A trial version of Enterprise continues to be available for download

Oct 10, 2009 10:45 GMT  ·  By

We’re getting closer to the general availability of Windows 7 on October 22nd, 2009, and to the final review of the operating system, for which I’ll use the Ultimate version, so make sure to tune in next week. For the time being, however, I played around with the closest thing to the Ultimate SKU when it came down to Windows 7, namely the Enterprise version. Just as the Professional SKU, Enterprise is not designed for end users. In fact, customers won’t even be able to acquire Windows 7 Enterprise except via Volume Licensing, and they would already need to have a Software Assurance agreement signed with Microsoft.

Only the largest of corporate customers will get the Windows 7 Enterprise bits. In this regard it is important to note that Enterprise is not the equivalent of the Professional SKU. If anything, it supersedes Windows 7 Professional, and is on par with the Ultimate version of the operating system. Customers that buy Enterprise essentially get the same features, capabilities and functionality as those offered by Windows 7 Ultimate, with no exception. The sole difference is related to the activation process, but more on that below.

Still, while unavailable for purchase via retail, system builder or OEM channels, Windows 7 Enterprise is the only edition of the latest iteration of the Windows client that is currently available for download from Microsoft. The Redmond company, in a move designed to get IT professional without TechNet accounts to try the successor of Windows Vista, is offering the Enterprise SKU through TechNet, even to IT pros that are not subscribers to the Microsoft portal.

The free, 90-day trial Windows 7 Enterprise bits have been up for grabs for quite some time now, and the downloads continue to be live even at this point in time. This is an excellent chance for users to test-drive the gold release of Windows 7, and essentially the Ultimate edition, despite the Enterprise label. Windows 7 was released to manufacturing on July 22nd, 2009, and it will hit the shelves in just 12 days.

Windows 7 RTM Enterprise installation

Below is the installation process of Windows 7 Enterprise, step-by-step. The deployment itself differs little from one edition of Windows 7 to another, but with this SKU users will be able to notice a major difference. Windows 7 Enterprise no longer includes the End User License Agreement by default as do the rest of SKUs. Instead, the EULA is customer-specific, meaning that the software is not governed by its own license agreement, but actually by the Volume License deal inked with Microsoft.

“Your use of this software is subject to the terms and conditions of your volume license agreement. You may not use this software if you are not a volume license customer of if you have not acquired a license for the software under your volume license agreement,” the EULA accompanying Windows 7 Enterprise reads.

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Windows 7 RTM Enterprise

Windows 7 Enterprise, just as Ultimate, is at the opposite pole compared with such editions as Starter and Home Basic. While Starter and Home Basic are stripped-down versions of the operating system, Enterprise and Ultimate are the feature-complete SKUs, offering customers the full Windows 7 experience. Enterprise brings to the table such features as Windows Mobility Center, Windows Aero, multi-touch capabilities, Windows Media Center, Encrypting File System, Location Aware Printing, Remote Desktop Host, Windows Server domain and even Windows XP Mode.

But of course, Enterprise doesn’t stop at this. There are additional features that manage to make the difference in terms of corporate use. Microsoft has even set up a special webpage designed to present the features that can make the lives of corporate users so much easier. Granted, the page in question refers to the Beta release of Windows 7 Enterprise, but the fact of the matter is that all items featured there have made it into the RTM version of the operating system.

Admins of IT environments with Windows 7 Enterprise will be able to control closely just what users can and cannot install on their machines via AppLocker. Sensitive information on computers with Enterprise can be kept safe even in the eventuality of theft or loss with BitLocker Drive Encryption, while BitLocker To Go can also encrypt removable media.

In addition, companies with branch offices that are also prepared to embrace Windows Server 2008 R2 and IPv6 will be able to benefit from BranchCache Distributed Cache, having frequently accessed documents stored locally, and even use DirectAccess, a feature designed as an alternative to VPNs. Windows 7 Enterprise also features subsystems for UNIX-based applications and the ability to boot from a Virtual Hard Disk. And last, but definitely not least, a feature that many other Windows 7 users are missing, Multilingual User Interface support, allowing the graphical user interface to be seamlessly translated in no less than 35 different languages.

I said earlier that the difference between Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise was related to the activation process. Windows 7 Enterprise can be activated via a Key Management Service (KMS) key or a Multiple Activation Key (MAK).

Here is Microsoft’s explanation of the two activation methods for Windows 7 Enterprise: “A Key Management Service (KMS) key can be used to enable KMS on a computer that is controlled by an organization's IT professional. Your organization can host KMS internally to automatically activate computers that are running Windows operating systems. To use KMS, you must have more than 25 computers that are connected together. Computers that used KMS for activation are required to reactivate by connecting to your organization's network at least every 180 days. Currently, KMS runs on a local computer that is running Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows Server 2008 - based operating system. A KMS key can be used to install six KMS host systems. But you can request more KMS host systems by using the Volume Activation Support Centers.

A Multiple Activation Key (MAK) can activate either an individual computer or a group of computers by connecting directly to Microsoft servers. A MAK can be used to install Windows if you are not connected to a corporate network. A MAK can be used to activate any volume edition of Windows. Also, after you activate Windows by using MAK, you do not have to reactivate. Additionally, you can request more MAKs by telephone, and an escalation process will be created to complete the request. That process takes seven business days to finish.”

Windows 7 RTM Enterprise 90-Day Evaluation is available for download here.

Windows 7 RTM Starter Edition, 100-Screenshot Gallery

Windows 7 RTM Home Basic 110-Screenshot Gallery

Windows 7 RTM Home Premium 120-Screenshot Gallery

Windows 7 RTM Professional 110-Screenshot Gallery


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