Operating systems for home

Windows 7 - operating system Windows family, released commercially in October 2009. During development, the system was known by the code names "Blackcomb" and "Vienna."

Windows 7 is built on the Vista kernel. For most users, the benefits of Windows 7 over Vista include faster boot times, a new user interface, and the addition of new Internet versions Explorer.

The OS is available in three retail versions - Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate. Starter, OEM and Enterprise versions are available in some markets.

Windows 7 features

• DirectAccess for Mobile Workers - allows system administrators to update Group Policy settings and deliver program updates whenever mobile device has access to the Internet, regardless of whether you are logged in account. DirectAccess supports multi-factor authentication and encryption.
• XP Compatibility Mode - Allows you to run legacy applications designed to run on Windows XP in a special virtualized space. The average user sees no difference when running such applications.
• BranchCache is a technology for optimizing network traffic transmitted over WAN communication channels through the use of a local, readable cache.
• BitLocker To Go - technology extends encryption and key management capabilities to portable storage.
• Virtual hard disk support - Windows 7 allows you to mount virtual hard disk (VHD) and work with it as with a regular physical disk.
• Enterprise Search - given to the system Lets you search for documents in remote repositories, SharePoint sites, and web applications.
• AppLocker - a feature that allows system administrators to use group policies to set rules for running specific applications on a specific computer.
• Expanded VDI support - System administrators can use the same master image for remote clients through the use of virtual desktop infrastructure, and for regular computers.

Operating system of the Windows NT family, successor to Windows Vista. In the Windows NT line, the system has version number 6.1 (Windows 2000 - 5.0, Windows XP - 5.1, Windows Server 2003 - 5.2, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 - 6.0). The server version is Windows Server 2008 R2, the version for integrated systems is Windows Embedded Standard 2011 (Quebec), the 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. Partners and clients with a Volume Licensing license were granted access to RTM on July 24, 2009. Final (copy from discs that later went on sale) pirated version was available to everyone from the first days of August 2009.

Windows 7 included some developments excluded from Windows Vista, as well as innovations in the interface and built-in programs. The games Inkball and 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 have disappeared from the Start menu Email. Windows Calendar has also disappeared from Windows.

Using the system

According to Internet statistics 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 asset of outdated Windows XP is 24.3 percent.

Innovations

The operating system supports multi-touch control. This capability was first demonstrated by Microsoft at the annual TechEd'08 conference in Orlando. During the demonstration, system build 6.1.6856 was used, as well as a prototype laptop model with a multi-touch 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 someone on his network, he will be able to get it from the local cache storage, rather than using a limited channel. throughput. 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, a server is not required, and the cache is distributed for storage on user computers. The technology is designed for large networks and is offered for implementation in enterprises as part of the Corporate and Maximum versions of the OS.

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

Additional advantage of Windows 7 can be considered closer integration with driver manufacturers. Most of them are detected automatically, while in 90% of cases they remain backward compatible with Windows Vista drivers.

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

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 multi-threaded rendering, improved tessellation, new texture compression algorithms, etc.

Windows in Windows 7

Player Windows Media Player 12 received a new interface and became truly “omnivorous”, unlike its predecessor, which required a large number of codecs for playback. However, it cannot play licensed Blu-Ray discs with video, but it has the ability to read and write data to them.

Mobility

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

However, according to the results of independent tests, it was found that Windows 7 drains a laptop's battery noticeably faster than Windows XP. Since August, experts from Laptop magazine (laptopmag.com) have been testing the final version of Windows 7, including timing battery life portable PCs under its control. The overall result was disappointing: the average netbook running the “Seven” generally runs 47 minutes less on battery power compared to the XP. In the case of the ASUS 1008HA model, the “shortage” was 57 minutes or 16.7%. Other publications also conducted similar studies and also came to these conclusions. The loss ranges from 10 to 30 percent in operating time.

A possible reason is that Windows 7 is optimized for graphics accelerators, while many netbooks run on built-in Intel video cards and VIA, which sometimes do not support Aero functions. Also, many netbooks run under Windows control 7 Starter Edition, which does not fully support Aero. Another possible reason is the lack of OS support from netbook manufacturers. So, with new drivers and BIOS dated November 2009, the Asus Eee 1000HA runs under Windows 7 for as long as it does under Windows XP.

Remote Desktop

The Remote Desktop feature has also undergone changes. Support for the Aero Peek interface, Direct 2D and Direct3D 10.1 has been introduced, support for multiple monitors, multimedia extensions, DirectShow, as well as the ability to play audio with low latency.

