Windows Embedded Industry, formerly Windows Embedded POSReady and Windows Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS), is an operating system subfamily developed by Microsoft as part of its Windows Embedded family of products.[10] Based on Windows NT, Windows Embedded Industry is designed for use in industrial devices such as cash registers, automated teller machines, and self service checkouts.[11] Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry was the last release, with Windows 10 IoT Enterprise superseding both Windows Embedded Industry and Windows Embedded Standard.
A version of the Windows Embedded operating system | |
Developer | Microsoft Corporation |
---|---|
Working state | Publicly released / Trialware |
Source model |
|
Latest release | 8.1 with Update (v6.3.9600) / April 16, 2014; 5 years ago[1] |
Kernel type | Hybrid |
Default user interface | Graphical |
License | |
Succeeded by | Windows 10 IoT Enterprise |
Official website | microsoft.com/windowsembedded/en-us/evaluate/windows-embedded-pos-ready.aspx |
Support status | |
Windows Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS) | Mainstream support ended on April 12, 2011[2] Extended support ended on April 12, 2016[2] |
Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 | Mainstream support ended on April 8, 2014[3] Extended support ended on April 9, 2019[3] |
Windows Embedded POSReady 7 | Mainstream support ended on October 11, 2016[4] Extended support ends on October 12, 2021[4] |
Windows Embedded 8 Industry | Support ended on January 12, 2016; must install Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry in order to continue receiving updates and support.[5][6][7] |
Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry | Mainstream support ended on July 10, 2018[8][9] Extended support ends on July 11, 2023[8][9] |
Nov 17, 2018 and POSReady2009 Updates will install on XP + Windows Update shows the updates for POSReady 2009 NOTE : All SP4 users up to including version 3.1a must delete the following key to continue receiving the latest updates automatically from WU.
- 1Releases
Releases[edit]
Windows Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS)[edit]
Based on Windows XP with SP2 and designed for use in Point of Service situations, WEPOS expanded Microsoft's Windows Embedded family of products. It was the first version of Windows Embedded that could use the Windows Update Agent to update an installed and deployed image.[12] Service Pack 3 (SP3) for WEPOS was released on October 8, 2008.[13] When the new Microsoft Lifecycle Support policy for Internet Explorer went into effect on January 12, 2016, IE6 support was dropped from not only WEPOS, but all other supported platforms. WEPOS was also the last supported platform for IE7 after this date.[14] Windows Embedded for Point of Service was released on May 24, 2005.[15]
Windows Embedded POSReady 2009[edit]
Based on Windows XP with SP3, this version offers more features over Windows Embedded for Point of Service such as Full Localization and XPS support if .NET Framework 3.5 or higher is installed.[16] Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 was released on December 9, 2008.[15] Prior to XP's end of support, some Windows XP users have reported that the Regedit tool on their operating system can be used to 'trick' Windows Update into accepting updates targeting POSReady 2009, though it can break some older applications.[17][18][19] POSReady 2009 is also notable as being the last XP derived operating system to receive official support from Microsoft.
Windows Embedded POSReady 7[edit]
Windows Embedded POSReady 7 is the first version of Windows Embedded Industry to be based on the Windows 7 Platform.[20] It was released on July 1, 2011. Mainstream support for Windows Embedded POSReady 7 ended on October 11, 2016 and extended support ends on October 12, 2021.[21]
Windows Embedded 8 Industry[edit]
Based on Windows 8,[22] Windows Embedded 8 Industry was released on April 2, 2013.[15][23] Available in both Pro and Enterprise versions.[6][7] The Pro version is only available pre-installed on OEM devices, while the Enterprise version is available through the volume licensing channel only. The Enterprise version also provides embedded-specific features designed to integrate seamlessly with Windows 8 Enterprise. Alaska Airlines uses Windows Embedded 8 Industry in-flight entertainment devices.[24]
Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry[edit]
Based on Windows 8.1,[22] Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry was released on October 17, 2013.[15] As with 8 Industry, it is available in both Pro and Enterprise versions.[8][9] Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Update was released on April 16, 2014.[25]
Windows IoT[edit]
Microsoft rebranded 'Windows Embedded' to 'Windows IoT' starting with the release of embedded versions of Windows 10.
