Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor
Windows 7 Editions, System Requirements and Features Matrix

Windows 7 is the most exciting version of Windows yet. For the first time in history, this release of Windows does not double the system requirements of the previous Windows generation. In fact, this release of Windows requires less and is faster on older PCs compared to Windows Vista.

However, be aware that Windows 7 Upgrade only applies to Windows Vista; which can be upgraded to Windows 7 with an in-place upgrade if the processor architecture, comparable edition, and language version are the same. Windows XP Users cannot upgrade to Windows 7 but instead must perform a "clean install", which means erasing and re-installing everything on your computer. However, workarounds are to either:

A. Install Windows Vista without a product key (trial mode) to upgrade XP to Vista; Then upgrade Vista to Windows 7;
B. Use the Windows XP "Transfer Settings and Documents" wizard on the PC to backup documents and settings; then import into Windows 7 after wiping and re-installing with Windows 7.

Upgrades to Windows 7 E will require a clean install until upgrade versions are released in 2010 due to ongoing testing, as Windows Vista contains Internet Explorer, which would have to be removed by the upgrade procedure.

Guru Guy always recommends a clean install, so Option A above is not ideal. In fact, I re-install my Windows Operating System every 6 months or so anyway, and I personally gaurantee if you do the same at least once you will benefit from a far greater performing system, cleaner, with more space, more speed and more organisation! (Just don't forget to backup everything first!)

Jump to:

• Minimum System Requirements of Windows 7
• Windows 7 Editions
• Winodws 7 Features Matrix
• 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7
• Removed Features in Windows 7 that were in Windows Vista
• Unsupported Windows 7 Upgrade Scenarios
• Supported Windows 7 Upgrade Scenarios/Paths

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Minimum system requirements of Windows 7

A Windows 7 Capable PC includes at least:

• 1 GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1GB RAM (32-bit) / 2GB RAM (64-bit)
• 16GB available disk space (32-bit) / 20GB (64-bit)
• DirectX® 9 graphics processor with WDDM (Windows Display Driver Model) 1.0 or higher driver

A Windows 7 "XP Mode" System Requirements are at least:

• Intel-VT or AMD-V enabled CPU;
• 2 GB of RAM;
• 31 GB of available disk space (32-bit); 35 GB of available disk space (64-bit);
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver;

Additional requirements to use certain features:

• Internet access (fees may apply)
• Depending on resolution, video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics hardware
• For some Windows Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required
• Windows Touch and Tablet PCs require specific hardware
• HomeGroup requires a network and PCs running Windows 7
• DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive
• BitLocker requires Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2
• BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive
• Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM, an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space, and a processor capable of hardware virtualization with Intel VT or AMD-V turned on
• Music and sound require audio output
  

You can establish if your PC meets the criteria for installing Windows 7 by downloading the Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. Basically, if your PC can run Windows Vista well, it will run Windows 7 even better!

Windows 7: Editions

Windows 7 will be available in six different editions, but only Home Premium and Professional will be available at retail outlets. Microsoft believe those two SKUs will meet most customers’ needs. The other editions are focused at either other markets, such as the developing world or for business enterprises.

The features for all editions of Windows 7 will be stored on the machine, regardless of what edition is installed. Users who wish to upgrade to an edition of Windows 7 with more features can then use the Windows Anytime Upgrade to purchase the upgrade which will than, via a new license key, unlock the features of those editions.

Why not check out whether your PC is fit for Windows 7 - and more specifically which edition - by downloading and running Microsoft's Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor (for Windows XP).

WINDOWS 7 EDITIONS COMPARISON TABLE

Starter	Home Basic	Home Premium	Professional	Enterprise	Ultimate
For Developing Countries	For Emerging Markets	For Home Markets	For Small Businesses	For Enterprise Market through Volume Licensing	For Enthusiasts
No AERO	Partial AERO	Includes Media Center	All of Windows Home features	Multi-lingual User Interface	All features of Windows 7 Enterprise
No 64-Bit		Includes Touch Screen controls	Includes ability to Join Windows Domain	BitLocker Drive Encryption
			Includes Encrypting File System	UNIX Support
			Remote Desktop Server	Boot from a Virtual Hard Disk
			XP Mode

A more detailed breakdown of all of the features and capabilities between the Windows 7 editions are covered in depth on the following Wikipedia page.

