Windows 7 Server Win Foundation OEM serial key or number
Windows 7 Server Win Foundation OEM serial key or number
Generic Installation Keys
Windows 7 editions
Windows 7, a major release of the Microsoft Windowsoperating system, was available in six different editions: Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate. Only Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate were widely available at retailers.[1] The other editions focus on other markets, such as the software development world or enterprise use. All editions support bit IACPUs and all editions except Starter support bit x64 CPUs. bit installation media are not included in Home-Basic edition packages, but can be obtained separately from Microsoft.
According to Microsoft, the features for all editions of Windows 7 are stored on the machine, regardless of which edition is in use.[2] Users who wish to upgrade to an edition of Windows 7 with more features could use until Windows Anytime Upgrade to purchase the upgrade and to unlock the features of those editions.[1][2][3] Microsoft announced Windows 7 pricing information for some editions on June 25, , and Windows Anytime Upgrade and Family Pack pricing on July 31, [1][4][5]
Main editions[edit]
Mainstream support for all Windows 7 editions ended on January 13, , and extended support ended on January 14, [6] Professional and Enterprise volume licensed editions have paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) available until at most January 10, [7] Since October 31, , Windows 7 is no longer available in retail, except for remaining stocks of the preinstalled Professional edition, which was officially discontinued on October 31, [8]
- Windows 7 Starter
- Windows 7 Starter is the edition of Windows 7 that contains the fewest features. It is only available in a bit version and does not include the Windows Aero theme. The desktop wallpaper and visual styles (Windows 7 Basic) are not user-changeable. In the release candidate versions of Windows 7, Microsoft intended to restrict users of this edition to running three simultaneous programs, but this limitation was dropped in the final release.[9] This edition does not support more than 2&#;GB of RAM.
- This edition was available pre-installed on computers, especially netbooks or Windows Tablets, through system integrators or computer manufacturers using OEM licenses.[1][10][11]
- Windows 7 Home Basic
- Windows 7 Home Basic was available in "emerging markets", in different countries.[12] Some Windows Aero options are excluded along with several new features.[1] This edition is available in both bit and bit versions and supports up to 8&#;GB of RAM. Home Basic, along with other editions sold in emerging markets, include geographical activation restriction, which requires users to activate Windows within a certain region or country.[13]
- Windows 7 Home Premium
- This edition contains features aimed at the home market segment, such as Windows Media Center, Windows Aero and multi-touch support. It was available in both bit and bit versions.[14]
- Windows 7 Professional
- This edition is targeted towards enthusiasts, small-business users, and schools.[1] It includes all the features of Windows 7 Home Premium, and adds the ability to participate in a Windows Server domain.[1] Additional features include support for up to &#;GB of RAM (increased from 16&#;GB),[15] operating as a Remote Desktop server, location aware printing, backup to a network location, Encrypting File System, Presentation Mode, Software Restriction Policies (but not the extra management features of AppLocker) and Windows XP Mode.[1] It was available in both bit and bit versions.[14]
- Windows 7 Enterprise
- This edition targeted the enterprise segment of the market and was sold through volume licensing to companies which have a Software Assurance (SA) contract with Microsoft.[1] Additional features include support for Multilingual User Interface (MUI) packages, BitLocker Drive Encryption, and UNIXapplication support.[1] Not available through retail or OEM channels, this edition is distributed through SA.[1] As a result it includes several SA-only benefits, including a license allowing the operating of diskless nodes (diskless PCs) and activation via Volume License Key (VLK).[16]
- Windows 7 Ultimate
- Windows 7 Ultimate contains the same features as Windows 7 Enterprise, but this edition was available to home users on an individual license basis.[1] For a while, Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional users were able to upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate for a fee using Windows Anytime Upgrade if they wished to do so, but this service was stopped in [1] Unlike Windows Vista Ultimate, the Windows 7 Ultimate does not include the Windows Ultimate Extras feature or any exclusive features as Microsoft had stated.[1]
Special-purpose editions[edit]
The main editions also can take the form of one of the following special editions:
- N and KN editions
- The features in the N and KN Editions are the same as their equivalent full versions, but do not include Windows Media Player or other Windows Media-related technologies, such as Windows Media Center and Windows DVD Maker due to limitations set by the European Union and South Korea, respectively.[17] The cost of the N and KN Editions are the same as the full versions, as the Media Feature Pack for Windows 7 N or Windows 7 KN can be downloaded without charge from Microsoft.[18]
- VL builds
- VL builds work with VLKs (volume license keys). Volume license keys can be used to activate multiple installations of the software without any mechanism (such as a product activation mechanism) checking the total number of installations. The license for the software will place restrictions on the use of the key. Typically, the license will limit the key to a fixed number of installations which must only be within the licensee's organization and also place the licensee under an obligation to keep a record of the number of installations, keep the key confidential and possibly even require that the licensee organization makes itself available for a software licensing audit to verify that its use of the key is within the terms of the license.
