Windows 7 RTM Enterprise 100-Screenshot Gallery

section: windows, for your questions: KezNews forum, 10.10.2009

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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.