OS | RAM | HDD |
---|---|---|
Windows Embedded for Point of Service[26] | 64 MB | 380 MB |
Windows Embedded POSReady 2009[27] | 64 MB | 480 MB |
Windows Embedded POSReady 7[28] | 1 GB | 16 GB |
Windows Embedded 8 Industry[29] | 1 GB | 16 GB |
Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry[30] | 1 GB | 16 GB |
References[edit]
- ^http://blogs.windows.com/itpro/2014/04/16/windows-8-1-update-wsus-availability-extended-deployment-timing/
- ^ ab'Microsoft Support Lifecycle for Windows Embedded for Point of Service'. Microsoft. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
- ^ ab'Microsoft Support Lifecycle for Windows Embedded POSReady 2009'. Microsoft. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
- ^ ab'Microsoft Support Lifecycle for Windows Embedded POSReady 7'. Microsoft. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
- ^'Windows Products Support Lifecycle FAQ'. Microsoft. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
- ^ ab'Microsoft Support Lifecycle for Windows Embedded 8 Industry Enterprise'. Microsoft. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
- ^ ab'Microsoft Support Lifecycle for Windows Embedded 8 Industry Pro'. Microsoft. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
- ^ abc'Microsoft Support Lifecycle for Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Enterprise'. Microsoft. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
- ^ abc'Microsoft Support Lifecycle for Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro'. Microsoft. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
- ^'Microsoft Maps Out Its Road Map for Windows Embedded Business'. Wireless News. Close-Up Media, Inc. via HighBeam Research. Archived from the original on 29 June 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2012.(subscription required)
- ^'Windows Embedded POSReady'. Microsoft Website. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
- ^'Developing POS Applications with POS for .NET'. Microsoft. Retrieved January 31, 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^'Service Pack 3 for Windows Embedded for Point of Service'. Microsoft Download Center. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
- ^'Internet Explorer Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ'. Microsoft Lifecycle Support Website. Retrieved 2014-12-12.
- ^ abcd'Windows Embedded Product Lifecycles & Support'. Microsoft. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
- ^'POSReady 2009 vs WEPOS 1.1 SP3'(PDF). Microsoft Download Website. Retrieved 2014-12-12.
- ^'Simple Hack Gives Windows XP Users 5 More Years Support'. Forbes. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^'Windows XP rises from the grave: Simple hack gives you five more years of updates'. extreme tech. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^'How to continue getting free security updates for Windows XP -- until 2019'. betanews. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^'Windows Embedded POSReady 7'. Microsoft. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
- ^https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/search?alpha=Windows%20Embedded%207
- ^ ab'Windows Embedded 8 Industry'. Microsoft. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
- ^Volpe, Joseph. 'Windows Embedded 8 Industry scheduled for release first week of April'. Engadget. AOL Inc. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^Al-Riyami, Fahad (26 March 2015). 'Microsoft details Alaska Airlines new Windows-powered in-flight entertainment tablets'. WinBeta.
- ^'Windows 8.1 Update: WSUS Availability, Extended Deployment Timing'. Microsoft. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
- ^'Hardware Requirements for Windows Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS)'. MSDN. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
- ^'Before You Install POSReady'. MSDN. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
- ^'Requirements for a POSReady 7 Device (POSReady 7)'. MSDN. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
- ^'Requirements (Industry 8)'. MSDN. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
- ^'Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry (Industry 8.1)'. MSDN. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
Further reading[edit]
- Mackie, Kurt (14 January 2011). 'Microsoft Rolls Out Windows Embedded Handheld and POSReady 7'. Redmond magazine. 1105 Media Inc. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
- Oiaga, Marius (11 January 2011). 'Download New Windows 7-Based OS: Windows Embedded POSReady 7 CTP'. Softpedia. SoftNews Net SRL. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
- 'Installing Windows Embedded POSReady 7 CTP'. Embedded Techblog. 11 January 2011. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
- 'Windows Embedded POSReady 7 CTP is available!'. Embedded Techblog. 11 January 2011. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
- Kanthak, Stefan (21 August 2013). 'Windows Embedded POSReady 2009: cruft, not craft'. Full disclosure (mailing list). Retrieved 19 September 2013.
