When Was Windows 7 Released

Windows vii
Server counterpart
Version of Microsoft Windows


OS family	Windows NT
Version	6.1
Codename	Windows 7^[1]
Preliminary name
Semester
Architecture	x86, x64
Latest build	6.i.7601.17514.win7sp1_rtm.101119-1850 (Service Pack 1)
Release engagement	2009-10-22
Support finish	2020-01-14 2023-01-ten (with Extended Security Updates)
Windows Server 2008 R2
Replaces
Windows Vista
Replaced past
Windows 8

Windows seven is an operating system developed past Microsoft, released to manufacturing on 22 July 2009 and general availability on 22 October 2009. It is the eighth operating arrangement in the Windows NT operating system line. It is intended to prepare many of the problems users perceived with Windows Vista. Windows seven has NT kernel version half-dozen.1, making information technology a modest update to Windows Vista. Windows 7 improved functioning on older hardware, while also improving many areas of the Aero user interface. It is one of Microsoft'southward most pop operating systems, still running on 12.11% of desktop and laptop computers equally of March 2022.^[2]

Information technology replaces Windows Vista and was replaced past Windows 8. Mainstream back up ended on thirteen Jan 2015, while free extended support ended on 14 Jan 2020. For Professional person and Enterprise users, paid extended support volition stop on x January 2023.

A pre-RTM build, 7600.16384, was speculated to be the concluding version of the production simply had a flaw in Net Explorer 8 which prevented it from shipping.

This is the last version of Windows that supports processors without PAE, SSE2 and NX (Update KB4088875 removes back up for processors without SSE2); and the final version of Windows that received a Service Pack from Microsoft.

Proper name [edit | edit source]

The proper name "Windows vii" comes from the version number of Windows Vista (6.0) being incremented by one to get 7.0. This was the project'south lawmaking name and was eventually used as the final name besides.^[1]

Contrary to popular conventionalities, the previous lawmaking names of Blackcomb and/or Vienna refer to an earlier effort intended to succeed Windows Vista, which was canceled in early on 2007 due to time and feature constraints, and was instead replaced with the Windows 7 project.^[1]

Editions [edit | edit source]

Windows 7 was shipped in the following SKUs:

Starter is a low-finish edition bachelor just through OEMs, who usually preinstalled it on netbooks, tablets and cheap laptops. Information technology does not include the Windows Aero theme and doesn't support irresolute the desktop wallpaper and visual styles. Supports two GB of RAM at virtually and comes in x86 version only.
Domicile Basic is available in emerging markets, such equally India, Mexico, Brazil, Russia and others. Information technology includes the Aero theme, just some of its features are disabled. This edition came in x86 and x64 versions.
Home Premium is a standard edition aimed at the home customer segment and is virtually ordinarily preinstalled on new computers and laptops. Information technology includes the fully featured Aero theme and Windows Media Center.
Professional person replaced Vista'due south Business organisation edition and includes all features of Home Premium. Information technology adds the ability to join a domain and other features normally used in concern environment. It supports activation over a KMS server.
Ultimate and Enterprise are the superlative-level editions of Windows 7. They are identical with regards to supported features, with both editions including all functionality of Professional and adding MUI support. The only difference between the 2 is that Ultimate was available directly to end customers via OEM and retail channels, can be activated only by WPA and have premium games enabled by default, while Enterprise was only offered to businesses through Software Balls, supports activation over a KMS server and has the premium games disabled.

All of the above editions are offered in Due north and KN variants without Windows Media Histrion in lodge to run into European and Korean legislation, respectively. An E variant was likewise planned, which would too remove Internet Explorer, but in the finish the variant was not released and the Browser Choice ballot screen was introduced equally a replacement to satisfy the European union's demands. Some builds leading up to the RTM are available in this variant.

Primary changes [edit | edit source]

Interface [edit | edit source]

Although very similar to Windows Vista, Windows 7 brings many enhancements to the desktop experience.

The Taskbar has gotten a major overhaul, with larger buttons, hidden labels, and the ability to pin applications directly to information technology. Pinned and running applications tin also be rearranged beyond the Taskbar. By hovering over an application, a window preview will appear. Moving the cursor over the preview will allow you to get a improve view of the running application. The preview also lets you lot close the awarding, view its label, or adjust its media controls (if supported). The ability to hide icons from the system tray has been added, and can be accessed from a dedicated taskbar flyout. The Bear witness desktop icon, terminal seen in Windows 98 build 1415 and Windows 2000 build 1796.one, has been re-added. Its functionality is mostly the same, with the addition of Aero Peek. By hovering your mouse over the push button, you can get a preview of your desktop.

A new characteristic, Jump Lists, allow users to easily get back to what they were doing by showing recently accessed files and websites. These tin be pinned to the top of the Bound List to be hands attainable later. Jump Lists can also include Tasks, which are deportment the application can perform. Bound Lists tin can exist accessed by correct clicking its icon on the Taskbar, as well as from within the Beginning menu.

The Commencement menu is very similar to its Windows Vista counterpart, with a customizable shutdown toggle replacing the lock/sleep toggles from before. The archetype Showtime carte notwithstanding, has been removed.

