Comparison of editions of Windows 7. What is the difference between different editions of Windows

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 ordinary 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 in order to ensure increased productivity and safety. 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 disk encryption mechanism, group policies for user rights to access local and network resources, remote desktop technology, advanced printing options for network printers, and the like.

None of this is useful at home. The system interface is not adapted to the needs of inexperienced users. Install such a system on home computer It only makes sense 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.

There are several Windows 7 packages: Home, Premium, Professional and Ultimate. Each version of the operating system has a different set of available features. To select suitable version, you need to find out exactly how one Windows 7 differs from another, and decide for what purposes you need the OS.

The main differences between Windows 7 packages

OS versions differ in capabilities, but minimum requirements all packages have the same effects on computer performance:

• 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor with clock frequency 1 gigahertz (GHz) or higher;
• 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit) random access memory (RAM);
• 16 gigabytes (GB) (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit) hard drive space;
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver version 1.0 or higher.

If the components of your computer meet the above requirements, then any Windows 7 will not freeze on it. Please remember that these are the minimum requirements to operate clean (without third party programs) systems. Compliance with these parameters does not mean that all games and applications written for Windows 7 will start and not freeze.

Now let's look at the availability of certain functions in different versions of the OS. Each subsequent Windows package will contain all the functions of the previous one, while also having new features.

Table: list of features of different packages

Windows 7 Ultimate is also called Windows 7 Ultimate or Windows 7 Enterprise.

Which version to choose

You cannot install the highest version of the OS on your computer. the best way On the contrary, it is strongly not recommended to do this.

Each version is optimized for a specific group of users and their basic needs. For example, the functions present in the “Maximum” package will never be useful to the average user who does not work in large companies and does not understand detailed settings system registry. Installing a more advanced version of the system that exceeds your needs will only overload your computer and confuse you with incomprehensible functions and programs.

To choose the right Windows package, you need to figure out which version of the OS is intended for which group of users.

"Home"

This package is suitable for those who use a minimum number of programs and functions: a browser, explorer, text editor and other similar basic services. If your needs do not exceed these limits, then it is worth purchasing the “Home” version of the operating system. Windows 7 Home is suitable for users with a weak computer

But there is one caveat: this package is maximally optimized for weak computers. If you have a computer whose characteristics meet the minimum threshold of requirements for the system given above in the article, or its performance is around this minimum level, then opt for Windows 7 Home, as it is as lightweight as possible. This version is well suited for laptops and netbooks. If your computer is more powerful than the minimum level, then it is recommended to consider the following OS package.

"Home Extended"

This version also belongs to the Home package, but has a number of features that are not available in the standard version of Windows 7 Home:

a program appeared Media Center, through which you can watch TV and record programs running on it.
You should not install Windows 7 Home Premium on laptops, netbooks and weak PCs

So, Windows 7 Home Premium is worth installing if the above capabilities are enough for you, and more sophisticated functions such as special data encryption and Windows XP emulation are not needed. Remember that this package is not suitable for users with weak PCs; it is also better not to install it on laptops and netbooks, since the video card may begin to heat up more due to the load and this will damage the device.

This version is good for games. It already has all the necessary functions and is designed for more powerful computer, capable of handling some games, but at the same time not yet overloaded with additional settings presented in the “Professional” and “Maximum” versions.

"Professional"

The main differences between the “Professional” version of the OS and the home packages:

a simplified way to connect to local networks of a company or any other group of people.
Windows 7 Professional is designed for users who work professionally with Windows

So, this package is suitable for users who change Windows settings manually and working with old programs and important files, and automatic backup will help you avoid losing important data in the event of a system failure.

"Maximum"

This version is also called “Corporate”, since it is primarily intended for a group of people working on one project. Windows 7 Ultimate has the following advantages over previous packages:

Based on the above, it can be argued that the “Maximum” version of Windows 7 is suitable for those who work in a company or want to monitor several computers of their subordinates and partially manage them.

Video: Comparing Windows Versions

Finding information about the installed system

If you have already selected the appropriate package and installed it, or are using Windows 7, but do not know which version is installed on your computer, then you can find out information about the system, service pack, and build number in several ways.

