Windows 7

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Action Center on Windows 7

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Windows 7 is an operating system developed by Microsoft as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009, and became generally available on October 22, 2009, succeeding Windows Vista. Windows 7's server counterpart, Windows Server 2008 R2, was released at the same time. Windows 7 was intended to be a more focused, incremental upgrade to the Windows line, with the goal of being compatible with applications and hardware with which Windows Vista was already compatible.

Development

Windows 7, originally codenamed "Blackcomb" and later "Vienna," was intended to be a significant step forward in the Windows line. The development of Windows 7 was a response to the mixed critical reception of Windows Vista, its high system requirements, and its perceived lack of user-friendliness. Early in its development, Windows 7 was planned to be an incremental update to Vista, with the aim of addressing Vista's poor performance and to improve the user interface with new features such as the taskbar.

Features

Windows 7 introduced a number of new features, such as improved performance on multi-core processors, support for virtual hard disks, improved boot performance, DirectAccess, and kernel improvements. The user interface was enhanced with the introduction of a redesigned taskbar that allows applications to be "pinned" to it, and new window management features. Other features included the introduction of Libraries in Windows Explorer, a new HomeGroup networking feature, and improvements to the touch and handwriting recognition.

Editions

Windows 7 was made available in six different editions, of which the Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate were widely available at retail. The other editions focus on other markets, such as the developing world or enterprise use. All editions, except the Starter edition, were available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Reception

Windows 7 received critical acclaim, with critics noting the increased usability and functionality when compared to its predecessor, Windows Vista. Windows 7's success was also reflected in its market adoption, as it became one of the most popular Windows versions, especially among businesses, and it continued to receive support and updates from Microsoft until January 14, 2020.

Legacy

Despite the end of mainstream support, Windows 7 remains in extensive use. Its ease of use, stability, and efficiency have cemented its legacy as a beloved operating system among many users. However, the end of support means that security updates are no longer provided, making systems running Windows 7 more vulnerable to security risks.

See Also

• Microsoft Windows
• Windows Vista
• Windows 8
• Windows 10