Win Ver?

Dl'd Win 7 Ultimate X64 from my tech net account and installed on a new rig and it shows up as "Win 7 Ultimate N". What does the "N" denote.

Stumbling on to Microsoft's UK Web store could thrust you face-to-face with confusion -- up close and personal with three unusual versions of Windows known as Windows 7 Home Premium N, Windows 7 Professional N and Windows 7 Ultimate N.
The strong arm of European law demands Microsoft offer these confusing 'N' editions, but to understand what they are and why they exist at all, we need a little history lesson.
Back in 2004, the European Commission fined Microsoft a record €497m under an antitrust ruling. The Commission concluded that with a near-monopoly in the operating system market, Microsoft's bundling of Windows Media Player within Windows was anti-competitive. Microsoft was forced to unbundle the software and offer European consumers and manufacturers a version of Windows without it.
Microsoft was allowed to keep selling Windows with a media player, under the condition that it at least offer a version without. This took place in the latter part of Windows XP's life and prompted the release of Windows XP N -- a version identical to Windows XP, but without Windows Media Player.
A couple of years down the line, Windows Vista splatted down in Europe, complete with its own N editions to confuse the poor saps who missed the EC's memo.
Windows 7 N

Fast-forward to today, and a Microsoft spokesperson explained to CNET UK, "The European Commission's 2004 decision requires Microsoft to offer an N version of Windows in Europe. We continue to abide by this ruling."
And so Windows 7 N was born. They cost the same as their non-'N' brothers and sisters, and apart from Windows Media Player, offer the same spread of features.

All you have to do now is decide which of the six non-N versions are right for you, and, wouldn't you know it, we have a handy, simple guide for that as well.



Read more: http://crave.cnet.co.uk/software/windows-7-n-the-n-editions-explained-49303415/#ixzz0y44W1seQ

I knew about the European law suit and the outcome. Wasn't aware of how they designated the difference between the Versions. Thanks for the clueing me in. Checked back on tech net it was marked with an N. I missed it when I dl'd. Looked around for the ver with media player and didn't see it offered. I suppose I could pick up a third party one or maybe MS offers Media Player as a download. No big thing.

Why didn't they name it "E"?

Yes, Microsoft and its OEM partners will provide free same-edition and same-architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7 when Windows 7 is generally available for desktop, notebook and laptop computer purchased between June 26, 2009 till January 31, 2010. The free Windows Vista to Windows 7 upgrade also applicable to customers who buy Windows Vista retail license with paper-based product key directly. The free upgrade program is called Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program, and delivery fulfillment will start from October 22nd, 2009.
Check with your computer vendor on how to order free Windows 7 upgrade media, while Windows Vista retail license holder should visit http://www.windows7upgradeoption.com/. Shipping and handling charge may applies.
What’s the minimum and recommended system hardware specification requirement to run Windows 7? (Windows 7 System Requirements)

• 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor
• 1 GB of RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB of system memory ([COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]64-bit[/COLOR][/COLOR])
• 16 GB of available disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB of avaiable disk space (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]driver[/COLOR][/COLOR].

Some features of Windows 7 such as Windows [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Virtual [COLOR=blue !important]PC[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] and Windows XP Mode requires additional hardware capability, such as Intel-VT or AMD-V hardware-assisted virtualization.
I have less premium and cheaper version of Windows 7, can I upgrade to higher edition and more premium edition? (Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade Prices and Details)
Windows 7 users with less-premium edition of Windows 7 (not Windows 7 Ultimate) is also allowed to upgrade to higher edition through Windows Anytime Upgrade (WAU), a quick and easy upgrade process by simply purchasing an upgrade key to unlock additional features. Other than usual Windows Anytime Upgrade link contains in installed Windows 7 operating system, customer can purchase Windows Anytime Upgrade retail box with Media-Less Key (MLK) to perform upgrade anytime. Win 7 WAU is available at the following prices:

• Windows 7 Starter to Windows 7 Home Premium: $79.99
• Windows 7 Starter to Windows 7 Professional: $114.99
• Windows 7 Starter to Windows 7 Ultimate: $164.99
• Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional: $89.99
• Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 7 Ultimate: $139.99
• Windows 7 Professional to Windows 7 Ultimate: $129.99

Can I directly in-place upgrade from Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 Beta and RC to Windows 7 RTM? (Windows 7 Supported and Unsupported Upgrade Paths)
Microsoft has published Windows 7 Upgrade Paths document which outlines the upgrade paths that are supported and not supported by Windows 7.
Note that do not confuse “upgrade” as in upgrade paths with “upgrade” as in Windows 7 Upgrade license. Windows 7 Upgrade license is eligible for everyone who owns Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Vista [COLOR=blue !important]operating [/COLOR][COLOR=blue !important]system[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] to purchase at cheaper price compared with full version license (FPP), even though the upgrade path may not be supported (e.g. Windows XP to Windows 7).
I need to upgrade direct from Windows XP to Windows 7 although it’s unsupported. How to do it?

1. User who need to retain application programs, settings, and user data, uses Windows Vista workaround to in-place upgrade XP to Windows 7.
2. User who just need to retain user data and settings can use Windows Easy Transfer on to upgrade XP to clean installation of Windows 7.

Do I need an activated Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 RC to upgrade from Windows 7 Upgrade media disc?
Windows 7 Upgrade versions are selling at cheaper price for end-users with genuine Windows Vista, Windows XP, or Windows 2000 on your PC. Some blogger quoting anonymous source obviously thinks that there will be a new upgrade process for Windows 7 where end-user is required to activate the current version of Windows prior to upgrading to Windows 7, where supported Windows versions are Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC).
However, according to Microsoft IT Pro Evangelist Harold Wong on his TechNet blog post, only the original media (CD/DVD of Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista is required for Windows 7 Upgrade. The Upgrade media will ask

I got it. Thanks Derek.

And just when you thought it was all sorted along comes the K version

Changes to Windows XP Home Edition K and Windows XP Professional K from earlier versions of Windows XP