Through system properties

Open the Start menu, right-click on Computer and select Properties.
Right-click on “Computer” and context menu select "Properties"

Explore all necessary information about the system in the window that opens.
In the "System" section you can find out the version and type of Windows 7

Through the Winver program

Through a search engine Windows string find and run the Winver program.
Launch Winver via search bar"Start"

In the window that opens, examine all the information you are interested in about the installed Windows.
Winver will show information about Windows installed on your computer

Video: how to find out the OS version using Winver

Through command execution

Run " Command line» via the Windows search bar.
Launch Command Prompt

Type the command "systeminfo" and press Enter.
Enter the command "systeminfo"

In lines detailed information find all the necessary information about the system.
Find the version and type of installed OS

Via license key

What to do if ServerPack is not displayed and how to install it

ServerPack (“Update Pack”) may not appear in the system information if it is not installed on the computer. In order for information about an update package to appear in the system information block, you must install this package.

For Windows 7, there is only one package with code 1 - ServerPack 1. You can download it from the official Microsoft website. The package includes a set of updates for stable operation of the system and its optimization. To install it, open the downloaded file and run the program from its current location. Wait for the process to complete and restart your computer.

ServerPack 1 includes a set of updates for stable system operation and optimization

How does one assembly differ from another?

In the information block about the system you can find the line “Build”.

Windows build is a remake installation package operating system. It can be either official, created by Microsoft, or unofficial, collected by third-party developers. Unofficial builds, as a rule, have their own set of additional functions and preset settings, disabled or added features.

There are people who take standard Windows and edit its parameters, adding or disabling certain functions. Then they post the installation file with their creation on some sites, and users have the opportunity to download this file and use it to install Windows, but not a clean system, but with the changes that the author of the assembly made there.
The build version is listed in the system information

It is best to install official builds, as they are as stable and optimized as possible, but if you need a system with certain additions or restrictions, you can search finished assembly on the Internet. Be careful, you may stumble upon a low-quality or malicious assembly that harms your computer or simply does not work.

How to find out the distribution version

Distribution kit is a group of files intended for installing an operating system. If you find a distribution kit or installation disk with it, but do not know what version of Windows will be installed when you activate it, then follow these steps:

What do the letters K, N, KN mean in the version name?

When searching for the required build, you may come across names such as Windows 7 Home N. Similar names with an additional letter indicate that this version Windows is designed for specific countries and does not have group programs built-in Windows Media.
The letters K, N, KN in the series name mean that the Windows version does not have built-in Windows Media programs

By installing an assembly with a letter in the name, you refuse to use all programs related to Windows Media. Many users don’t use them anyway, installing more convenient programs for watching movies and listening to music. But the built-in programs from Microsoft also do no harm; if desired, they can be removed after installing the system.

Special assemblies without these programs were created for countries where pre-installed software is prohibited, since it deprives a person of independent choice of software.

How to remove the “Your copy is not genuine” notification

The “Your copy is not genuine” notification appears in the lower right corner of the desktop when the system notices that the system installed on your computer is counterfeit or not activated.
Notification from the system that the system is not activated

You have two options to get rid of this inscription: activate Windows or bypass the ban. The first method is simple - find the license key and go through the activation process, the second - you need to remove certain updates. You can do this by following these steps:

Open the Start menu and go to the Control Panel of your computer.
Open the Start menu and go to Control Panel

Go to the "Uninstall programs" section.
Go to the "Uninstall programs" section

Go to the list of updates.
Click on the "View installed updates" section

Return to the main Control Panel page.
Return to the main Control Panel page

Go to the System and Security section.
Open the "System and Security" section

Go to the "Turn automatic updates on or off" section.
Click on "Turn automatic updates on or off"

Turn off automatic updates completely. This is necessary to ensure that deleted updates are not downloaded again.
Disable automatic updates

Return to the "System and Security" section and go to the "Administration" subsection.
Go to the "Administration" subsection

