What is ms windows 10. Windows Trial versions

Before downloading, carefully read the activation and use guide and the information in the “What is important to know” section.

  1. Check it out for Windows 10 Enterprise.
  2. Register and then download and install a 90-day trial of the full functionality software.
  3. You will receive emails with resources to help you become familiar with the product.

Activation and Usage Guide

  • Plan ahead. Do backups your files and settings before installing the trial version.
  • To use Windows 10 Enterprise, you need to sign in to your PC with a Microsoft account. Possibility of creating local account will be available when the final version is released.
  • If you have not activated the trial after installation, or if the trial has expired, the desktop background will turn black and a notification will appear on the desktop stating that the system is not genuine and that the PC will shut down every hour.

If you want to install Windows 10 Enterprise using one of the provided ISO files, you will not be able to install it. Also, after installing Windows 10 Enterprise, you will not be able to use the recovery partition on your PC to go back to the previous Windows versions. Required clean install previous version operating system, and you will need to reinstall all programs and data.

What is important to know

This evaluation is for IT professionals who want to try Windows 10 Enterprise on behalf of their organization. We do not recommend installing this trial unless you are an IT professional or are responsible for managing corporate networks or devices.

Windows 10 Enterprise can work with the same devices and programs that work with Windows 8.1. In some cases, the device or program may not function properly or may require an update, and you may need to reinstall some programs after installing the trial version.

Windows 10 Enterprise may take several hours to download. The exact download duration will depend on your ISP, bandwidth and traffic (ISP prices may apply).

To install a 64-bit OS on a 64-bit computer, your processor must support CMPXCHG16b, PrefetchW, and LAHF/SAHF.

BitLocker requires either Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2, TPM 2.0, or a USB flash drive. The Hyper-V client requires a 64-bit system with Second Level Address Translation (SLAT) capabilities and an additional 2 GB of RAM. Windows Hello requires a dedicated IR-illuminated camera for facial, iris, or fingerprint recognition that supports biometrics Windows platform. Two-factor authentication requires the use of a PIN code, biometric devices (fingerprint reader or IR-illuminated camera), or a phone with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capabilities. Windows To Go requires additional specialized hardware. additional information For Windows To Go certified USB drives, visit

Released in several versions. Became immediately available to users Pro versions and Home, the rest are intended for corporate use (Enterprise) and educational institutions(Education).

Concerning appearance, then it is the same for all editions: the Start menu has returned, which combines elements of both 7 and 8 versions of the OS. The design has become more stylish compared to Windows 7. The virtual assistant Cortana has also appeared.

Windows 10 Home and Pro update is available for regular users and many people have questions about it. Which system should you choose to install on your computer?

Windows 10 Home

Not every user can notice the differences between different assemblies. The Home version is standard and suitable for home use. This is what is planned to be installed on most commercially available devices.

What's New in Windows 10 Home:

  • Windows Hello is a new way to authenticate. Includes the ability to unlock your computer using your fingerprint, iris or face. According to the developers, it is planned that new feature will reliably protect user data.
  • Hiberboot and InstaGo. These features provide quick exit from sleep mode and accelerated loading systems.
  • Microsoft Edgenew browser, which replaced the famous one. After failures with old version reviewer, the company decided that it was no longer possible to fix it and completely replaced it with a completely new one.
  • Virtual desktops. This feature was not present in any of the previous versions of Windows, now the user can use as many desktops as he wants on one device.

But not all innovations have a positive assessment. The downside of Windows 10 Home is that the user has the right to choose how to update.

Windows 10 Pro

The innovations that appeared in Windows 10 Home are in the professional version. But Windows 10 Pro users have much more flexibility in choosing which updates to install and working on different networks. This option can also be used as a home option, but the main focus is on small business owners: enhanced data protection, many functions for processing and working with documents, and so on.

Windows 10 Pro differs from Enterprise in some ways, but in general it is suitable for running not only small but also medium-sized businesses.