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 attempt to make changes to the computer (do not dim the desktop).” It's worth noting that, unlike Vista, dimming only occurs if the program is active and in the foreground. If you clicked while UAC was opening and deactivated the program, the blackout may not occur.

Changes have been made to the BitLocker encryption technology, and the BitLocker to go removable media encryption function has been added, which allows you to encrypt removable media, even in the absence of a TPM module.

Improvements have also been made to the Windows Firewall - the function of notifying the user that a program that is trying to access the network has been blocked has returned.

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

DirectAccess allows you to establish a secure connection to a server in the background, unlike VPN, which requires user interaction. DirectAccess can also apply group policies before the user logs on.

backward compatibility

In July 2010, it became known that an addition to the agreement on the disclosure of the source codes of the company’s software for the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Scientific and Technical Center Atlas and the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia had been signed. Through it, Russian structures gained access to the codes of Windows Server 2008 R2, Office 2010 and SQL Server 2008 R2. The agreement itself was signed back in 2002.

As stated by 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 by Russian means information protection. The validity period of the agreement is currently unlimited; changes to the code of the products mentioned in it are constantly sent to Atlas for analysis for the absence of bookmarks and vulnerabilities. The signatory on the American side is the head office of Microsoft.

After signing the addendum, as before, only the FSB and Atlas get access to the source codes themselves. However, now the Russian parties to the agreement have the right to share the results of the analysis with “authorized government organizations.” As Microsoft explained to CNews, the choice of these structures does not depend in any way on the company; their list is entirely determined by the Russian side.

Microsoft clearly 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 qualitative new level cooperation with government agencies Russian Federation"- said Nikolai Pryanishnikov, President of Microsoft in Russia.

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

Sales results

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

2010

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

During the 2010 fiscal year, which lasted from July 1, 2009 to June 31, 2010, a total of 175 million copies of Windows 7 were sold worldwide.

“According to data for December 2010, when conducting a similar comparison, it turned out that the number of requests from PCs with XP installed became less than from versions of Vista and Windows 7 in total,” says Larin. “Now the seventh version has outgrown XP for the first time without the help of other OSes.”

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

Total number shipped to channel (corporate customers, OEM partners and retail chains) Windows licenses 7, according to Microsoft, the world has reached 300 million units.

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

Data for 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 visitors to sites with installed project counters used XP and only 27.5% used Windows 7.

Yuri Larin explains this discrepancy by the fact that network counters do not cover all PCs: “Data Windows Update s are more accurate because they take into account all computers using the update service, regardless of what sites their owner visits.”

End of support for Windows 7

2020

On January 27, 2020, it became known that the Free Software Foundation (FSF) called on Microsoft to open the source code of Windows 7. He posted a petition on his website, inviting everyone who would like to continue to receive updates to this system 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, ordinary users can no longer get updates for it; they are available only to Microsoft corporate customers for a fee. In addition, installing the final update released by Microsoft on the day support ended, disabled the function of setting wallpaper on the desktop.

The authors of the petition formulated three main demands for Microsoft. The first and foremost is to release Windows 7 as free software. “Her life should not end. Give the (developer) community the opportunity to study, modify and distribute it.”

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

The Foundation's third demand is: "We want further evidence that you actually respect both users and their freedom as users, and do not use these concepts for marketing when it suits you."

According to the terms of the petition, it must collect 7,777 signatures before the authors transfer 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 5,150 people. The initiators of the movement have not established a time frame during which it is necessary to collect the required number of signatures.

According to data at the time of publication, the software giant had not commented on the Fund’s initiative. software. The authors of the petition also do not guarantee that collecting the required number of signatures will have an effect, but, according to them, Microsoft has repeatedly disclosed the source code of its developments.

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

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

Discontinuation of updates to certified versions of operating systems Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, combined with the likely discovery of vulnerabilities in them, will lead to the possibility of threats to the security of confidential information processed in these information systems, says FSTEC. - In addition, it is predicted that there will be an increase in interest in the Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 operating systems from certain categories of violators.

In this regard, FSTEC is terminating 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, from State Register certified information security tools, information about certificates of conformity for versions of Windows 7 AND Windows Server 2008 with the second service pack (SP2) will be excluded.

Organizations and institutions that continue to use these operating systems are recommended to plan activities before June 1, 2020 to migrate to the latest versions of Windows certified by FSTEC.