Upgrade editions[edit]
In-place upgrade from Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 to Windows 7 is supported if the processor architecture and the language are the same and their editions match (see below).[1][3][19] In-place upgrade is not supported for earlier versions of Windows; moving to Windows 7 on these machines requires a clean installation, i.e. removal of the old operating system, installing Windows 7 and reinstalling all previously installed programs. Windows Easy Transfer can assist in this process.[1][3][20][21] Microsoft made upgrade SKUs of Windows 7 for selected editions of Windows XP and Windows Vista. The difference between these SKUs and full SKUs of Windows 7 is their lower price and proof of license ownership of a qualifying previous version of Windows. Same restrictions on in-place upgrading applies to these SKUs as well.[22] In addition, Windows 7 is available as a Family Pack upgrade edition in certain markets, to upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium only. It gives licenses to upgrade three machines from Vista or Windows XP to the Windows 7 Home Premium edition. These are not full versions, so each machine to be upgraded must have one of these qualifying previous versions of Windows for them to work.[23] In the United States, this offer expired in early December [24] In October , to commemorate the anniversary of Windows 7, Microsoft once again made Windows 7 Home Premium Family Pack available for a limited time, while supplies lasted.[25]
Upgrade compatibility[edit]
There are two possible ways to upgrade to Windows 7 from an earlier version of Windows:
- An in-place install (labelled "Upgrade" in the installer), where settings and programs are preserved from an older version of Windows. This option is only sometimes available, depending on the editions of Windows being used, and is not available at all unless upgrading from Windows Vista.[26]
- A clean install (labelled "Custom" in the installer), where all settings including but not limited to user accounts, applications, user settings, music, photos, and programs are erased entirely and the current operating system is erased and replaced with Windows 7. This option is always available and is required for all versions of Windows XP.[27]
The table below lists which upgrade paths allow for an in-place install. Note that in-place upgrades can only be performed when the previous version of Windows is of the same architecture. If upgrading from a bit installation to a bit installation or downgrading from bit installation to bit installation, a clean install is mandatory regardless of the editions being used.
