The Road to Windows 7

. Supplemental Objective: List and describe the main differences between

Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.

. Supplemental Objective: List the different editions of Windows 7. . Supplemental Objective: Describe the difference between the 32-bit and

64-bit versions of Windows 7.

Cram Saver

1. Which edition of Windows 7 is aimed at large corporations and includes numerous tools to secure Windows, including BitLocker and AppLocker?

❍ A. Windows 7 Home Premium ❍ B. Windows 7 Professional ❍ C. Windows 7 Enterprise ❍ D. Windows 7 Ultimate

2. You want to access 64 GB of memory. Which edition of Windows 7 should you use?

❍ A. 16 MB ❍ B. 32-bit ❍ C. 32 GB ❍ D. 64-bit ❍ E. 64 GB

Answers

1. C is correct. Windows 7 Enterprise provides advanced data protection and information access for businesses. It is targeted for managed environ- ments, mainly large enterprises. It includes BitLocker, BitLocker To Go, AppLocker, Direct Access, and BranchCache. Answer A is incorrect because Windows 7 Home Premium is aimed at home consumers. Answer

B is incorrect because Windows 7 Professional is the business-focused edition for small and lower mid-market companies. It does not include BitLocker and AppLocker. Answer D is incorrect because although Windows 7 Ultimate has all the components that Windows 7 Enterprise has, it has additional features that are not needed for an Enterprise envi- ronment.

2. D is correct. Windows 7 comes in two flavors, 32-bit and 64-bit. If you want to recognize more than 4 GB of memory, you need to use the 64-bit version. Answer B is incorrect because 32-bit Windows only supports up to 4 GB of memory. Answers A, C, and E are incorrect because the 16 MB, 32 GB, and 64 GB editions do not exist.

The Road to Windows 7

Windows XP was first released on October 25, 2001. Windows XP grew to be the most widely used operating system, which peaked in December 2006 with more than 400 million copies and an 85.3% market share. Even after the release of Windows Vista, as of July 2010, Windows XP still remains the most widely used operating system with a 54.6% market share. Compared to previ- ous versions of Windows, Windows XP was known for its improved function- ality, stability, and flexibility while providing an easy-to-use interface. As a result, Windows XP became the de facto standard for the desktop and laptop operating systems for corporations around the world.

Windows XP was aimed at both the corporate and consumer world. The most common editions of the operating system are Windows XP Home Edition, which was aimed at home users, and Windows XP Professional Edition, which was targeted at power users and corporate clients.

The more popular versions of Windows before Windows XP were partially based on DOS, which was the base operating system that worked underneath Windows. To finally break the limitations imposed by DOS, Windows XP was built on the Windows NT architecture instead of using DOS as a base OS. Although Windows XP could run a DOS virtual machine to run DOS applications, it did not allow DOS programs to communicate directly with the hardware without going through Windows (this is necessary to keep the system secure). As a result, some DOS programs would not operate under Windows XP. Nonetheless, Windows XP ushered in Windows for the masses at home and in the corporate office.

One of the biggest criticisms of Windows XP has been security. The design of Windows XP placed some emphasis on security; however, the security features were not the highest priority. Because Windows XP became the de facto standard for operating systems, it became a popular platform to attack by hackers and programmers who looked for and exploited weaknesses within the operating system, usually using malware such as viruses, Trojan horses, and worms. As a result, Microsoft has released numerous security patches and three service packs to help make Windows XP more secure. In addition, it is highly recom- mended that your system includes an up-to-date antivirus program that includes anti-spyware software and that the system is protected with some form of firewall. In fact, Windows XP Service Packs 2 and 3 include the Windows Firewall to help make Windows more secure.

Windows XP was such a success that the next major release of Windows did not occur for five years. On January 30, 2007, Windows Vista was released worldwide. Unfortunately, Windows Vista received an overall negative recep- tion based on numerous reasons, including

CHAPTER 1: Introduction to Windows 7

. Confusion over hardware requirements and higher hardware requirements to utilize all features available from Windows Vista, including the new Windows Aero interface, while maintaining decent performance.

. Annoying security features, such as User Account Control, that generat-

ed too many prompts for you to proceed with common actions. .

A new interface that makes it more difficult for corporations to transi- tion to the new version of Windows because of the involved learning curve and the increase in support calls.

. Expensive licenses compared to Windows XP and additional cost for corporations who already had an investment in Windows XP and saw no real benefit for paying significant amounts of money to upgrade to Windows Vista.

. Although every new operating system has compatibility problems with older applications, Windows Vista had more than its share of popular applications that would not operate under Windows Vista or ran poorly even if using application-compatible settings.

. Hardware incompatibility caused by changes in the driver models and requiring 64-bit versions of Windows Vista, allowing only signed drivers to be installed in kernel mode. This caused many hardware devices not to run under Windows Vista or to run very poorly.

. Poor game quality and game performance. . Overall slower performance. . Software bloat. . Poor laptop battery life.

Although Microsoft tried to address some of the complaints with Service Pack

1, Windows Vista was not widely accepted. Many people purchased Windows Vista only to use the downgrade license to run Windows XP, particularly within corporations.

After a rocky run for Windows Vista, Microsoft tried to address the concerns of Windows Vista by releasing Windows 7. Although Windows 7 is based on the Windows Vista core, there are many improvements and enhancements, including

. Improved thicker taskbar with improved Notification Area and integrat-

ed quick launch/application pinning capability and improved taskbar previews.

The Road to Windows 7

. Enhanced desktop, including bigger icons and peek-into-desktop features.

. Removal of sidebar and integration of gadgets into the desktop. . Jump Lists that enable speedy access to your favorite pictures, songs,

websites, and documents. . Internet Explorer 8, Windows Media Player 12, and DirectX 11. . Reduced memory thumbprint and reduced I/O reads. . Enhanced power management capabilities. . Improved User Access Control (UAC), including fewer prompts and

enhanced granularity of notifications. . Improved mobile device support, including new power-saving features. . Easier wireless networking. . Simplified configuration of home networks using HomeGroup. . Use of libraries to replace the old documents, pictures, and similar

folders. . Windows XP mode that enables you to run older Windows XP business

software on your Windows 7 desktop using virtual technology. . Capability to natively mount Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) files using the

diskpart tool and the capability to run Windows 7 from a VHD file. . DirectAccess that gives mobile users seamless access to corporate

networks without a need to establish a virtual private network (VPN) connection.

. BranchCache decreases the time branch office users spend waiting to download files across the network.

Because Windows 7 is built on the Windows Vista core, the application and driver compatibility issues should be kept to a minimum.

The Road to Windows 7