Before this transition, it is recommended to install all current and mandatory certified updates for Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 and to prohibit automatic update certified versions of the Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 operating systems. And also, if possible, exclude connections to the Internet and departmental or corporate local networks"means computer technology or segments of information systems running Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 operating systems." If this is not possible, FSTEC strongly recommends the mandatory use of measures 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 tools, intrusion detection systems, protection against unauthorized transmission of information (DLP systems) and information flow management tools.

It is also proposed to periodically analyze the vulnerabilities of information system segments operating under managed by Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, using certified information security control (analysis) tools, and also monitor the integrity of installed operating systems. The FSTEC message also suggests monitoring 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 taking measures to eliminate these vulnerabilities.

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

Information Systems government agencies are usually very large and complex systems, and if they are based on software developed specifically for a particular version of Windows, and may not be compatible with later versions, migration can be a rather lengthy process. Microsoft, even after the official termination of technical support for Windows XP, continued to support this system for government departments of some countries that were unable to switch to later operating systems in time. Security considerations, however, in any case require the abandonment of outdated and not supported by the manufacturer operating systems and the transition to others. This situation also reminds us of the need to use and develop domestic system software. Repeated attempts to expand the presence of domestic software in the public sector look increasingly justified,

operating room Windows system 7 was released by Microsoft in the fall of 2009. In terms of length of support, this operating system is second only to Windows XP, released in 2001 and removed from support in 2014.

Over the past ten years, Microsoft has managed to release 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 abandon 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.

Using an unsupported operating system is prohibited due to information security rules - computers become vulnerable to attacks, and banks may receive an order from the Central Bank.

According to Cisco security business consultant Alexey Lukatsky, Windows 7 is installed on approximately every fifth computer in Russian banks. To update 20% of this fleet to Windows 10, at least 15 billion rubles will be required, taking into account the volume discount.

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

UK Government Communications Center warns against using Windows 7 for online banking

Because of the additional cyber risks associated with the growing financial services industry and the much deeper sources of data held by banks and other businesses, the National Cyber ​​Security Center's warnings should not be taken lightly.

2019

Free support for US and allied voting systems

Some companies will receive free updates for Windows 7

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

According to information posted on the Microsoft website in the section of frequently asked questions regarding the end of support for Windows 7 and Office 2010, enterprise users who purchase active Windows 10 subscriptions before the end of 2019 will be able to receive free year support during the transition to Windows 10.

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

No user action or system administrators no need, everything will happen automatically. Your subscription must remain active throughout the extended support period or you will no longer receive updates.

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

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

To help companies quickly move from Windows 7 to Windows 10, Microsoft launched the FastTrack service in August 2019.