If we talk about updates, the user will be able to receive not only standard updates, but also new ones for business-oriented programs and security systems. Also in the Windows 10 Pro version, you can independently configure the type of updates to be installed, set a schedule for them, or refuse them altogether.

Since the professional version is still intended for business, it enhances the security of data storage, including those located in the cloud.

If we compare Windows 10 Pro with Windows 10 Home, it has the following advantages:

  • support different devices and advanced management of them;
  • encryption methods for data transmission over enterprise networks;
  • a wider list of network standards;
  • remote control, access to office printers and shared documents;
  • working with the cloud;
  • if necessary, this version can be upgraded to Enterprise for a small fee;
  • group policy management.

All the above features to the average user are not very necessary and mainly simplify doing business, as they relate to working with documents. In principle, with specialized software and proper use, the Pro version can solve problems for large businesses, although there is a separate assembly for it - Enterprise.

In general, both the Pro version and the Home version have the same basic components, the only difference is in the business tools.

If the average user does not need business components, then the home edition will cope with all tasks perfectly. But the professional version is also suitable for home use.

As for the price, for both versions it is, to put it mildly, not at all affordable. There are two ways to purchase - either update the existing one, or download a system image from the official website. The version to which the system will be updated depends on the preinstalled OS.

But the free period is coming soon Windows updates will end and you will still have to purchase it. By the way, if the user has an old Enterprise system, then take advantage of the opportunity free update will not work.


The enterprise version of Windows 10 is one of the best versions of the operating system from Microsoft that you can download for your computer.

Microsoft's marketing policy has recently introduced a division of operating system versions depending on the target audience for which each specific edition is intended. You can recognize that same audience directly by the name of the system.

For example, Home Ten is intended for individuals who require only basic functions from this OS, such as the ability to use multimedia content or office applications. Windows 10 Enterprise has much more functionality, which is used by employees in fairly large organizations. This system places more emphasis on data security issues. For this purpose, there are more advanced services and applications.

We already wrote detailed review, which exist, which, of course, includes the corporate version. You can find it in the link above detailed information about the system.

Features and differences of Windows 10 Enterprise

First, it’s worth paying some attention to those common components that users can get from the system, regardless of its version or edition:
  • Wide possibilities for personalization;
  • Built-in Defender and system firewall;
  • The free Edge browser, which has been increasingly developed lately;
  • Multitasking;
  • Virtual desktops;
  • Much more.


In general, it turns out that each edition of this system gradually increases its capabilities from version to version. For example, the simplest Home has many broken functions and services. If you include some of them, you get the Professional, which already sells for a little more. Accordingly, Windows 10 Enterprise has many similarities with the professional edition, but it is not sold to individuals. Let us remember that today this system is used mainly by large corporations and their employees. A simple user is unlikely to need the functions that are in the Enterprise version. Most likely, he will have enough opportunities for:
  • Selecting a system update method;
  • Better data protection than in the Home version;
  • Ability to combine devices into a single network;
  • Hyper-V support;
  • Much more.


The Corporate version adds some applications to increase data protection, a program to gain authorized access to another device on the same OS version, as well as some settings for faster updates.

If you want to use the system for free, then the one we published just this week will help you. If you want to be concerned about security, we strongly recommend that you use only original versions with official resource Microsoft company. This is where we will send you, and there you can also get the Russian version.

Microsoft started releasing Windows 10 back in 2015. From this moment on, users were able to upgrade their devices to this distribution for free if they previously used Windows 7 or a later version. New PCs with OS 10 pre-installed have also gone on sale.

Later, a “shell” of this series appeared for phones, Xbox game consoles and other devices. The first versions of Windows 10 were designed for computers, laptops and tablets (devices with a screen size of 8 inches or larger).

Initially, four versions of the new OS appeared for PCs: Home, Pro, Enterprise and Education. In 2017, several more versions of this distribution were released.