Windows 7 E and N Editions (Europe and Non-Windows Media Player)

In response to European Union anti-trust investigations, all editions of Windows 7 sold in Europe will be without Internet Explorer included. These editions, which will be available in 23 languages, will include an "E" designation in the name, i.e. "Windows 7 Professional E". 

As Windows 7 E editions will not contain a web browser at all, Microsoft is making Internet Explorer 8 available for free via CD, download from the website and retail channels. However, Windows 7 E editions will include Windows Media Player.

Microsoft is also offering Windows 7 N editions in Europe. These are the same as the E editions but additionally do not contain Windows Media Player. Pricing on the Microsoft website is the same for both E and N editions!

 Windows 7: Features Matrix from Microsoft

Make the things you do every day easier with improved desktop navigation.
Start programs faster and more easily, and quickly find the documents you use most often.
Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV on your PC (additional hardware required).
Easily create a home network and connect your PCs to a printer with HomeGroup.
Run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode.
Connect to company networks easily and more securely with Domain Join.
Recover your data easily with automatic backup to your home and business network.
Help protect data on your PC and portable storage devices against loss or theft with BitLocker.
Work in the language of your choice and switch between any of 35 languages.

32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7

Whether you choose the 32-bit or the 64-bit system, Windows 7 is ready.
Windows 7 is available in 64-bit in all versions, except for Windows 7 Starter Edition. When you buy Windows 7 as a download, you get the choice to download the Windows 7 64bit edition or the 32bit edition. If you buy the retail edition, the rumour is that Windows 7 Retail packaging will include the media for both platforms. The License key remains the same across both architectures.

Which architecture should you buy? Well, if you tend to have a lot of programs open simultaneously or need to switch frequently between programs—64-bit is a great choice. If you run only one or two programs at a time or have older hardware and software that isn't supported by a 64-bit PC, a 32-bit system is a good choice.

Removed Features in Windows 7 that were in Windows Vista

A number of capabilities and certain programs that were a part of Windows Vista are no longer present or have changed, resulting in the removal of certain functionality. Some notable Windows Vista features and components have been replaced or removed in Windows 7, including the classic Start Menu user interface, Windows Ultimate Extras, InkBall, and Windows Calendar. Three applications bundled with Windows Vista — Windows Photo Gallery, Windows Movie Maker, and Windows Mail — are not included with Windows 7, but are instead available for free in a separate package called Windows Live Essentials.

Unsupported Windows 7 Upgrade Scenarios

Upgrades to Windows 7 from the following operating systems are not supported: 

• Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows XP, Windows Vista® RTM, Windows Vista Starter, Windows 7 M3, Windows 7 Beta, Windows 7 RC, or Windows 7 IDS
• Windows NT® Server 4.0, Windows 2000 Server, Windows Server® 2003, Windows Server 2008, or Windows Server 2008 R2
• Cross-architecture in-place upgrades (for example, x86 to x64) are not supported.
• Cross-language in-place upgrades (for example, en-us to de-de) are not supported.
• Cross-SKU upgrades (for example, Windows 7 N to Windows 7 K) are not supported.
• Upgrades from Windows Vista to Windows N, Windows K, Windows KN, or Windows E are not supported. 

Supported Windows 7 Upgrade Scenarios/Paths

From Windows Vista (SP1, SP2)	Upgrade to Windows 7
Business	Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate
Enterprise	Enterprise
Home Basic	Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate
Home Premium	Home Premium, Ultimate
Ultimate	Ultimate

From Windows 7	Upgrade to Windows 7
Enterprise	Enterprise
Home Basic	Home Basic
Home Premium	Home Premium
Professional	Professional
Starter (x86 only)	Starter (x86)
Ultimate	Ultimate

From Windows 7	Anytime Upgrade to Windows 7
Home Basic	Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate
Home Premium	Professional, Ultimate
Professional	Ultimate
Starter	Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate

 

Related Pages:

• Windows 7 Customisation and DVD Creation;
• Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor
• Virtual PC 2007 and Legacy Windows Operating Systems Guide
  
• Vintage Computer Shop Homepage;
• Erase USB Memory Sticks Guide
• Windows Tips & Tricks for Windows XP/2000/NT and Vista

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