. So, manufacturers of business-class laptops often install Windows 7 Professional on them.

Windows 7 corporate (Enterprise) and maximum (Ultimate)

The maximum and volume editions have the same set of functions and differ only in the licensing scheme. So, Windows 7 Enterprise is not sold at retail and is not distributed under OEM licenses. Unlike the maximum one, only corporate consumers can buy it.

In addition to what professional Windows 7 has, here is implemented:

• drive encryption technologies (Microsoft BitLocker and Microsoft BitLocker To Go) to protect data on all types of drives;
• advanced search capabilities in corporate networks (federal search);
• microsoft AppLocker technology that helps protect computers and corporate networks from unauthorized launch and distribution of malware;
• multilingual user environment (MUI), including 35 languages \u200b\u200b- for large multinational companies;
• the ability to boot from a virtual disk - Microsoft Virtual PC;
• subsystem for running UNIX applications;
• directAccess technology, which secures connections to corporate networks over the Internet;
• branchCache technology for accelerating data access on corporate file servers.

64-bit versions of Windows 7 Enterprise and Ultimate, like Professional, support addressing up to 192 GB of RAM. All 32-bit editions, starting with Home Basic, only allow you to use 4 GB of RAM, regardless of how much is installed on the computer. This limitation is due to the capabilities of the x86 architecture.

As you can see, in the maximum editions of the 7, technologies and solutions are implemented that are absolutely not needed by most home users. And the purpose of much of what is present here is available for understanding only for specialists. Therefore, if Windows 7 Starter is installed on your not the most "fancy" netbook, think three times whether it is worth changing it to a heavy, clumsy "tank", most of the "gadgets" of which you will never need.

All editions, types and types of Windows 7 are equally worthy of being chosen. There are no good or bad ones among them - just each of the versions has its own purpose.

The newer the software is installed on a computer, tablet or laptop, the better, at least Microsoft thinks so, and that is why it imposes its new generation proprietary software on users by all available means and methods, such as Windows 10 and the Office suite 365. However, the world is full of people who use electronic devices running on Windows 7, Windows XP and even Windows ME. Alas, the developers of these platforms do not care, because, in their opinion, such platforms are already too outdated, and all those who use them are a real burden.

That is why Microsoft went to the next meanness, deciding to strike at all users of its own operating systems. Its representatives justified such actions by the fact that in this way the company would be able to save large sums of money on an ongoing basis, however, in fact, this is a lie, users believe. The fact is that the company spends several tens of thousands of dollars a month on the maintenance of those servers that have been turned off, which by the standards of its income is a drop in the ocean. In this regard, it is obvious that the real reason is to actively lure users to the modern Windows 10 platform.

So, in particular, on all computers, tablets and laptops on which the operating systems Windows 7, Windows XP and even Windows ME are installed, any standard games now do not work if played in multiplayer. All such servers were disabled, and therefore now it is not possible to play with real opponents, for example, in "Checkers" or "Chess". If Microsoft really worried so much about its money, doing business optimization, it could just publish the source code of its servers and games so that everyone can support their work, but nothing of the kind was done, and this is certainly not the best characterizes the company.

All this cannot be regarded in any other way, except as the last nail in the coffin of Windows 7 and other popular operating systems of Microsoft, which it tries in every possible way to spoil in order to make users of any electronic devices under their control experience any inconvenience. All this, of course, upsets very many, because not everyone likes new windows 10, especially since its basic Home edition costs as much as $ 200 (13,500 rubles), that is, very, very much. Most likely, in the near future, an American corporation will come up with something else to "undermine" the spirit of users of outdated operating systems, giving them another reason to update.

Windows 7 is a new operating system from Microsoft that came to change windows XP and Windows Vista and released on October 22, 2009. Development of Windows 7 officially began immediately after the release of Windows Vista in late 2006, but some ideas were laid back in the Longhorn project, on which work began in 2001, after the release of the Windows XP operating system. Initially, Longhorn planned to implement a whole range of fundamental innovations, but after three years of work on this project, the developers did not manage to create a full-fledged working system. Longhorn's release dates were constantly pushed back, and drastic measures had to be taken to save the project.

In mid-2004, Microsoft executives decided to re-develop the Longhorn operating system, removing some important features. The result of this work was the release in early 2007 of the Windows Vista operating system. This system has received a mixed assessment of experts and users. In the two years after the release of Windows Vista, only a small proportion of users switched to it, and the most popular remained the proven windows time XP.

There are several main reasons why Windows Vista was not widely adopted.

... The system requirements for installing Windows Vista were significantly higher than those for Windows XP. On a typical 2007 computer, Windows XP would just "fly" and Windows Vista would often run very "thoughtful".

... During the installation and configuration of the system, there were often problems with hardware compatibility and finding the right drivers.

... User Account Control was often annoying for users, and some interface innovations were received ambiguously.

... At the time of the release of Windows Vista, many programs were incompatible with it. In the process of creating Windows 7, the developers managed not only to produce “work

over errors ”, but also fill the system with completely new functions. Already during the beta testing phase of Windows 7, it became clear that it would become more popular and in demand than Windows Vista. Comparing these systems, such moments can be noted.

... Windows 7 has the same as Windows Vista system requirements, but works faster on the same hardware. In this regard, Windows 7 is generally a unique system, because previously, with the release of each new version, the hardware requirements increased several times.

Since the advent of Windows Vista, a tremendous amount of work has been done to release new drivers, ensure hardware compatibility, and application programs... For this reason, when installing and configuring Windows 7, incompatibility problems occur much less frequently.

... Windows 7 is not an enhanced version of Windows Vista, but a completely standalone product. This operating system has dozens of completely new features, which you will learn about in this book.

As already noted, at the time of the release of Windows 7, the most popular operating system was Windows XP. According to various sources, from 70 to 80% of users worked with it. However, more than eight years have passed since its release, and during this time many new devices and technologies have appeared that require operating system support. Considering that Windows 7 is in almost every respect better than Windows Vista, we should expect a massive transition from Windows XP to Windows 7 right away.