New shell features

Microsoft representatives described in detail the differences between versions of the new OS even before it entered the market. All variants include a new menu (the classic Windows 10 Start view) and the Edge web browser, as well as Cortana personal assistant software, support for new security features including facial and fingerprint recognition. There's also the ability to use a virtual desktop and seamless transition from PC to tablet mode when you detach the keyboard.

When it comes to business functions, things look a little different. Windows 10 Home does not support BitLocker encryption, Windows Remote Desktop, Group Policy Management, Enterprise Data Protection or some other functions that require the Pro version and others.

Meanwhile, Enterprise users get some features not available on Windows 10 Pro, including AppLocker, To Go Creator, Credential Guard, and Device Guard.

For the most part, the Education version is the same as the Enterprise version. It's just intended for educational use, not business use.

One feature that is only available for Enterprise is the Long Term Service Branch. It means that corporate clients may delay Windows updates that provide new features for many years while still receiving security updates.

It is worth noting the following. While upgrading your device to Windows 10 will bring some new features, you will also lose some features that were available in earlier versions of the OS. Native support for DVD playback is no longer present, but you will be able to install third-party video players that can handle this format. Additionally, Windows Media Center is also not available for the Tens distribution.

Types of Windows 10 and their differences

Today, Windows 10 has twelve editions with different sets of features, capabilities, or specifications for specific devices. Some editions only cover devices directly from the manufacturer, while other OS variants (such as Enterprise and Education) are only available through volume licensing channels. Microsoft also introduced Windows 10 for use on certain classes of devices, including smartphones (Windows 10 Mobile) and IoT devices. It is advisable to compare all types of Windows 10 and the differences between them, starting with the most common versions.

The 10 Home variety is designed for use on PCs, tablets and 2-in-1 PCs. This version includes all the necessary functions and capabilities aimed at the non-professional consumer.

Windows 10 Pro has additional functionality aimed at business environments and power users. In terms of operating capabilities and characteristics, this OS is equivalent to Windows 8.1 Pro. It has Windows 10, and its features are expressed in the presence of additional professional applications and services.

Corporate publications

These editions of Windows 10 contain special features designed to make it easier to centrally manage many OS installations within an organization. The main source of their acquisition is the volume licensing contract with Microsoft.

Windows 10 Enterprise provides all the features of 10 Pro with additional features designed to work in IT organizations. This OS is functionally equivalent to Windows 8.1 Enterprise.

Windows 10 Education is distributed through Academic Volume Licensing. It was initially reported to have the same feature set as Enterprise. However, it offers slightly fewer features.

In July 2016, Education Pro was released for hardware partners on new devices purchased with a discounted K-12 academic license. This OS variant includes the Set Up School Computers application, which allows you to configure settings using USB flash drive. Education Pro does not include Cortana, Windows Store, or Spotlight functionality.

Enterprise LTSB is a long-term Windows view 10 Enterprise, which is planned to be released every 2-3 years. It is supported by security updates for 10 years after release, and will intentionally not receive any feature updates. Some features, including the Windows Store and related applications, are not included in this edition. This version is expected to be released in 2019 and will be called Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC.

Enterprise provides all features Mobile versions With additional features, helping IT-based organizations in the same way as Enterprise, but exclusively for mobile devices.

Selected device releases

These versions of Windows 10 are licensed only to device manufacturers. The main way to get your hands on these OS options is by purchasing a specific device (such as a smartphone) that has the system pre-installed.

Windows 10 Mobile is designed for smartphones and small tablets. It includes all the core consumer features, including Continuum capabilities. De facto, this is a follower Windows Phone 8.1 and RT.

The IoT edition is designed specifically for use in small sites, low-cost devices and IoT scenarios. This is a rebranded version of the early embedded operating Microsoft systems- Windows Embedded. Three releases have already been announced: IoT Core, IoT Enterprise and IoT Mobile Enterprise.

S versions

S is a limited version of Windows 10, intended primarily for devices with limited capabilities in the education market. It has faster initial setup and the login process, and the overall simplified look of Windows 10. This version also allows you to set up devices using a USB drive with the Set Up School PCs app.