Using FastTrack, we will help you create a technical plan, understand how to connect and implement new services and/or onboard new users. We will work with you during the implementation process,” the service description says. R2 on computers with Symantec security solutions. The blocking is due to the fact that antivirus programs remove updates during their installation, which is why Windows stops starting. Over the past few months, Microsoft has been regularly updating its support bulletin to remind businesses and users to stop updating signed with SHA-1 and move to SHA-2. Starting August 13, PCs running Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 will be able to install updates signed only digital certificates SHA-2. The transition to this algorithm was due to the insecurity of the previously used SHA-1. However, due to the move to SHA-2, Symantec security solutions (including Norton) began blocking or removing updates KB4512506 and KB4512486 during their installation process, and systems became unbootable. As a precaution, Microsoft has temporarily blocked updates for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 until Symantec resolves the issue. According to a notice from Symantec, the fix will be available with future product releases. End of official support In 2019, official support for the Windows 7 operating system ends. This means that Windows 7 will no longer receive security updates and becomes more vulnerable to attackers. Commercial licenses will also expire. 2018: Extension of OS support terms Microsoft assures that Windows 10 currently is already more in demand than Windows 7. On official page Windows trends in the Microsoft community, this was announced back in August 2016. The company said that the share of Windows 10 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 say the opposite. According to them, in December 2016, only 24.36% of users in the world worked on Windows 10, while the share Windows users 7 in the same month was 48.34%. Apparently, Windows 7 will remain the leading computer OS in the world for some time, despite the reduction in support. Those users who decide to remain faithful to it after January 14, 2020, can use third-party protection products that will be compatible with this OS for a long time. 2016 Stopping sales of OEM licenses 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 removed the Windows 7 Professional version from sale. Starting November 1, 2016, the world's most popular operating system (according to NetMarketShare in October 2016, Windows 7 is used in 48% of PCs in the world) will not be installed on new computers. For some time - while retailers and distributors still have previously purchased equipment - consumers will be able to purchase devices with the "seven" at the core. In addition, on October 31, 2016, Microsoft stopped OEM supplies of Windows 8.1, so vendors had no choice when installing software platform Windows into their products - only Windows 10 is available to them. Sales of new computers running Windows 8 stopped on June 30, 2016, and retail sales of this OS and Windows 8.1 ended on October 31, 2014 and September 1, 2015, respectively. According to NetMarketShare calculations, in October 2016, Windows 8.1's share of the global computer operating system market reached 8.4% versus 22.6% for Windows 10. About 8.3% of desktop PCs run Windows XP, released back in 2001. and laptops. At the end of September 2016, Microsoft reported that Windows 10 was installed on 400 million active devices worldwide, and corporate clients are switching to this OS faster than to any other version of Windows at one time. The rapid spread of the "ten" was associated with the possibility free installation this platform for owners of computers based on Windows 7 and 8.1. The cessation of sales of OEM licenses for Windows 7 and Windows 8 does not affect existing users of these operating systems. Extended support for Windows 7 will end on January 14, 2020; for Windows 8, the end date is January 10, 2023. Mainstream support for Windows 8 is available until January 9, 2018. Windows 7 SP1 June 2016 Due to this, the company promises to simplify the process of supporting Windows 7 and 8.1 systems. The update addresses a number of recently discovered issues in Windows 7, including slow work update center on a number of computers. There are six bulletins presented: KB3154228, KB3153727, KB3161647, KB3161897, KB3161639 and KB3163644. 2015 The end of mainstream 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 provide support to customers only on a paid basis. This applies to both regular users and participants in volume licensing programs. Until January 14, 2020, Extended Support for Windows 7 will remain, 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 mainstream support on January 13, 2015. Microsoft will completely abandon Windows 7 by 2020, but Gartner analysts recommend that companies begin planning the transition from this OS to newer ones as soon as possible. Otherwise, they risk not having time to completely update their systems, as a result of which the information security of enterprises may be at risk, experts believe.

At the current time, Windows 7 OS is one of the most common systems and is installed, probably, on most computers in the world. XP today is hopelessly outdated, although this “Axis” is still used by millions of users, and most drivers and released applications “do not want” to work with Windows Vista, and it is also considered very vulnerable to virus attacks and spyware. Minimum system requirements for Win 7 is significantly higher than in previous Microsoft operating systems.

For example, to install the same Win XP you will need only 1.5 GB of hard disk space. The computer must have a processor of at least 333 mHz and have at least one bracket random access memory with today's ridiculous 128 MB. Vista, despite the fact that games and multimedia applications on this OS have lower performance than on XP, requires 15 GB of free disk space, a processor of at least 1 GHz and 1 GB of RAM to install.

Varieties of Windows 7

1. “Initial” or “Starter” – basic version operating system, usually one that can be purchased with a laptop, netbook or system unit. Less demanding on computer resources, but somewhat reduced in terms of functionality, in particular, playback of multimedia content in formats such as MPEG 2 and some others becomes impossible.
2. “Basic home” is also designed for weaker laptop models that do not have powerful hardware. Like the “Initial” version, it has a number of limitations, complicating full-fledged work on the Internet.
3. “Extended Home” or “Home Premium” - this version is often more than enough for a home PC. It is optimal and is able to fully work with most multimedia files and the Internet.
4. “Professional” - this version is intended for advanced users who use data encryption, run legacy applications in emulation mode of the previous OS and need advanced capabilities for working with domains and the Internet.
5. “Ultimate” is the maximum build, which includes support for more than thirty languages, algorithms and tools for creating increased security and full-fledged work with multimedia applications. There is also a “Corporate” version of Win 7, but in fact it differs from the others only in the presence of other licenses and advantages aimed at the work of large organizations.

All of the above versions, in turn, are divided into 32 and 64 bit (for 32 and 64 bit processors, respectively). It is imperative to remember that Windows 7 is installed only on a partition hard drive on an NTFS system. For owners of laptops and netbooks with a modest capacity internal memory up to 30 GB and the inability to expand it, even if the minimum system hardware requirements allow you to install “Seven”, it would be best to install the previous version of Win XP on your device, which requires 1.5 GB of free space.

Primary requirements

• To install Windows 7 you need installation disk with an operating system or a flash drive.
• DVD drive or working USB connector if the system is installed from a flash drive.
• Sufficient free space on your computer's hard drive. Do not forget that the system requirements for the computer written on the box with the disk do not take into account the paging file, which additionally takes up from one to four gigabytes.

