Buying Windows 7

Top questions

Ready for Windows 7? You can get it here. Still have a few questions? Keep reading.

Why should I upgrade to Windows 7?

It's simple: Windows 7 has loads of improvements over previous versions ofWindows. Like a retooled taskbar and more efficient search to get you to your files faster. Or the new Action Center, which puts you in charge of which Windows alerts you see.HomeGroup takes the headache out of sharing files on your home network—and you can connect to wireless networks on your laptop in just two clicks.

Best of all, Windows 7 is designed to be faster, more responsive, and less memory hungry than earlier versions. For the full details, check out the Windows vs. Windows comparison—or read 10 reasons to buy Windows 7.

How much does Windows 7 cost?

The cost of Windows 7 depends on a few things, like which edition you choose and whether you need an upgrade or a full version. To get pricing information for your country or region, visit the Shop section of the Windows website.

Should I get a new PC or upgrade the one I have now?

If you're ready to buy a new PC, that's a simple way to get Windows 7—and you'll get the benefits of all the ways Windows 7 can make the latest hardware technologies shine. But Windows 7 may also improve the PC you're using now. You can use theWindows 7 Upgrade Advisor to find out if your current PC will be able to run Windows 7.

Can my PC run Windows 7?

If your PC can run Windows Vista, it can probably run Windows 7. To find out for sure, download and run the free Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. It will scan your PC and give you a report on whether your hardware, devices, and installed programs are compatible. Read more about upgrading to Windows 7.

What's the difference between the upgrade and full versions of Windows 7?

Both the upgrade and full versions of Windows 7 include the same features. To install an upgrade version, you'll need either Windows XP or Windows Vista installed on your computer first. This is not the same thing as an "upgrade installation," which is a type of installation that keeps all the programs, files, and settings in place on your PC. For more information, see Upgrading to Windows 7: frequently asked questions.

Can I get a discount for more than one copy ofWindows 7?

For companies buying five or more copies of Windows 7, we offer a variety of licensing options. For individuals, check the Special Offers page and subscribe to the ExploreWindows newsletter to stay up to date on special offers.

Can I install my copy of Windows 7 on multiple PCs?

When you buy Windows 7, you'll receive a product key, which you'll use to activate Windows. If you use the installation disc to install Windows on a second computer, you'll need to buy an additional copy of the same edition of Windows 7 to obtain a new product key. To buy another copy of Windows 7, go to the Shop section of the Windows website.

Which edition of Windows 7 should I get?

Whether you choose Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate, you'll get better desktop navigation, easier networking and sharing, and a great entertainment experience on your PC. If you want premium features like Windows XP Mode, Domain Join, and backup to a network, consider Windows 7 Professional. If you want even more—like BitLocker Drive Encryption and Language packs—Windows 7 Ultimate is the way to go. Want to know more? Compare editions of Windows 7.

Can I upgrade from one edition of Windows 7 to another edition of Windows 7?

Yes—and you can do it in as few as 10 minutes while keeping all your programs, files, and settings in place. You can buy an upgrade key either in a retail store or online (where available), then use Windows Anytime Upgrade to unlock those premium features.

What's 64-bit—and do I need it?

64-bit PCs can use more RAM—4 gigabytes (GB) and up—than 32-bit PCs. That can make them more responsive when you're running lots of programs at once. 32-bit is fine for most people, but some power users and PC gamers prefer 64-bit. Read more about this in Taking the mystery out of 64-bit Windows.

All packaged retail editions of Windows 7 (except for Home Basic) include both 32-bit and 64-bit installation discs, so whichever type of PC you choose, Windows is ready.

Still have questions? See Upgrading to Windows 7: frequently asked questions for information about installation, upgrading, software, and more.

Windows 7 system requirements

If you want to run Windows 7 on your PC, here's what it takes:

• 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
• 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (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
• Some games and programs might require a graphics card compatible with DirectX 10or higher for optimal performance
• 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 and an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space.
• Music and sound require audio output

Product functionality and graphics may vary based on your system configuration. Some features may require advanced or additional hardware.

PCs with multi-core processors:
Windows 7 was designed to work with today's multi-core processors. All 32-bit versions ofWindows 7 can support up to 32 processor cores, while 64‑bit versions can support up to 256 processor cores.

PCs with multiple processors (CPUs):
Commercial servers, workstations, and other high-end PCs may have more than one physical processor. Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate allow for two physical processors, providing the best performance on these computers. Windows 7Starter, Home Basic, and Home Premium will recognize only one physical processor.

why windows 7 ?

You told us to make Windows simpler to use, more responsive, and full of new possibilities. We listened—and made loads of improvements. Here's our top 10:

A better desktop. Windows 7 gets you around your PC faster than ever. Thetaskbar has bigger buttons and full-sized previews—and you can pin programs to it for one-click access. Jump Lists provide shortcuts to files, folders, and websites. And Snap, Peek, and Shake give you easy (and fun) new ways to juggle all those open windows.

Smarter search. Type in the Start menu search box, and you'll see results instantly, grouped by category—documents, pictures, music, e‑mail, and programs. Search in a folder or library, and you can fine-tune your search with filters like date or file type—and use the preview pane to peek at the contents of your results.

Easy sharing with HomeGroup. Sharing files and printers on your home network should be simple. With HomeGroup, it finally is. Connect two or more PCs running Windows 7, and with a minimum of fuss you can start sharing music, pictures, videos, and documents with other people in your home.

Built for speed. Windows 7 has key performance improvements to take up less memory and run background services only when you need them. It's designed to run your programs faster and to sleep, resume, and reconnect to wireless networks quicker. And with 64-bit support, you can take full advantage of the latest in powerful 64-bit PCs.

Better wireless networking. Connecting to wireless networks on your laptop—formerly a bit of a hassle—now takes just a couple of clicks. Choose from the list of available networks in the taskbar, click one, and then connect. Once you've connected to a network, Windows will remember it so you can connect again later automatically.

Windows Touch. Use your fingers to browse the web, flip through photos, and open files and folders on a touchscreen PC—for the first time, Windows includes true multitouch technology. With gestures for zooming, rotating, and even right-clicking, it's a whole new way to work with your PC.

Plays well with devices. Device Stage, a new feature in Windows 7, works like a home page for things like portable music players, smartphones, and printers. When you plug a compatible device into your PC, you'll see a menu with information and popular tasks like battery life, how many photos are ready to be downloaded, and printing options.

Watch, listen, and stream.‌ Internet TV, part of Windows Media Center, gathers programming from sites all over the Internet—shows, sports highlights, video podcasts, and more. Add a TV tuner, and your PC becomes a digital video recorder you can use to watch, pause, and record live TV. And with new features inWindows Media Player 12, you can enjoy your media library around the house—or around town.

Internet Explorer 9 and Windows Live.‌ Windows 7 unleashes the full power ofInternet Explorer 9, from its stunning hardware-accelerated graphics to the ability to launch favorite websites right from your taskbar. You'll also get the many possibilities of Windows Live, free: create photo albums and movies, chat in HD, and share your stuff anytime, anywhere.

Nag-free notifications. Action Center, new in Windows 7, puts you in control of maintenance and security messages. You can turn notifications on or off for things like Windows Defender or User Account Control. If Windows needs your attention, you'll see a notification on the far right of the taskbar. Click it, and you'll get suggested fixes for any problems.