Update on Windows 7 RTM

Sorry, previous post was under wrong heading, here's the complete article:

Windows 7 has not been released to manufacturing, Microsoft reveals, as reports to the contrary surged beginning with the end of the past week, and continuing on Monday, July 13th. In this context, 7600 is not the gold build of Windows 7, or at least not the full build string: 6.1.7600.16384.win7_rtm.090710-1945 of the latest leaked development milestone of Windows Vista's successor. The Redmond company reiterated previously announced plans to release Windows 7 to manufacturing in the second half of July 2009, with the deadline close to the end of the month, as I reported the past week right here on Softpedia.

We are close, but have not yet signed off on Windows 7. When we RTM you will most certainly hear it here. As we’ve said all along, we will RTM Windows 7 when it’s ready. As previously stated, we expect Windows 7 to RTM in the 2nd half of July, revealed Brandon LeBlanc, a communications manager on the Windows Client Communications Team.

Sure enough, Windows 7 Build 6.1.7600.16384.win7_rtm.090710-1945, finalized on July 10, 2009, is leaked and available for download in the wild, and its validity is undeniable. Still, this is not the gold development milestone of the operating system. In fact, development is still in full swing, with Microsoft tending to the platform's localized versions.

Windows 7 will be available in many languages from around the world. For us to consider RTM done, it requires that all languages be completely finished. So there is a lot of work that needs to take place for us to finalize all languages of Windows 7. We also need to get to a point of global readiness with our partners. Our partners being ready for Windows 7 is extremely important to RTM. As Steven Sinofsky mentioned in May, RTM isn’t a single point in time. It’s the beginning of the next process for Windows 7. At RTM our partners begin their final preparations for Windows 7, including testing and building images for new PCs. RTM is essentially the final “stage” of engineering for Windows 7 before it hits the market at General Availability (GA). As Steven notes, engineering continues on Windows 7 from RTM until GA on October 22nd, LeBlanc added.

Still, LeBlanc did not specifically deny that 7600 was the RTM build of Windows 7. In this regard, the software giant could keep 7600 in place as it wraps up the final release of the operating system, but change the rest of the build string. At the same time, LeBlanc did point that leaked Windows 7 Build 6.1.7600.16384.win7_rtm.090710-1945 was not RTM.

Another thing to keep in mind is that when we do a specific build internally of Windows 7 we have an extensive step-by-step validation process to ensure quality. This process takes time. Just because a single build may have leaked it does not signal the completion of a milestone such as RTM. As always, don’t believe everything that you read on the Internet, LeBlanc noted.

Windows 7 RTM Is No Go – 7600 Not the Gold Build - At least not 6.1.7600.16384.win7_rtm.090710-1945 - Softpedia

I think that the leak is the RTM but it hasn't been signed off because the languages are not complete yet.
So the code is probably the RTM but assets are going to be updated for other builds (partners, OEM etc.).

Allison Watson, corporate vice president, Worldwide Partner Group; Bill Veghte, senior vice president, Windows Business; and Stephen Elop, president, Microsoft Business Division – Worldwide Partner Conference 2009

BILL VEGHTE: Good morning. How is everyone doing out there? (Applause.) All right. You watch that video, it's such an exciting time. It is such an exciting time. This morning we will release Windows 7 to manufacturing, and we write that next chapter, we go after that opportunity. And when you think about the story of Windows, and you think about that story, and you all have written that history. You think about Windows, and over the world you've got over a billion people, over a billion people, depending on what you do. More people speak the language of Windows than speak the English language. And that opportunity, and that value, that incredible simplicity, that broad a set of choices, that's what you've done.

Veghte didn't actually say this in his keynote but claimed it would RTM later this month. Clearly the press release is incorrect and is likely a draft that Microsoft had prepared and not correctly altered. However, this shows the company was committed to a July 13 RTM.

nate42nd said:

On the "how do I get a copy of 64 bit Windows 7"

I called Microsoft 7/13/09 Monday and a young lady told me the DVD will contain both 32 and 64 bit versions. I asked how they were doing this, she didn't know. This would make more sense (having 2 DVDs) This is good news one way or the other. I wish October 22 was not 90 days away. I have a new build just waiting for an OS here.

Either a Dual-Layer or 1 DVD with "tags" to include both versions.

I once got a "promo" disk from Microsoft and it had ALL versions of Windows Vista on it (by using theses "tags")

excellent explanation. any information for people with multiple pc-laptop in the house? what's the deal on fasmily pack? i hope not 1 purchase, 1 hash.(#)