| Version and its specific edition of Windows to upgrade from | Edition of Windows 7 to upgrade to | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Basic | Home Premium | Professional | Enterprise | Ultimate | |
| Vista Home Basic | In-place | In-place | Clean | Clean | In-place |
| Vista Home Premium | Clean | In-place | Clean | Clean | In-place |
| Vista Business | Clean | Clean | In-place | In-place | In-place |
| Vista Enterprise | Clean | Clean | Clean | In-place | Clean |
| Vista Ultimate | Clean | Clean | Clean | Clean | In-place |
| XP | Clean | Clean | Clean | Clean | Clean |
Anytime Upgrade editions[edit]
Until the year , Microsoft also supported in-place upgrades from a lower edition of Windows 7 to a higher one, using the Windows Anytime Upgrade tool.[1] There are currently three retail options available (though it is currently unclear whether they can be used with previous installations of the N versions).[28] There are no family pack versions of the Anytime Upgrade editions. It was possible to use the Product Key from a Standard upgrade edition to accomplish an in-place upgrade (e.g. Home Premium to Ultimate).[29][30]
- Starter to Home Premium
- Starter to Professional1
- Starter to Ultimate1
- Home Premium to Professional
- Home Premium to Ultimate
- Professional to Ultimate1
1 Available in retail, and at the Microsoft Store
Derivatives[edit]
- Windows Thin PC
- On February 9, , Microsoft announced Windows Thin PC, a branded derivative of Windows Embedded Standard 7 with Service Pack 1, designed as a lightweight version of Windows 7 for installation on low performance PCs as an alternative to using a dedicated thin client device. It succeeded Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs, which was based on Windows XP Embedded. Windows Thin PC was released on June 6, Windows Thin PC is supported until October 12, [31]
- Embedded versions
- Windows 7 is also currently available in two forms of Windows Embedded, named as Windows Embedded Standard 7 (known as Windows Embedded Standard prior to release, the newest being Windows Embedded Standard 7 with Service Pack 1) and Windows Embedded POSReady 7. Windows Embedded Standard 7 has extended support until October 13, and Windows Embedded POSReady 7 until October 12, [32] Both versions are also eligible for Extended Security Updates (ESU) for up to three years after their end of extended support date.[7]
Comparison chart[edit]
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^Not the same as logical processor limits: all editions are limited to 32 logical processors for IA and for x64
- ^Feature of Windows Media Player which enables the use and control of media libraries on other computers
- ^ abDisabled by default.[43]
- ^Windows Virtual PC including a complete copy of Windows XP with Service Pack 3 using Remote Desktop Protocol to display individual applications integrated with the host OS (Windows 7). Windows XP Mode is available as a free download from Microsoft.
- ^formerly Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM)
- ^Any edition of Windows 7 can be installed onto a VHD volume; these installations even appear in the boot menu. However, only Enterprise or Ultimate editions start. Other editions return an error message.[51]
References[edit]
- ^ abcdefghijklmnopqr"All Windows 7 Versions—What You Need to Know". ExtremeTech. February 5, Retrieved February 5,
- ^ abLeBlanc, Brandon (February 9, ). "A closer look at the Windows 7 SKUs". Windows Team Blog. Microsoft. Retrieved February 9,
- ^ abcdeThurrott, Paul (February 3, ). "Windows 7 Product Editions". Retrieved February 3,
- ^ ab"Microsoft unveils 'screaming deals' for Windows 7". ZDNet. June 25, Retrieved June 25,
- ^"Windows Anytime Upgrade and Family Pack Pricing". Microsoft. July 31, Retrieved July 31,
- ^"Microsoft product support lifecycle information by product family: Windows 7". Microsoft. Retrieved January 28,
- ^ ab"Lifecycle FAQ-Extended Security Updates". manicapital.com. Retrieved August 12,
- ^"Windows lifecycle fact sheet". manicapital.com.
- ^Keizer, Gregg (May 29, ). "Microsoft kills Windows 7 Starter's 3-app limit". Computer World.