Windows 10 S allows installation of software (both Universal Platform and API apps) from the Windows Store, although programs command line or shells are not allowed.

System settings are locked, Microsoft Edge is set as the default web browser, with Bing as the search engine. The operating system can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro for a fee to provide unlimited software installation. All 10 S devices include a free one-year subscription to Minecraft: Education Edition. Critics compared the publication to Windows RT and called it a competitor to Chrome OS.

In March 2018, Microsoft announced it was phasing out Windows operation 10 S, citing confusion between manufacturers and end users as the reason. The company plans to replace this edition with the ability for vendors to release devices on the Home or Pro versions in "S Mode", where by default it is allowed to install applications from the Windows Store with free disabling of restrictions.

Highly specialized versions

What are the highly specialized types of Windows 10 and their differences?

In addition to the main versions of the OS, the developers presented several options unknown to a wide range of users. They are designed to work on some strictly certain devices and for solving individual problems. What versions of Windows 10 are there besides the ones listed above?

Team Windows 10 Team is the version designed for devices that download to Surface Hub.

On August 10, 2017, Microsoft announced the release of the Pro for Workstations edition in September, along with the Fall Creators Update for Windows 10. This version is designed for high-performance hardware for intensive computing tasks. It supports processors Intel Xeon or AMD Opteron. Other device requirements include up to 6TB RAM, file system ReFS, Non (Non-Volatile Dual Linear Memory Module (NVDIMM)) and remote access to direct memory (RDMA). On December 15, 2017, this version was pre-installed on two Dell workstations. Windows 10 Home, Pro and S versions can update to this version. This version, in turn, can be configured to Pro Education, Enterprise or Education.

System options for different countries

As in previous versions Windows, starting with XP, all editions of Windows 10 for hardware The PCs have "N" and "KN" variations targeting Europe and South Korea that exclude certain related multimedia features, including media players and related components, to comply with antitrust regulations. How to 10 in classic view to get full access to multimedia?

The Media Feature Pack can be installed to restore these features. As with Windows 8.1, a low-cost version of 10 with Bing is available for OEMs. It is provided when Microsoft's search engine is installed as the default, and cannot be changed to another search engine. The version is intended primarily for low-cost devices, and is otherwise identical to Windows 10 Home.

Formula Microsoft licensing OEM takes into account screen size, volume random access memory and storage capacity. Overall, this version has the standard Windows 10 look and feel.

In May 2017, it was reported that Microsoft, as part of its partnership with China Electronics Technology Group, had created a specially modified version of Enterprise intended for use in branches of the Chinese government. This option is pre-configured to “remove features that Chinese government employees do not need” and allows the use of its own internal encryption algorithms. Changing the appearance of Windows 10 is not available in this case.

Free update

During the launch of version 10 of the OS, Microsoft representatives announced that users of Windows 7 (with Service Pack 1), 8 and 8.1 can upgrade to 10 for free if the update occurs within one year of its release date. RT and the corresponding enterprise editions of OS 7, 8 and 8.1 have been excluded from this offer.

New releases of Windows 10, called feature updates, are released twice a year as a free update for existing users. Each update contains new features and other changes to the operating system. The rate of change at which the system receives feature updates depends on the release branch from which the OS downloads updates. The main types of versions of Windows 10 - Pro, Enterprise and Education - may additionally use a branch that receives updates at a slower pace. These modes can be controlled using system settings, Windows services Server Update Services (WSUS), Windows Update for Business, group policy, or using control systems mobile devices, such as Microsoft Intune.

Windows Insider

Windows Insider is a beta testing program that allows you to access preview versions of Windows 10. It is designed to allow power users, developers and vendors to test and provide feedback on future feature updates for Windows 10 as they are developed. Insider itself consists of three "rings" - Fast (which receives new builds as they are released), Slow (which receives them when delayed after deployment to Fast Ring users), and Release Preview.

