Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:57, 11 May 2022

Revision as of 21:54, 22 May 2022

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{{Short description|Thin client operating system from Microsoft}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2012}}

{{refmore improvecitations needed|date=October 2012}}

{{Infobox OS version

| name = Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs

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|access-date=July 25, 2009

|quote=Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs is based on the Windows XP Embedded Service Pack 2 (SP2) operating system

}}</ref> and optimized for older, less powerful [[Computer hardware|hardware]]. It was released on July 8, 2006, nearly two years after its [[Windows XP#Service Pack 2|Windows XP SP2]] counterpart was released in August 2004, and is not marketed as a full-fledged general purpose operating system, although it is functionally able to perform most of the tasks generally associated with one. It includes only certain functionality for local workloads such as security, management, document viewing related tasks and the .NET Framework. It is designed to work as a [[client–server]] solution with [[Remote Desktop Protocol|RDP]] clients or other third party clients such as [[Citrix Systems|Citrix]] [[Independent Computing Architecture|ICA]].{{cncitation needed|date=March 2022}} Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs reached [[Windows XP#End of support|end of support]] on April 8, 2014 along with most other [[Windows XP editions]].

==History==

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A [[Gartner]] evaluation from April 2006 stated that:

{{quoteblockquote|The main purpose of Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs (WinFLP) is to allow users running old PCs to be able to replace unsupported Windows NT Workstation v.4, Windows 95 and Windows 98 with a supported release of Windows XP (or, eventually, a version based on Windows Vista). [...] Because WinFLP will have the ability to run some applications locally — including Internet Explorer, media players, Instant-Messaging clients, Java Virtual Machines, terminal emulators and ICA or Remote Desktop Protocol clients, and Microsoft Office — WinFLP can be better described as a "lean client" than a "thin client."|source=Gartner<ref>Alvin R. Park, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20140106162016/https://www.gartner.com/doc/491598 Determining the Value of Microsoft Software Assurance]", 25 April 2006, Gartner ID Number: G00130974, p. 9</ref>}}

The [[Software release life cycle#Release to manufacturing (RTM)|RTM]] version of Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs, which was released on July 8, 2006, was built from the [[Windows XP#Service Pack 2|Windows XP Service Pack 2]] codebase.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-09-17 |title=Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs |url=http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/sa/benefits/fundamentals.mspx |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=microsoft.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060917052108/http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/sa/benefits/fundamentals.mspx |accessarchive-date=2022-05-1117 September 2006 |websiteurl-status=microsoft.comdead}}</ref> The release was announced to the press on July 12, 2006.<ref name=RTM>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/Microsoft-extends-lifeline-for-older-PCs/2100-1012_3-6093274.html |title=Microsoft extends lifeline for older PCs - CNET News |publisher=News.cnet.com |date=2006-07-12 |access-date=2014-01-06}}</ref> Because Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs comes from a codebase of 32-bit Windows XP, its service packs are also developed separately.<ref name="sp3" /> For the same reason, Service Pack 3 for Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs, released on October 7, 2008, is the same as Service Pack 3 for 32-bit (x86) editions of Windows XP.<ref name="sp3" /> In fact, due to the earlier release date of the 32-bit version, many of the key features introduced by Service Pack 2 for 32-bit (x86) editions of Windows XP were already present in the RTM version of Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs.<ref name=RTM /> Service Pack 3 is the last released service pack for Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs.

In May 2011, Microsoft announced [[Windows Thin PC]] as the successor product.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-to-deliver-windows-thin-pc-to-customers-by-june-30/9331 |title=Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30 |publisher=ZDNet |date=2011-05-02 |access-date=2014-01-06}}</ref>

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Despite being optimized for older PCs, hardware requirements for Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs are [[Windows_XPWindows XP#System_requirementsSystem requirements|similar to Windows XP]], although it is faster running on slower clock speeds than Windows XP.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}

===Limitations===

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==Availability==

Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs was exclusively available to [[Microsoft Software Assurance]] customers, as it is designed to be an inexpensive upgrade option for corporations that have a number of [[Windows 9x]] computers, but lack the hardware necessary to support the latest Windows. It is not available through [[retail]] or [[Original Equipment Manufacturer|OEM]] channels.

On October 7, 2008, Service Pack 3 for [[Windows Embedded for Point of Service]] and Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs was made available.<ref name="sp3">{{cite web