For owners of laptops and netbooks without optical DVD drive To install the operating system, special USB “tokens” can be used. The problem is that purchasing them is much more problematic than buying a DVD. It is much easier to use one of the applications, for example, UltraISO, to create an image of “Seven” on a desktop computer for further installation on a portable device.

Minimum System Requirements

The minimum Windows system requirements, as mentioned above, depend on the bit depth. To install the “Initial” or “Starter” version with x86 bit capacity, the hardware parameters must be as follows:

• Processor 32-bit architecture with a frequency of at least 800 MHz.
• The amount of installed RAM should not be less than 512 MB.
• 16 gigabytes of free space directly on your computer’s hard drive.

To install a 64-bit version of the Windows 7 operating system, the requirements are slightly higher:

• 64-bit processor with a clock frequency of at least 1 GHz.
• RAM must be present “on board” in a volume of at least 1 gigabyte.
• For comfortable use without freezes and system slowdowns, you need at least 20 gigabytes of free space on your computer’s hard drive.
• The video card must have at least 128 megabytes of memory and support DirectX version 9 and higher.
• To use the encryption function for data stored on removable media and devices, a special platform module is required.

If the requirements of Win 7 barely coincide with the minimum, then this cannot guarantee full-fledged work with multimedia and gaming applications. It is also likely that surfing the Internet will be far from comfortable, making, for example, viewing streaming online video or FLASH pages difficult or almost impossible.

In order for the Windows 7 operating system to fully function on your computer, its system requirements must satisfy approximately the following conditions:

• The processor must be 32 (x86) or 64 (x64) bit and clock frequency not lower than 1 GHz.
• There is never too much RAM, as they say, but the optimal combination would be to have from two to four gigabytes of RAM, which will allow you to comfortably navigate the vastness of the World Wide Web and perform several tasks in parallel.
• Free hard disk space must be at least twenty gigabytes. HDD must be formatted in file system NTFS if the disk was previously in FAT system The easiest way to do this is through the BIOS.
• A video card with graphics memory of 128 MB or higher with support for DirectX version 9 or higher. It is highly desirable that the video card be compatible with the tenth and eleventh DX, which guarantees no problems with launching games and most multimedia applications.

Additional requirements

• For Windows updates 7, download missing drivers and latest versions The computer hardware firmware requires high-speed Internet access. For this, in turn, you need a network adapter (often built directly into the motherboard).
• To implement some functions of the built-in multimedia player in Win 7, a TV tuner is required.
• To listen to sounds and audio files you need sound card, which can be either built-in or purchased separately.
• Input devices: keyboard and mouse. There are touch input devices that work using an interface Windows Touch, however, they are not particularly popular and are also purchased separately.
• If you install the Win 7 operating system from a disk, then you need an optical DVD drive. Or it is necessary to create a special bootable flash drive in case of his absence.
• Some monitors supported by Win 7 may require a video card with more than 128 megabytes of graphics memory.

Bottom line

Dimensions hard drives most of the laptops, netbooks and desktop computers are calculated in hundreds, or even thousands of gigabytes, and they do not experience a lack of free RAM. Therefore, if you are the owner of such a device, the requirements of which fully satisfy those of the Win 7 operating system, feel free to install the “Maximum” or “Extended Home” version in order to fully utilize the resources of the built-in hardware.

If your PC or laptop, unfortunately, does not meet the requirements of Windows 7, then the best option the previous version of Win XP will be installed on it, which is less demanding on the “stuffing” and takes up a modest 1.5 gigabytes of free space on the hard drive.

Many computer users often do not fully understand how important the fast, smooth operation of a modern operating system is to ensure the most productive user interaction with a PC. In demand in all parts of the world, Windows 7 is considered one of the most successful projects of all previously released operating systems from the software giant Microsoft.

Official sales of Windows 7 began in 2009 and very quickly attracted the attention of all concerned users.

While working on the next operating system, the manufacturer tried to take into account all the wishes of PC owners and eliminate the shortcomings of previous releases - first of all, it was working on errors in the Windows Vista OS. The good news is that support will be provided until January 14, 2020, and Windows 7 free download you can from the official website of the developer (the link is provided at the bottom of the article).

Windows 7 operating system versions:

• Professional
• Ultimate (Maximum) - recommended for installation, as it contains all the necessary functionality and pre-installed software for simple and advanced users;
• Enterprise (Corporate) - issued for sales to large legal entities and corporations;
• Home Basic (for home use);
• Home Premium (for home use with advanced features);
• Starter - suitable for trial purposes and distributed as an OEM version.