The Windows Sidebar has also been removed. Because of that, Windows Gadgets can at present be placed freely across the desktop, and can be easily resized. A Windows Media Center Gadget has been added, while the stocks and note Gadgets have been removed.

A new multitasking feature for application known as Aero Snap has been added. With Aero Snap, y'all tin can hands snap two windows side-by-side on the desktop. To snap an application, merely move it to either the left or correct edges of the screen.

Windows Explorer introduces Libraries, which can help users organize frequent files types to be accessed from one place. Documents, Music, Pictures, Recorded Idiot box, and Videos are added by default, but users can create their ain custom Libraries if needed. Homegroup is also a new feature, which allows users to connect to other PCs on their network and share files betwixt them. The Navigation Pane has been simplified, and shows frequent places within the Arrangement instead (Favorites, Libraries, Homegroup, My Computer, and Network). However, the archetype Windows Vista view can exist re-enabled past selecting "Show all folders" within Folder Options. The Command Bar and Details Pane have besides been redesigned, but functions near the same every bit in Windows Vista.

The Control Panel receives a redesigned start page, which removes the sidebar from previous version of Windows. The sidebar only appears when a user clicks into a category or page. Classic view has been reworked, and can be accessed by selecting "Big Icons" or "Small Icons" within the "View by:" menu. The Action Center has been added under the new "Organization and Security" category. This interface replaces the Security Center. It functions very similarly, while besides giving suggestions every so frequently. You can as well use it to open the troubleshooters. Personalization settings accept been overhauled, with an entirely new experience. Themes are upfront and take upwards most of the space, rather so being a small Windows XP-styled applet. Many new themes, wallpapers, and colors can be selected from this view. Display settings have been moved out of Personalization, and now have its own dedicated department within the Command Panel. There, y'all can change DPI and resolution settings much easier than in Windows Vista. Many more than pages have been added also, such every bit Getting Started, Windows Firewall, Devices and Printers, Taskbar Icons, and Homegroup.

Applications [edit | edit source]

Many changes to built-in Windows applications can be seen with this release.

Pigment and Wordpad have been updated to use the Ribbon interface institute in Part 2007. Paint also gets new castor types, and shape tools.
Reckoner has been updated and features a new design and layout. Unit converters take also been added in.
Internet Explorer viii adds suggested websites, relocated the favorites bar, and improves compatibility.
Windows Media Player 12 features a new blueprint and layout.
Windows Easy Transfer has been simplified.
Windows Media Center has updated UI elements.
XPS Viewer adds native back up for viewing XPS files.
Sticky Notes replaces the notes Gadget and is much easier to utilize than its Windows XP/Vista counterpart.
Many Ease of Access applications, such as the magnifier and on-screen keyboard, have been overhauled.
Many Windows Vista apps, such as Windows DVD Maker and Help and Support, take been updated to fit the blueprint of Windows 7.
The Welcome Eye Control Console applet from Windows Vista has been renamed to "Getting Started" featuring less links and no longer opens automatically when Windows 7 boots up.
Many congenital-in Windows Vista apps, such equally Windows Mail, Calendar, and Motion picture Maker, have been removed.
The Windows Ultimate Extras which were introduced with the Ultimate edition of Windows Vista as an addition pack that included games, security features and other extras have been removed from the Ultimate edition of Windows 7 and are removed when upgrading from an installation of Windows Vista Ultimate that had the extras installed and the associated Control Console and Welcome Center entries accept also been removed.

Hardware compatibility [edit | edit source]

Windows vii is fully compatible with Intel Skylake and earlier. Later processors aren't officially supported every bit Windows Update is disabled and Intel Graphics do not work, though users have come up with hacks to get both working. In some cases, integrating USB 3.0 drivers into the installation media may be necessary in order to successfully install Windows 7 on modernistic machines due to lack of pre-integrated USB iii.0 support, which wasn't introduced until Windows 8. The P-cores and Eastward-cores on Intel Alder Lake processor were incorrectly identified as dual processors in Windows 7.

Though no hacks currently exist to allow Intel Graphics to work on Ice Lake (10th Generation) and up, the latest chipset drivers yet work on Windows vii.

Build 6519 introduced a feature internally known as "drift correction", which resolves issues related to CPU clock excursion timing that can potentially prevent services from starting up correctly. Clock drift/timing problems plague Windows Vista on Haswell and newer processors from Intel, where the OS volition often not boot upwardly successfully or boot up with many services having failed to offset due to drift. Hobbyists are figuring out how to port this feature to Windows Vista to resolve this problem.

Listing of known builds [edit | edit source]

Build list legend

Available build

Confirmed build

Unconfirmed build

Simulated build

Existing folio
Non-existent page

Milestone i [edit | edit source]

Milestone 2 [edit | edit source]

Milestone 3 [edit | edit source]

Beta [edit | edit source]

Release Candidate [edit | edit source]

Pre-RTM [edit | edit source]

RTM Escrow [edit | edit source]

RTM [edit | edit source]

Service Pack ane Beta [edit | edit source]

Service Pack i RC [edit | edit source]

Service Pack 1 [edit | edit source]

References [edit | edit source]

↑ ^one.0 ^ane.1 ^1.ii https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20190722-00/?p=102724
↑ https://gs.statcounter.com/windows-version-market-share/desktop/worldwide/