Semi-annual channel (target)

The semi-annual channel (Targeted), formerly known as the Current Branch (CB), distributes all feature updates when they are finished Windows check Insider. Microsoft only supports latest version. In this case, provided additional settings to pause or delay feature updates for a specified period of time. It's worth noting that they are not available on Windows 10 Home.

Semi-annual business channel

The semi-annual business channel, formerly known as the Current Branch for Business (CBB), distributes feature updates with a four-month delay compared to the target. This allows customers and suppliers to evaluate innovations and perform additional testing before widespread release. Devices can be switched back to the target channel at any time.

Long Term Service Channel (LTSB)

This branch is available exclusively for the Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB edition, and it distributes new editions that are updated every 2-3 years. LTSB designs adhere to Microsoft's traditional support policy, which was in effect prior to version 10: the OS is not provided with new features, but only supported with critical updates for 10 years after release. They do not affect the Windows Store, most Cortana features, or additional apps (including Microsoft Edge).

The Windows 10 operating system has different editions (versions) of the system for use on computers, differing in their functionality. In this article we will dwell in detail on the differences between the editions of Windows 10.

On most computers purchased at retail (laptops, netbooks, all-in-one PCs, hybrid tablets, system units desktop computers), a certain edition of Windows 10 has already been installed by the device manufacturer. In this case, the buyer has no choice; he has to be content with what he has.

Users purchasing a device without an operating system (laptop, ready-made system unit, assembled system unit, etc.), independently install any version of the Windows operating system on the computer. Most users choose the modern Windows 10 operating system to install on their computer. Before installing the system, the question arises: which edition of Windows 10 to choose, how do the Windows editions differ from each other?

In this article, we will look at the editions of Windows 10 for PCs and laptops, without affecting the mobile and server versions of Windows. Users who do not know the details about the version of Windows 10 installed on their computer can easily find out the system edition by reading the article.

Since the release of Windows 10 in July 2015, Microsoft has been adding new editions of the operating system from time to time. In addition to being divided into versions, each edition has a build number; build numbers change after installing system updates.

Major versions of Windows 10 are divided into three categories that differ from each other functionality:

  • Windows 10 Home (Windows 10 Home).
  • Windows 10 Pro (Windows 10 Professional).
  • Windows 10 Enterprise (Windows 10 Enterprise).

Derived categories (subtypes of the main versions) are separated from the main categories of Windows 10, in which the main version has several variants of derivative editions of the system. The choice of Windows 10 edition depends on the needs of a particular user. You will see a comparison of Windows 10 editions with each other in the form of a table at the end of the article.

Exists Windows program 10 Insider Previews to preview new ones Windows releases 10. Users performing testing functions receive free preview versions Windows for use on your computers. In return, it receives telemetry about the use of the system, this allows you to check the operation of the system with new functions, identify faults and troubleshoot the following Windows builds 10.

Only 3 versions of Windows 10 are available for retail sale for installation on new computers:

  • Windows 10 S

The Windows 10 Enterprise version is installed on computers only as an upgrade from the Windows 10 Pro edition. Rest Microsoft versions supplies equipment manufacturers (PCs, laptops) for installation on devices before sale to consumers.

The original Windows 10 operating system can be downloaded from the official Microsoft website using the methods described in the article.

Windows 10 Home editions

An edition of Windows 10 has been released for home users, which contains all the basic features of the operating system. At home, you do not need the system functions used in enterprises, so there is no point in overpaying for extra functionality. This edition is well suited for home use. Windows 10 Home edition uses automatic updates.

Versions of Windows 10 for home users are divided into the following editions:

  • Windows 10 Home (Windows 10 Home).
  • Windows 10 Home for one language (Windows 10 Home Single Language; Windows 10 Home SL; Windows 10 Single Language; Windows 10 SL) - a version similar to the home edition, differing only in that you cannot change the operating system language here. Very often this edition is installed on laptops and netbooks. For manufacturers, this is a cheaper Microsoft licensing option than Windows 10 Home.
  • Windows 10 Home with Bing - cannot be changed in this version search engine Bing in browsers and Internet Explorer(nothing prevents you from using another browser). This edition is installed on some laptops.