Select the "Services" function.
Select Services

In the general list of services, find the line “Protection software", select it and click on the "Stop" button.
Stop the Software Protection service

Open File Explorer. To do this, right-click on “Computer” in the “Start” menu and click on “Open”.
Right-click on “Computer” and click on “Open”

Expand the Tools menu in the Explorer quick access panel.
Expand the “Service” menu

In the menu that opens, select “Folder Options”.
Open Folder Options

Go to the "View" tab in the window that opens. Open the View tab

Turn on the “Show hidden files, folders and drives” feature. Enable the feature that allows you to show hidden files and click Apply

Using the Explorer search bar, find two files using the key “.C7483456-A289–439d-8115–601632D005A0.”
Find the required files by code

Delete these files. They are usually located in the main section hard drive, on which Windows itself is installed.
Delete found files

Return to the list of services and enable “Software protection”, which you disabled earlier.
Enable Software Protection service

Video: how to remove the message “Your copy of Windows is not genuine”

How to switch from one version of Windows 7 to another

If you want, for example, to switch from the “Home” version of Windows to the “Extended” version or, conversely, from the “Advanced” to the “Home” version, you can reinstall the system to the required version, having previously saved all important data to another medium. But this method is not always optimal, since all information and settings will be irretrievably lost. Therefore, you can use other methods that allow you to update or roll back the operating system version to the desired level.

Upgrade

This instruction is suitable for those who want to switch from a simpler version of the system to a more advanced one. You can do this in the following way:

Enter the license key. The key can be purchased on the Internet, received with a boxed edition of Windows, or generated for free using pirated programs.
Enter the license key

After entering the key, the update process will begin. Please note that the system will be raised only one level higher: if you had the “Home” version, then “Home Advanced” will be installed, if you had “Professional”, then “Maximum” will be installed, etc. Jump from “Home” to “Professional” will not work. If you want to go up more than one level, then after completing the system installation, repeat the update again.
Wait for the system upgrade to finish

Downgrade

To roll back a version, for example, from “Professional” to “Home Premium,” you will need a license key for the system you are installing and the installation file itself, from which Windows is usually installed.

This method is not a system reinstallation, since the update will be performed without data loss, but with a downgrade. The instructions below will also be useful if you want to restore to a previous version of Windows after upgrading its version. The problem is that downgrading the version of Windows is prohibited, it can only be upgraded, but this prohibition can be circumvented.

Using the Windows search bar, open the “Run” window.
Open the Run window

Use the "regedit" command to expand the "Registry Editor".
Enter the command "regedit"

Using the folder tree in the left line of the program, navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion.
Find the "CurrentVersion" folder

In the destination folder, change the value of the "EditionID" element to the name of the version you are going to install. For example, if you want to roll back to the “Home” version, then enter the value HomeBasic.
Change the "EditionID" file value

Once you are done editing the registry, begin the Windows installation process. At the “Select installation type” step, go to the “Update” option and go through the process to the end. The Windows version will be downgraded without reinstalling the system.
Select installation type "Update"

How to choose a version during installation

The version of Windows 7 can also be selected during the installation process. This is done in one of the steps: the program will offer all versions included in the installation file, and you will have to select one of them, after which you can continue the installation process.

During installation, select one of the suggested versions

License key cost

The price will vary for different versions of the system. Officially, Microsoft has already stopped supporting and, accordingly, distributing keys for Windows 7, but some resellers still resell keys.

What is a “trial version”

A trial version is a trial version issued to you for a certain period of time, for example, 30 days. At the end of this period, a notification will appear indicating that the system is not activated. trial version is issued so that you can evaluate the product and decide whether it is worth paying the full price for the license or not.

Instructions on how to remove the “Your copy is not genuine” message that appears after the end of the trial version are given in one of the previous paragraphs of the same article.

Each version of Windows 7 is designed for a specific number of tasks. To choose one version or another, you need to decide what tasks you are installing it to perform. You can upgrade or downgrade your operating system at any time. After installing one of the versions of Windows, you need to activate it in order to work on it without restrictions.

