Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs

Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs was originally announced with the code name "Eiger" on 12 May 2005.{{Cite web |title=Microsoft's Eiger Could Prolong the Useful Life of Older PCs |url=https://www.gartner.com/doc/481144 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106163628/https://www.gartner.com/doc/481144 |archive-date=January 6, 2014 |access-date=2014-01-06 |publisher=Gartner}}{{Cite web |last=Evers |first=Joris |date=2005-05-13 |title=Microsoft to slim down Windows XP for older PCs | Platforms |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2670893/microsoft-to-slim-down-windows-xp-for-older-pcs.html |access-date=2014-01-06 |publisher=InfoWorld}}{{Cite web |last=Kotadia |first=Munir |date=May 17, 2005 |title=Microsoft Eiger to fight desktop Linux threat? |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-eiger-to-fight-desktop-linux-threat/ |access-date=2014-01-06 |website=ZDNet}} ("Mönch" was announced as a potential follow-up project at about the same time.{{Cite web |date=May 13, 2005 |title=Microsoft Puts 'Eiger' Thin Client Into Early Testing |url=https://www.informationweek.com/it-leadership/microsoft-puts-eiger-thin-client-into-early-testing |access-date=2014-01-06 |work=InformationWeek}}) The name "Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs" appeared in a press release in September 2005, when it was introduced as "formerly code-named 'Eiger{{'"}} and described as "an exclusive benefit to SA {{bracket|Microsoft Software Assurance}} customers".{{Cite web |date=September 9, 2005 |title=Microsoft Adds Eight Benefits and Enhancements to the Software Assurance Maintenance Offering |url=https://news.microsoft.com/2005/09/15/microsoft-adds-eight-benefits-and-enhancements-to-the-software-assurance-maintenance-offering/ |access-date=November 23, 2023 |website=Microsoft.com |publisher=Microsoft |language=en-US}}

A Gartner evaluation from April 2006 stated that:

{{blockquote|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{{cite web |first=Alvin R. |last=Park |url=https://www.gartner.com/doc/491598 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106162016/https://www.gartner.com/doc/491598 |archive-date=2014-01-06 |title=Determining the Value of Microsoft Software Assurance |date=25 April 2006 |publisher=Gartner |id=G00130974 |page=9}}}}

The RTM version of Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs, which was released on July 8, 2006, was built from the Windows XP Embedded Service Pack 2 codebase.{{Cite web |date=2006-09-17 |title=Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs |url=http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/sa/benefits/fundamentals.mspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060917052108/http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/sa/benefits/fundamentals.mspx |archive-date=17 September 2006 |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=Microsoft.com}} The release was announced to the press on July 12, 2006.{{Cite web |date=2006-07-12 |title=Microsoft extends lifeline for older PCs |website=CNET News |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/microsoft-extends-lifeline-for-older-pcs/ |access-date=2014-01-06}} Because Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs comes from a codebase of Windows XP Embedded, its service packs are also developed separately. 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. 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. 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.{{Cite web |date=2011-05-02 |title=Microsoft to deliver Windows Thin PC to customers by June 30 |url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-to-deliver-windows-thin-pc-to-customers-by-june-30/9331 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503062621/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-to-deliver-windows-thin-pc-to-customers-by-june-30/9331 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 3, 2011 |access-date=2014-01-06 |work=ZDNet}}

Microsoft positioned Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs as an operating system that provides basic computing services on older hardware, while still providing core management features of more recent Windows releases, such as Windows Firewall, Group Policy, Automatic Updates, and other management services. However, it was not considered to be a general-purpose operating system by Microsoft.{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Software Assurance – Frequently Asked Questions |url=http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/software-assurance/faq.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210172621/http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/software-assurance/faq.aspx |archive-date=February 10, 2010 |access-date=January 31, 2010 |website=Microsoft Volume Licensing |quote=→Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs →Q:Can Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs function as a general-purpose operating system? →A: No. Microsoft Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs is a small-footprint Windows-based operating system solution designed to work with the Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection client or third-party clients, such as Citrix IC It allows for a limited number of workloads to be executed locally, including security software, management software, terminal emulation software, document viewers, and the .NET Framework.}}

Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs is a Windows XP Embedded derivative and, as such, it requires significantly fewer system resources than the fully featured Windows XP. It also features basic networking, extended peripheral support,{{Clarify|date=January 2010}} DirectX, and the ability to launch the remote desktop clients from compact discs. In addition to local applications, it offers support for those hosted on a remote server using Remote Desktop. It can be installed on a local hard drive, or configured to run on a diskless workstation.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}

{{Infobox

| title = System requirements

| bodystyle = width:308px

| label1 = CPU

| data1 = Pentium 233 MHz (300 MHz recommended)

| label2 = Memory

| data2 = 64 MB (128 MB recommended)

| label3 = Graphics hardware

| data3 = 800×600 computer monitor

| label4 = Hard disk space

| data4 = 610 MB minimum (1GB recommended)

| label5 = Network hardware

| data5 = Optional

}}

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

Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs has a smaller feature set than Windows XP. For example, WinFLP does not include Paint, Outlook Express and Windows games such as Solitaire. Another limitation is the absence of the Compatibility tab in the Properties dialog box for executable files.

Internet Explorer 8 (and 7) can be installed, but a hotfix is required for auto-complete to work in these newer versions of the browser.{{Cite web |title=Download Update for Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs (KB945367) from Official Microsoft Download Center |url=http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=15947 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226145630/http://www.microsoft.com:80/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=15947 |archive-date=February 26, 2014 |access-date=2014-01-06 |website=Microsoft.com}}

Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs was exclusively available to Microsoft Software Assurance customers, as it was designed to be an inexpensive upgrade option for corporations that had a number of Windows 9x computers, but lacked the hardware necessary to support the latest Windows. It was not available through retail or 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.{{Cite web |date=October 7, 2008 |title=Download Details: Service Pack 3 for Windows Embedded for Point of Service and Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs |url=http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=3740 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124104900/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=3740 |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |access-date=January 31, 2010 |website=Microsoft Download Center |publisher=Microsoft }}

On April 18, 2013, Service Pack 3 for Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs was temporarily made available for download again after previously having been removed from the Microsoft site.{{Cite web |date=April 18, 2013 |title=Service Pack 3 for Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs |url=http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=38764 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140206222613/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=38764 |archive-date=February 6, 2014 |access-date=April 28, 2013 |website=Microsoft Download Center |publisher=Microsoft }} It was removed in 2014, and the original Service Pack 3 for Windows Embedded for Point of Service and Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs was reinstated.

Following the release of Windows Thin PC, the Microsoft marketing pages for Windows Fundamentals were made to redirect to those of Windows Thin PC, suggesting that Windows Fundamentals is no longer available for any customers.

Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs has the same lifecycle policy as Windows XP; as such, its support lifespan ended on 8 April 2014.

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100329083828/http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/software-assurance/fundamentals.aspx Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs] home page on Microsoft's official site (Archived)
• [http://www.bill-mcminn.com/techreview/winflp.html Bill McMinn's review for WinFLP]
• [https://the.taoofmac.com/space/com/Microsoft/Windows/FLP Fixing null.sys on WinFLP]

{{History of Windows}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Windows Fundamentals For Legacy PCs}}

Category:2006 software

Fundamentals

Category:IA-32 operating systems