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Windows_Embedded_Industry&oldid=918579631'
Extended support for Windows Embedded POSReady 2009—the last supported version of Windows based on Windows XP—ended on April 9, 2019, marking the final end of the Windows NT 5.1 product line after 17 years, 7 months, and 16 days. Counting this edition, Windows XP is the longest-lived version of Windows ever—a record that is unlikely to be beaten.
Other enterprise-targeted variants of Windows XP have reached end-of-life recently, with Windows Embedded Standard 2009 reaching end-of-life on January 8, 2019. Windows Embedded for Point of Service SP3 and XP Embedded SP3 reached end-of-life in 2016, while support for Windows XP Home and Professional SP3 ended five years ago, on April 8, 2014.
SEE: How to avoid installing Windows 10 crapware (free PDF) (TechRepublic)
Despite the nominal end of support for Windows XP five years ago, the existence of POSReady 2009 allowed users to receive security updates on Windows XP Home and Professional SP3 through the use of a registry hack. Microsoft dissuaded users from doing this, stating that they 'do not fully protect Windows XP customers,' though no attempt was apparently made to prevent users from using this hack. With POSReady reaching the end of support, the flow of these security updates will likewise come to an end.
Facing facts, the death of Windows XP should be welcome at this juncture—ZDNet's Jason Perlow declared in 2017 that 'If you're still using Windows XP, you're a menace to society,' while the Australian Department of Defence only migrated the last of their systems off of Windows XP in February 2019.
Looking back: Migrating from Windows XP
More about Windows
In January 2014, Tech Pro Research surveyed TechRepublic members about their migration plans from Windows XP. The report (available freely here for TechRepublic members) found that 37% of respondents said they intended to continue using Windows XP.
Texe marrs exposed. Of those, 40% indicated that 'It works, so there's no need to change,' and 39% cited business-critical software with dependencies on Windows XP, a response that was more common among respondents from organizations with over 500 employees.
Of organizations that intended to remain on Windows XP, 42% of respondents cited security and malware risks as their primary concern, with 29% similarly concerned with a lack of continued patches or updates from Microsoft. Microsoft did go to the extraordinary step of patching Windows XP systems against WannaCry, deploying the update created for Embedded Standard and POSReady 2009, though 98% of WannaCry victims were using Windows 7.
Notably, 11% of respondents in the survey indicated plans to migrate systems to Linux, with 1% planning migrations to Mac OS X.
Where do you want to go today?
Windows Xp Posready 2009
Microsoft undoubtedly would prefer Windows XP users upgrade to Windows 10, though attempting an in-place upgrade from XP to Windows 10 is likely a bad idea (and upgrading from POSReady 2009 to a consumer version of Windows is entirely unsupported). In 2015, TechRepublic chief reporter Nick Heath took a look at the lowest-spec systems you could install Windows 10 on.
If your systems are not connected to the Internet, it is possible to continue operating an out-of-support of system, though it's important to be wary about any devices—particularly USB drives—connected to the system.
It's unclear when Windows Update services for POSReady 2009 will be deactivated, if ever—minor issues such as expired certificates could impede the ability to install updates, though Windows 2000 could still connect to Windows Update as late as 2015, with some effort. Of note, Windows Update will require SHA-2 encryption support as of July 16, 2019 to continue receiving updates. It's probably a safe bet that Windows Update will continue to work normally until then, though guarantees are impossible. For current deployments, updating sooner rather than later is advisable.
Alternatively, the perennial Windows alternative ReactOS is still in active development.
For more, check out 8 strategies to keep legacy systems running, How PC/GEOS found a 5th life as an open source DOS shell, and how to install Windows 10 in a VM on a Linux machine, or for a deeper dive into TechRepublic's archives, check out 'Microsoft bids adieu to Windows 98.'
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Windows Embedded Posready 2009 Key
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