The Windows 7 operating system is becoming increasingly popular among users. But this OS was released in several versions at once, and many users do not know which version to give preference to. What are the main differences between versions of Windows 7?

The Windows 7 operating system was released in six versions (editions). Of course, the first difference between the versions of Windows 7 that immediately catches the user's eye is the price. But the difference in price is due to different functionality. Let's take a closer look at each version of the operating system, and then look at the differences between the versions of Windows 7.

Description of Windows 7 versions

Windows 7 Starter. This version only ships with new computers. The initial edition is as “stripped down” as possible; for example, it lacks the functionality for playing media files with AAC, H.264 and MPEG-2.

Windows 7 Home Basic. This version of the OS is intended for sale in emerging markets (including CIS countries). Only the basic theme is available in this version Windows interface Aero, a number of functions are not available, such as Shake, Peek, Internet connection sharing, taskbar preview, etc. Playback restrictions in this version are the same as in the Starter version.

Windows 7 Home Premium. This version includes all the features of the Home Basic System, plus Multitouch support, Windows Media Center, and additional features. gaming programs. Also available in this version is the ability to improve handwriting recognition.

Windows 7 Professional. This version differs from Home Enhanced by the ability to use Remote Desktop as the host computer. It is equipped with EFS encryption system. It contains a number of additional processes and AppLocker. The professional version can be rolled back to Windows Vista and Windows XP.

Windows 7 Enterprise. This version is intended primarily for IT professionals to provide them with an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the OS within an organization. This edition distributed exclusively by corporate license and has a 90 day period free use for reference.

Windows 7 Ultimate. As the name implies, this version includes all the available features of the Windows 7 operating system.

What are the main differences between versions of Windows 7 besides those that have already been described in brief description each edition? Let's start with Windows differences 7 Starter from more “advanced” versions operating system. This edition does not have a 64-bit version, it does not support the Windows Aero interface, the ability to quickly switch between users, the desktop manager, the Windows Mobility Center, or the ability to change the desktop background.

All these functions are already present in the Home Basic version, which, however, is devoid of a number of other functions. The differences between Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic versions from other OS editions are as follows:: Inability to create a homegroup (you can only join), lack of support for multiple monitors, lack of Multitouch and improved handwriting recognition, lack of Windows Media Center, additional games, the ability to act as a Remote Desktop host, support for multiple physical processors. These features are present in the following editions of Windows 7.

Also Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic and Home Premium don't have Windows emulator XP, EFS data encryption systems, location-aware printing capabilities, Windows NT domain connectivity. These versions cannot be downgraded to Windows XP or Vista. And only the Corporate and Maximum versions support a multilingual user environment.

The differences between Windows 7 versions also include support end date And maximum size RAM for 64-bit versions. Support for all versions except Professional and Enterprise ends on January 13, 2015; Professional and Corporate version are supported for 5 years longer. Regarding amount of RAM, The Starter edition supports up to 2 GB, Home Basic - up to 8 GB, Home Premium - up to 16 GB, and Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate - up to 192 GB (all figures are for 64-bit versions, because the 32-bit version any OS supports no more than 3.25 GB of RAM).

Here is a summary of all the main differences between the versions of Windows 7. Version selection depends on the configuration of your computer, the minimum functionality you need and, of course, the amount of money you are willing to pay for the operating system.

Installing the system on a PC is very simple and generally does not differ from installing Windows Vista. And it should be noted that the system requirements for a 64-bit system are somewhat high - it can run 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:

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

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

Deciding on the edition of Windows 7

Note. All links to the Microsoft website that will be in the article are recommended to be opened in Internet Explorer.

Windows 7 Starter

Windows 7 Home Basic

Windows 7 Home Premium

Windows 7 Professional

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

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

Which version of Windows 7 should I choose?

1. Beginners / Regular users. They are either just beginning 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 systems control something and security systems. They tend to require more features from the operating system.

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 with 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., it may be incompatible 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, which in modern world needed quite often. 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 a higher 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 tablet computer or device with touch screen– you better 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 necessarily. 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 third party utility– does it come 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

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