Microsoft Windows 7 Professional

Windows 7 is the next release of the Windows client operating system, built on the secure foundation of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. Performance, reliability, security, and compatibility are core tenets of this release as we collect your feedback to meet our engineering goals of making Windows 7 the best-performing and most stable Windows operating system to date. All the new innovations in this product are meant to enhance your capability as an IT professional to better provision and manage increasingly mobile PCs, to protect data, and to improve end-user and personal productivity.

Windows 7 Professional includes all the Home Premium features you love and the business features your work demands. Connect to company networks easily and more securely and share files across the various PCs in your home. In addition, you can run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode and recover your data easily with automatic back-ups to your home or business network.

If you use your PC for work, you'll want Windows 7 Professional. It can help you be more productive and protect the critical information you need to work with. Many routine tasks just take a couple of clicks, so you can spend less time setting up projectors, printers, and networks. Enhanced backup options can help you protect your hard work with automatic backups to your home or business network. And with Windows XP Mode, you can use most of your Windows XP programs in Windows 7.

Windows 7 simplifies everyday tasks:

HomeGroup

Takes the headache out of sharing files and printers on a home network

Jump Lists

Speedy access to your favorite pictures, songs, websites, and documents.

Snap

A quick (and fun!) new way to resize and compare windows on your desktop.

Windows Live Essentials

7 great programs, 1 free download. Mail, Movie Maker, Photo Gallery, and more.

Windows Search

Find virtually anything on your PC, instantly.

Windows Taskbar

Better thumbnail previews, easier-to-see icons, and more ways to customize.

Windows 7 works the way you want

Full 64-bit support

Windows 7 makes the most of powerful 64-bit PCs, the new desktop standard.

More personal

Redecorate your desktop with fun new themes, slide shows, or handy gadgets.

Performance improvements

Designed to sleep and resume quicker, be less memory hungry, and spot USB devices faster.

Windows 7 makes new things possible

Play To

Play your media on other PCs, stereos, or TVs around the house.

Remote Media Streaming

Enjoy music and video on your home PC—even when you're not at home.

Windows Touch

Pair Windows 7 with a touchscreen and you won't always need a keyboard or mouse.

• 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