All of the above releases, if you have a subscription or license key, can be downloaded for x86 (32-bit) and x64 (64-bit) systems in Russian (bit depth is determined by processor architecture).
Recommended system requirements for installation: 2 GB RAM, 10 GB HDD, 2 GHz CPU or higher, as well as a discrete video card (for use GUI Aero).

Seven received an improved taskbar, which now holds much more open windows and fixed elements than it was in previous versions OS. Now the icons open source software are displayed without captions, and the ability to preview program windows and the function of closing an entire group of windows allows you to interact with the system with greater comfort.

Many users who absolutely do not want to part with their favorite games or old but well-functioning applications will be pleased to know that the Windows 7 version interacts without problems with a huge number of programs designed for more earlier versions OS. This is possible thanks to the available compatibility mode for older versions of Windows.
Windows 7 is great for multi-touch control, which is typical for recently popular laptops with touch screen, as well as many other similar devices.

The operating system is also able to remember and recognize in the future the characteristic gestures of the user, which makes control even easier and more understandable, and an abundance of desktop themes makes the OS as user-friendly as possible, because changing the size and colors of the window and enlarging icons is not difficult even for a beginner.

Let us remind you: Regardless of which version you are going to install, download Windows 7 Maximum 64 bit or Professional 32 bit - support for the Russian language is perfectly implemented in all editions.

Users who have to work a lot with text information, you will be pleased to know that the new OS has a large number of new fonts in its arsenal, and installing additional ones has become even easier and more logically understandable. It is worth noting that all previously known fonts have become smoother and clearer, not only due to the increased number of high-resolution monitors, but also due to their diligent adjustment by a group of designers and artists. This makes it easier to perceive information while reading from a computer screen. One of the most popular text editors for Windows is Word ( Microsoft Word), which is most preferable in this environment, but you will have to pay for its use, or use trial versions or free analogues.

Great news for gamers and simply fans of gaming industry products is the presence of a pre-installed DirectX 11 package. Now, there is no need to waste time searching for it, since it is already integrated into the operating system shell, which will allow you to run 3D games without wasting time searching for it package. But it is worth noting that depending on the requirements of the game, it may require updating or additional installation of missing modules (when installing the game, the user often receives a corresponding notification).

Now everyone can enjoy the amazing three-dimensional graphics thanks to effective support for the hardware capabilities of the video card.

The Windows 7 subsystem, which is responsible for interacting with the hardware contents of the computer, deserves special attention - most of the available devices are recognized at the first start, so there is no need to install additional drivers No. However, we recommend installing the latest drivers for your video card, network adapters and other “hardware” that can be supported by the seven only in a basic way.

The best program for this is automatic search and driver updates DriverPack Solution. You can download the program for free from the official website. Well, flash drives, webcams and all sorts of external drives, as a rule, are detected without problems and are ready for use a few seconds after connecting to the computer.

Next release Windows player Media Player with the serial number “12” will not disappoint fans of good cinema and other video entertainment. After all, the developers have taken into account numerous complaints from users since previous releases of the operating system. Now, even the number of playable video formats has increased by an order of magnitude (without installing special codecs), but about finalizing user interface, as well as support for mobile gadgets connected to the player, needless to say. From now on, even novice users will not experience such problems as they did before, and nothing needs to be done to download windows player for windows 7, because it is already built into the system.

From previous OS Windows Vista, the new version has adopted the old Aero interface, but now it has several design styles.

The popular operating system tirelessly takes care of the additional safety of confidential user data, for example, Windows 7 blocks the launch of certain utilities through the AppLocker service. The improved firewall will notify the user that a particular application has been blocked; previously it did not have such a function.

In addition, Windows 7 operates modern technology encryption called BitLocker, which, after numerous improvements, is now capable of effectively encrypting data on individual media. Availability of a practical function DirectAccess allows you to form a secure connection personal computer with a remote server automatically without the help of the PC owner.

WITH new version OS advanced users will be able to manage the reserve space on the hard drive, which is intended for system recovery, and also decide what to “treat” first: files that have been changed or lost settings.

conclusions: Seven is an excellent operating system for a wide variety of tasks, and its moderate demands on system resources allows installations even on outdated equipment. At the same time, there is no need to separately download programs for Windows 7 in view of the fact that all software that is written for older versions of the OS will feel great in the new shell. To do this, just select the compatibility mode with older releases, although in 99% of cases even this is not required.