Which Windows Editions Are Supported by PCS 7 V9.0 SP2?

For PCS 7 V9.0 incl. SP2, Siemens lists Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB (64-bit), not Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC as a generic category. The supported Windows 7 editions are also limited: Professional SP1 64-bit in English, or Ultimate/Enterprise SP1 in 32- or 64-bit. A later LTSC release or an unlisted Windows 7 edition should not be assumed compatible. The XREF project-opening message reported in this discussion does not, by itself, prove why WinCC failed.

Supported Operating-System Releases

The Siemens PCS 7 Readme V9.0 incl. SP2, A5E45887690-AD, §3.4.1.1 lists these supported Windows operating systems for PCS 7 V9.0 incl. SP2:

Operating systemListed release/architectureImportant conditionWindows 7 Professional SP164-bitEnglish Windows language version onlyWindows 7 Ultimate / Enterprise SP132-bitEdition and service pack are specifiedWindows 7 Ultimate / Enterprise SP164-bitEdition and service pack are specifiedWindows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB64-bitThis is the Windows 10 release named by SiemensWindows Server 2012 R2 Standard Edition64-bitMust include the Update or KB 2919355Windows Server 2016 Standard Edition64-bitServer edition is specifiedWindows Server 2016 Datacenter Edition64-bitSupported only with a SIMATIC Virtualization as a Service contract

This list answers the platform question for the PCS 7 release. It does not establish that all PC hardware, individual PCS 7 components, or every client/server station role can be used in every listed operating-system configuration; use the Readme's PC-configuration matrix and component-specific requirements for the actual station.

What “Windows 10 LTSC” Means for PCS 7 V9.0 SP2

The Readme names Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB (64-bit). It does not use “LTSC” as a blanket release designation. If the computer runs a later Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC release, that release is not named in the PCS 7 V9.0 SP2 support list. Do not infer compatibility from the shared long-term-servicing terminology.

The same precision applies to Windows 7: the Readme does not say that every Windows 7 edition is supported. It specifies Professional SP1 64-bit in English, or Ultimate/Enterprise SP1 in 32- or 64-bit.

Check the Client and Its Role

Record the client's exact Windows edition, release, architecture, and build. Determine whether it is specifically Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB 64-bit.
Confirm the installed PCS 7 version, Service Pack, Update Collection, WinCC version, and whether the computer is an OS Client, OS Server, or another PC-station role.
Compare that combination with the PCS 7 V9.0 SP2 Readme's released-OS list and PC-configuration table. Also check the component-specific Readme files; the base-system list does not override product-specific restrictions.
If Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB is used with two network adapters configured with different default gateways, review the Readme's specific networking note. It identifies a possible reachability problem after repeated unsuccessful connections and calls for at least Windows cumulative update KB3156387 for that scenario.
If the operating system is listed but WinCC still fails to open a project, preserve the full error and relevant client diagnostics. Investigate the WinCC/PCS 7 client installation and project configuration using documentation for the installed version instead of assuming the OS is the sole cause.

Interpreting the XREF Startup Error

The source reports: “The project could not be opened. Error: Cannot open or start WinCC project, as Project Manager cannot start basic application XREF.” The discussion does not include an XREF log, WinCC version, client details, or the content of the duplicate thread to which the moderator redirected the question.

The message establishes that WinCC Project Manager could not start the named XREF basic application and consequently did not open the project. It does not isolate the cause. If the OS release is not in the PCS 7 V9.0 SP2 support list, resolve that platform mismatch first. If the client is on a listed release, further diagnosis is required; the available source does not support a specific registry, file-registration, or DLL-replacement procedure.

Verification

Verify the exact operating-system release against §3.4.1.1 of the PCS 7 V9.0 SP2 Readme, and verify station-role compatibility against its PC-configuration table. Confirm the installed PCS 7, WinCC, and update levels on the affected client.

For the reported startup failure, successful OS-client project download from the Engineering Station is not sufficient evidence that WinCC can open and start the project locally. Confirm that the client opens the intended project after the identified configuration or installation issue is resolved, and preserve the diagnostic evidence and exact software versions.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

The source's replies disagree about Windows naming and overgeneralize Windows 7 support. The Siemens Readme resolves those statements with an explicit release list: only the editions, service packs, architectures, and language condition above are listed. The claim that all Windows 7 versions are suitable is not supported by that list.

The original thread was split from another discussion, but the source inventory does not contain the duplicate thread's answer or any final XREF diagnosis. This article can establish operating-system support scope but cannot determine the reported XREF root cause. Do not apply undocumented system-file, registry, or compatibility-mode changes to an operating PCS 7 client.

Engineer FAQ

Does PCS 7 V9.0 SP2 support any Windows 10 LTSC release? The Siemens Readme specifically lists Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB, 64-bit. It does not state that later Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC releases are supported.

Is every Windows 7 edition supported? No. The Readme specifies Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit in English, or Windows 7 Ultimate/Enterprise SP1 in 32- or 64-bit.

Is Windows Server 2016 Datacenter supported? The Readme lists it only in conjunction with the SIMATIC Virtualization as a Service contract.

Does an XREF startup message prove the operating system is unsupported? No. The message says WinCC Project Manager could not start XREF, but the source has no diagnostics that identify why.

Where should I check OS-client compatibility? Use the PCS 7 V9.0 SP2 Readme's supported-operating-system list and PC-configuration table, then check the Readme for the specific installed WinCC/PCS 7 component and update level.

Technical References

Siemens, PCS 7 Readme V9.0 incl. SP2 (online), Readme V9.0 SP2 incl. UpdateCollection03, A5E45887690-AD. See §3.4.1.1 for released operating systems, the PC-configuration compatibility table for station roles, and §4.19 for SIMATIC Safety Matrix and S7 F Systems operating-system compatibility. Open the Siemens Readme (PDF)

Which Windows Editions Are Supported by PCS 7 V9.0 SP2?