Windows 10 Pro editions

For small businesses and home users who need advanced system capabilities, the professional version of Windows 10 is offered, which, in turn, is divided into several editions. A hypervisor is available in this version ( virtual machine), BitLocker and other system functions.

Professional versions of Windows 10 have the following editions:

  • Windows 10 Professional (Windows 10 Pro).
  • Windows 10 Pro for educational institutions(Windows 10 Pro Education).
  • Windows 10 Pro for Workstations (Windows 10 Pro for workstations) - a version of Windows 10 Pro with expanded hardware support for enterprises with high computing loads.
  • Windows 10 S is a version with a special configuration of Windows 10 Pro, in which applications installed from ( Microsoft Store). All other programs will not work on this version of the operating system.

Windows 10 Enterprise editions

A corporate version of the system has been created for medium and large businesses. The Windows Enterprise edition has all the features of the professional version, as well as additional features that are relevant for use in enterprises.

The enterprise version of Windows 10 has the following editions:

  • Windows 10 Corporate (Windows 10 Enterprise).
  • Windows 10 Enterprise Long Term Servicing (Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB).
  • Windows 10 for educational institutions (Windows 10 Education).

Other versions of Windows 10

There are also several other versions of Windows 10, including:

  • Windows 10 IoT (Windows 10 for the Internet of Things) - this version has several editions for installation on industrial equipment (terminals, ATMs, etc.).
  • Windows 10 Team - this version installed on Surface Hub tablets.

Differences between Windows 10 editions

Many users have probably noticed the differences between the editions of Windows 10 with letters at the end of the system version designation.

The letter "N" is added to editions of Windows 10 released for the European Union. The names of the editions look like this: Windows 10 Home N, Windows 10 Pro N, Windows 10 Enterprise N, etc. Difference from standard versions is that in these versions, at the request of the EU, some applications are missing (Groove music, Windows Media Player, Cinema and TV), which you can add to the OS yourself.

The letters "KN" are added to system versions for South Korea. The same applications are missing here. The version designation is as follows: Windows 10 Enterprise KN, Windows 10 Pro KN, Windows 10 Home KN, etc.

A special version of Windows 10 China Government Edition has been released for China for use in government agencies.

The letter combinations “VL”, “OEM”, “COEM”, “GGK”, “GGWA”, “FPP” indicate the types of licenses for Windows.

Comparison of Windows 10 versions in the table

Two editions are optimal for use on personal computers: Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Professional. Using a list that displays the capabilities of different editions of Windows 10, it is much easier to choose better version system that suits the requirements of a specific user.

For a visual comparison of versions of Windows 10, look at the table, which displays the main features of the system in different editions: Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows 10 Education.

ComponentsWindow 10 HomeWindows 10 ProWindows 10 EnterpriseWindow 10 Education
Start Menu and Live Tiles
Tablet mode
Voice, pen, touch and gestures
Cortana
Microsoft Edge
Windows Ink
Continuum for phone
Windows Hello
Group Policy
Mobile device management
Windows Update
Windows Update for Business
Microsoft Store for Business
Shared PC Configuration
Test
Limited access
BitLocker
AppLocker
Direct Access
Windows Device Health Attestation Service
Device encryption
Joining a domain
Internet Explorer in Enterprise Mode (EMIE)
Mode limited access(Assigned Access)
Remote Desktop
Hyper-V
Windows To Go
BranchCache
Control home screen using group policy
TPM support
Joining Azure Active Directory with single sign-on to cloud applications
Microsoft Passport
Enterprise Data Protection
Credential Guard
Device Guard
Windows Sandbox

Conclusions of the article

operating room Windows system 10 is available in different editions, which differ in functionality, depending on consumer needs. The recommended versions for home use are: Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Professional.

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