- ^"Windows 7 Wins on Netbook PCs". Microsoft. February 3, Retrieved February 3,
- ^"Microsoft forbids changes to Windows 7 netbook wallpaper". The Register. June 19, Retrieved October 22,
- ^Hachman, Mark (February 4, ). "The Windows 7 Versions: What You Need to Know". PC Magazine. Windows 7 Home Basic. Retrieved October 22,
- ^"How to Tell: Geographically Restricted Microsoft Software". Microsoft. Retrieved November 17,
- ^ ab"All Windows 7 Versions—What You Need to Know – Windows Home Premium". ExtremeTech. February 5, Retrieved February 5,
- ^Bott, Ed. "Do you need more than Windows 7 Home Premium?". ZDNet. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 15,
- ^ ab"Products: Windows 7 Enterprise". Microsoft. Retrieved April 2,
- ^"Description of the Windows Media Feature Pack for Windows 7 N and for Windows 7 KN". Microsoft. November 10, Retrieved April 24,
- ^"Media Feature Pack for Windows 7 N with Service Pack 1 and Windows 7 KN with Service Pack 1 (KB)". Microsoft. March 7, Retrieved April 24,
- ^"The Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Program Rev. ". Tech ARP. February 10, Retrieved February 10,
- ^ abFoley, Mary-Jo (February 3, ). "Microsoft's Windows 7 line-up: The good, the bad and the ugly". ZDNet. Retrieved February 17,
- ^Fiveash, Kelly (February 5, ). "Windows 7 'upgrade' doesn't mark XP spot". Channel Register. The Register. Retrieved February 12,
- ^"Microsoft Store UK – Windows 7". Archived from the original on September 19, Retrieved September 14,
- ^steam blog, dated /07/31, accessed September 16,
- ^Windows 7 Family Pack Discontinued
- ^Family Pack returns in time for the Anniversary of Windows 7
- ^"Windows 7 Upgrade Paths". Microsoft. Retrieved September 13,
- ^"Upgrading to Windows 7: frequently asked questions". Microsoft. Retrieved February 12,
- ^"Windows Anytime Upgrades". Amazon. Retrieved September 14,
Tip: Legally Deploying Images Windows To OEM Licensed PCs
As usual, I will not be answering licensing questions. All emails and comments will be deleted without a response. Please ask your reseller these questions instead &#; that&#;s why they add a margin to the license when they sell it to you, so make them work for it.
You cannot legally deploy an image of an OEM media installation of Windows. According to a Microsoft licensing brief:
Organizations do not have the right to reimage by using OEM media.
An OEM image can only be preloaded on a PC by the OEM during manufacturing. An image can be individually recovered by the organization (or a service provider it chooses) by using the recovery media. The OEM recovery media should match the product version originally preinstalled on the system; no other image can be used to restore the system to its original state
That means a company that buys hundreds or thousands of PCs, intent on using the OEM license, cannot create a custom image from OEM media (assuming OEM media can even be acquired!). Businesses hate OEM builds because they are full of crap-ware and unmanaged security vulnerabilities. So what can you do to re-image these PCs? Do you need to buy a VL for every single machine? There are benefits to doing that, especially with SA attached, but that’s not for everyone.
There is a little known legal trick that you can apply. According to Microsoft:
Reimaging is the copying of software onto multiple devices from one standard image. Reimaging rights are granted to all Microsoft Volume Licensing customers. Under these rights, customers may reimage original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or full packaged product (FPP) licensed copies using media provided under their Volume Licensing agreement.
These finer points are detailed in the licensing brief.
Basically:
- Say you buy 2, PCs and want to use their OEM licensing for Windows 7/8 Pro
- You want to deploy a custom build/image to these machines
- You buy a single volume license for Windows 8 Pro (includes downgrade rights)
- You use the MAK/KMS key to create and deploy an image of Windows 7/8 Pro
- You’re legit!
You must be sure that you understand:
- The OEM and the VL license must be the same edition, e.g. you cannot deploy a Pro VL image to Home OEM licensed PCs using this licensing technique.
- You must ensure that the versions are matched, e.g. the OEM license entitles you to Windows 7 (including downgrades) if deploying Windows 7 images. For example, you can’t deploy a Windows 7 VL image to a PC with a Windows Vista OEM sticker/license using this licensing technique.
- The languages must be matched as well.
What if you company does not have a VL agreement? You need to 5 products to start one. You can buy a single copy of Windows (to get the ISO download and MAK/KMS keys) and 4 cheap dummy CALs – now you have a VL at minimum cost, and you can re-image your OEM-licensed PCs with an image made from your VL media.
What’s New in the Windows 7 Server Win Foundation OEM serial key or number?
Screen Shot
System Requirements for Windows 7 Server Win Foundation OEM serial key or number
- First, download the Windows 7 Server Win Foundation OEM serial key or number
-
You can download its setup from given links:
Windows 7 Server Win Foundation OEM serial key or number & Free Download
Windows 7 Server Win Foundation OEM serial key or number& PC Free Download
Windows 7 Server Win Foundation OEM serial key or number
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