Hi, you can find all lifecycle info on http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifeselect You should look for the latest service pack installed. The support lifecyceles for the different editions of a product are generally evened out by the servicepack releases., http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=15510 On the point of Windows localisation: you should install the english version and apply a language pack to it. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/972813 These are available for Enterpise and ultimate versions. This approach will yield your desired configration: Enlish based core OS and a german UI. MCP/MCSA/MCTS/MCITP

System folder names in Windows 7 are in English even on localized versions of Windows. When you browse those folders using Windows Explorer, they show their name in German because there is a hidden Desktop.ini file inside the folder that instructs the operating system to load the translated string instead. It's more or less a visual artifact, you can always get the "real" folder names using Command Prompt, for example. There should not be any compatibility issues if you choose to install Windows 7 in German. If you want to provide computer instructions in English, you could install the English MUI pack on Windows 7 Enterprise or Ultimate (the MUI pack can be downloaded for free from Windows Update). Another option, and this is what I do when I need to provide instructions in Spanish, is to install a localized version of Windows on a virtual machine. That way you can simultaneously run both operating systems, without the need to log off/switch user.Microsoft MVP Windows Expert Consumer | http://blogs.msmvps.com/dmartin/ | http://www.wintecnico.com

Situation: I am planning to buy Windows 7 Ultimate. The respective product information states that Ultimate will receive support until 2015, while the Professional edition will receive support until 2020. The Microsoft Lifecycle FAQ lists security updates as one element of support. Question 1: Does this mean that users of Ultimate will not gain security updates that are released for Windows 7 after 2015? Note that I'm only talking about security updates here. Other forms of support have never been important to me, but security updates are crucial. I already asked this question twice in Microsoft's phone support, but the first support person was not helpful at all (he speculated whether I really needed information about support 5 years from now when - in his words - mother earth might very well be gone by then), while the second support person could not give me a definitive, verifiable answer. I asked the same question in mail support but have not received an answer so far (despite the "answer usually follows wihin 24 hours" tag on the respective page). I finally got directed to this forum. I am now trying for three days continually to get this question answered and I'm rather disconcerted that a company whose product I want to buy makes it so difficult to obtain information about its future support. I also have a second, probably easier question: When I buy the German edition of Windows 7 Ultimate, but choose to use mainly English, will I be able to install the system in a way that special folders (like "Program Files") have their English names, not the German ones? This would be important for compatibility and for my own efforts to answer other people's questions (who mainly use English versions)?

Situation: I am planning to buy Windows 7 Ultimate. The respective product information states that Ultimate will receive support until 2015, while the Professional edition will receive support until 2020. The Microsoft Lifecycle FAQ lists security updates as one element of support. Question 1: Does this mean that users of Ultimate will not gain security updates that are released for Windows 7 after 2015? Note that I'm only talking about security updates here. Other forms of support have never been important to me, but security updates are crucial. Yes, this is true. So, I'd recommend you to choose Windows 7 Professional over Windows 7 Ultimate. But if you're planning to opt for Windows 7 Ultimate because of some features that are missing in Windows 7 Professional, I would suggest you to go for Windows 7 Enterprise. The Ultimate and the Enterprise versions are same in all aspects except the licensing. It has an extended support up till 2020. Refer this: Professional: http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=14481 Ultimate: http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=14498 Enterprise: http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=14482 As for your second question, as SenneVL pointed out - you have to install a language pack to an English installation of Windows. Hope it helps!Kunal D Mehta - a Windows Server Enthusiast | My first TechNet Wiki Article

Ultimate was never offered for buisness comercial use. Enterprise was never offered for retail use. Proffessional is offered both ways. Support for any product will only be available as long as there is a demand for it. Basic support for windows 7 will be around as long as windows 7 is in demand.