Windows Vista Home Basic KN
Windows Vista Home Basic is the edition of Windows for basic home computing needs, such as browsing the Internet, using e-mail, or viewing photos.
Search and find everything on your PC and the Internet
Find documents, e-mails, photos, and music files—with Search.
Search for information on the Internet with Internet Explorer 7 and Internet Explorer 8.
Keep real-time information, like weather and news, directly to your desktop with Windows Sidebar and gadgets.
View, organize, edit, print and share photos with family and friends with Windows Photo Gallery.
Get up and running quickly using Windows Easy Transfer to automatically copy your files, photos, music, e-mail, and settings from your old PC to your new Windows Vista-based PC.
Stay safe
Windows Defender helps safeguard your PC against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software.
With dynamic security protection, anti-phishing technology, and Internet Explorer protected mode, Internet Explorer 7 and Internet Explorer 8 help you browse safely.
With Parental Controls, you can manage the rules for your children's computer use. You can set time limits for use, and also manage their access to the web and to PC games.
Using Standard user accounts, you can confidently allow your children to use your PC, and lessen the risk that they will install malicious software or make harmful changes to the PC.
Use basic backup features to safeguard your files—priceless digital photos, music, movies, documents, and more.
System requirements
Recommended system requirements
1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
512 MB of system memory
20 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space
Support for DirectX 9 graphics and 32 MB of graphics memory
DVD-ROM drive
Audio output
Internet access (fees may apply)
Actual requirements and product functionality may vary based on your system configuration. Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor can help you determine which features and edition of Windows Vista will run on your computer.
Minimum supported requirements
Certain product features are not available with minimum supported requirements.
800 MHz processor and 512 MB of system memory
20 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space
Support for Super VGA graphics
CD-ROM drive
Compare system requirements across the editions.
Note: If your system features a 64-bit processor, you can take advantage of its advanced design in this edition of Windows Vista. Read more.
See Business
This version of Windows Vista Home Basic KN includes the same functionality as Windows Vista Home Basic K, except that it does not include Windows Media Player and related technologies such as Windows Movie Maker, links to download Windows Live Messenger, or links to a Media Player Center Web Site and a Messenger Center Web site. As a result, you will need to separately install a media player in order to play or create audio CDs, media files, or personal videos; organize media library content; create playlists; transfer media to portable media players; share photos on a home network; or perform other media player–related tasks.
Computer manufacturers may pre-install third party media players or instant messengers on computers running Windows Vista Home Basic KN. Consumers may also separately install media players or instant messengers, either from Microsoft or a third party.