Windows Versions

Windows Home Edition

• Target Users: Home & SOHO

• Cannot join a domain

• Setup requires Internet & Microsoft account (Win 11 Home)

• Gaming enhancements: Auto HDR, DirectStorage

• File sharing: Workgroup (pictures, music, video)

• Licensing:

  • OEM → tied to 1 device, vendor support, upgrade to Win 11 possible

  • Retail → transferable between PCs (1 device active at a time), Microsoft support, upgrade rights

• System Limits:

  • Multicore CPUs (up to 64 cores), HyperThreading

  • No multiple CPU support

  • 64-bit edition → max 128 GB RAM

Windows Pro Edition

• Target Users: Small/medium businesses

• Can join domains

• Features: Group Policy, BitLocker, EFS, Remote Desktop host, MDM, Autopilot, Assigned Access, Windows Sandbox, Client Hyper-V

• Pro for Workstations:

  • Advanced hardware support

  • RAM: up to 6 TB, 4-way multiprocessing

  • Persistent memory (NVDIMM), ReFS file system

• Licensing: OEM, retail (FPP), volume licensing (bulk deployment options)

Windows Enterprise Edition

• Target Users: Large organizations

• Can join domains

• Features not in Pro: AppLocker, Windows Defender Credential Guard, Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP), advanced deployment & management

• Licensing: Volume licensing only

• Hardware: 4-way multiprocessing, up to 256 cores, RAM up to 6 TB

Windows Education / Pro Education

• Education-specific versions of Pro/Enterprise

• Education settings/features

• Licensed via academic volume agreements

• Can join domains

• Hardware: Same as corresponding Pro/Enterprise edition (RAM up to 2 TB / 6 TB, CPU support 2-way or 4-way multiprocessing)

32-bit vs 64-bit Windows

• 32-bit: max 4 GB RAM, runs 32-bit apps only, cannot run 64-bit apps, runs on 32-bit CPU only

• 64-bit: supports more RAM (depends on edition), runs most 32-bit apps, requires 64-bit drivers, runs on 64-bit CPU only

• Windows 10 v2004+ & Windows 11 → 64-bit only

Windows N Versions

• EU editions (Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education)

• Excludes media apps: Media Player, Music, Video, Skype

• Users can restore via Media Feature Pack

• Core OS is the same; absence of media apps affects audio/video tasks

Windows Upgrade & Update

• In-place upgrade → preserves apps, settings, data (if compatible)

• Windows 10 → 11 requirements: TPM 2.0, UEFI with Secure Boot, supported CPU

• Edition rules: Upgrade same/higher edition; Home → Enterprise not supported; downgrades preserve personal files only

• Feature updates: Win 10 → semi-annual; Win 11 → annual

• Quality updates: security patches & bug fixes; occasional compatibility issues