Not all Windows 7 editions are created equal, and this holds particularly true for the SKUs that have been, in some manner of another, handicapped as a direct consequence of antitrust decisions against Microsoft. It is the case of the N and KN flavors of the operating system, both lacking the functionality associated with Windows Media Player, an otherwise default component of the operating system. However, in order to bring some crumbs of Windows Media Player back into the Windows 7 N and KN variants, Microsoft has made available for download the Windows Media Format Feature Pack for Windows 7 N and Windows 7 KN.

“The N edition and the KN edition of the Windows 7 operating system do not include Windows Media Player or other Windows Media-related technologies, such as Windows Media Center and Windows DVD Maker,” Microsoft informed. “Additionally, various Web sites and software programs rely on Windows Media-related files that are not incorporated into Windows 7 N and Windows 7 KN.”

Specifically, via the Windows Media Format Feature Pack, Microsoft is making sure that Windows 7 N and Windows 7 KN users will be able to easily integrate into their copies of the operating system the Windows Media Format runtime. This will make various programs and websites that rely on Windows Media Player being present in Windows 7, to function under normal parameters.

“Windows 7 N and Windows 7 KN editions include the same functionality as Windows 7, except that these versions of Windows do not include Windows Media Player, and related technologies,” the company noted. “End -user customers can enable only Windows Media Format support for applications which support Windows Media files by installing the Windows Media Format Feature pack. This package will only install the components needed for Windows Media format support.”