Introduction: What Is Windows 7?
Windows 7, developed by Microsoft, is a significant release of the Windows NT operating system. It serves as the successor to Windows Vista and has been succeeded by Windows 10. Despite being an old operating system, Windows 7 remains popular among users, although the latest version is now Windows 11.
Windows 7 Release Date
When did Windows 7 come out? Let’s find out:
Windows 7 was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009. It was officially available to the public on October 22, 2009.
Even though it is no longer the newest OS, Windows 7 continues to be widely used on personal computers. As of June 2022, it still holds a substantial global market share of 11.52%. This significant percentage indicates its enduring popularity, while Windows 10 holds 73.64% and Windows 11 holds 10.96% of the market share.
Windows 7 System Requirements
To run Windows 7 on your device, you need to ensure that your computer meets the following basic system requirements:
- CPU: A 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor.
- RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM for 32-bit or 2 GB RAM for 64-bit.
- Hard Drive: At least 16 GB of available hard disk space for 32-bit or 20 GB for 64-bit.
- Graphic Card: A DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or a higher driver.
Windows 7 being an old OS doesn’t mean it cannot run on new computers. As long as your computer meets the above requirements, you can enjoy Windows 7 on your device.
Windows 7 Editions
Windows 7 offers various editions, including:
- Windows 7 Starter
- Windows 7 Home Basic
- Windows 7 Home Premium
- Windows 7 Professional
- Windows 7 Enterprise
- Windows 7 Ultimate
How to Check Which Windows 7 Edition You Are Using?
If you’re unsure about the specific edition of Windows 7 installed on your computer, follow these steps:
- Click the Start icon.
- Type “Computer” and right-click on the search result.
- Select “Properties”.
- Check your Windows 7 edition under “Windows edition”.
Windows 7 End of Support
Microsoft concluded support for Windows 7 on January 14, 2020. Consequently, you will no longer receive updates from Microsoft. Operating Windows 7 without these updates poses risks to the security of your system and files. To ensure maximum protection for your device, it is advisable to upgrade to the latest version of Windows.
Recover Lost and Deleted Files on Windows 7
If you need to recover lost or deleted files on Windows 7, consider using MiniTool Power Data Recovery software. This specialized tool is capable of recovering data from various storage devices such as internal and external hard drives, SD cards, memory cards, and USB flash drives. It is compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11.
You can start by using the trial edition of the software to scan your desired drive and determine if it can recover your files. If the files are found, you can then proceed to use the advanced edition to recover them to a suitable location.
Conclusion
Having explored this article, you now possess essential knowledge about Windows 7, including its release date, end of support date, system requirements, and editions. If you encounter any other issues or have further questions, feel free to let us know in the comments below.
