Update on Windows 7 RTM

[z3r010]

I’d like to offer up a little insight into the “Release to Manufacturing” (RTM) for Windows 7.

Over the past week, there have been many rumors surrounding RTM.

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.

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 mentions in this blog post 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.

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 - except this post .

Everyone is super excited about this version of Windows. I continue to get a ton of questions about some of the things that happen after we RTM. I would like to answer some of those questions:

Once Windows 7 is complete, how do I get it?

The answer depends on who you are:

• MSDN & TechNet Subscribers: Subscribers will be able to download the final version of Windows 7 a few weeks after we announce RTM.
• Volume License (VL) Customers: As announced today by Bill Veghte during his WPC09 keynote, Windows 7 will be available to Volume License customers on September 1st.
• Consumers, Enthusiasts, & Beta Testers (Everyone else): The retail version of Windows 7 will be available in stores October 22nd. If you pre-ordered Windows 7, it should be delivered sometime around the October 22nd timeframe (depends on the retailer). You can pre-order Windows 7 today through many online retailers like the Microsoft Store.
• On New PCs: OEMs are expected to start shipping new PCs with Windows 7 pre-installed on them around October 22nd.

Can I continue to use the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) until I receive the RTM version?

Yes, you can continue to use the RC until it expires on June 1st, 2010 (expiration starts March 1, 2010 – this is when the reboots start – final expiration on June 1). Please note that “in-place” (or direct) upgrades from the Windows 7 RC to RTM will not be supported. You will be required to do a Custom installation (aka “clean install”).

I am a TechNet or MSDN subscriber. Will I get a product key?

MSDN and TechNet subscribers, as well as Volume License customers will have access to product keys (PIDs) when Windows 7 is made available to them. Product keys for Windows 7 RTM will be different than the product keys used for Windows 7 Beta and the release candidate. Windows 7 Beta or RC product keys *will not* work with Windows 7 RTM.

I am using one of the so-called “leaked” builds of Windows 7, how will I know if it is the real deal?

As always, beware of what you download. There are many bogus copies of Windows 7 floating around the Internet. More often than not, they contain a rather nice malware payload. And don’t believe everything you read on the Internet. When Windows 7 hits RTM, it will be announced here. Until that happens, any builds you are likely to see on the web are either not the final bits or are laced with malicious code.

How do I get a 64-bit copy of Windows 7?

The Upgrade and Full packaged retail product of Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, and Windows 7 Ultimate will come with both 32-bit and 64-bit DVDs. With Windows Vista, the 64-bit version was only available with Windows Vista Ultimate. Due to the incredible adoption of 64-bit today and customer feedback, we decided to change this for Windows 7. Now all copies of Windows 7 in developed markets will ship with both 32-bit and 64-bit DVDs.

I want to emphasize that delivering Windows 7 at the highest quality possible is the biggest criteria we have for hitting RTM. Our top focus is a super high quality release of Windows first and foremost.

Thanks, and check back soon for more Windows 7 news.

Still have questions about Windows 7? Leave your questions below as I have several colleagues here in Redmond waiting to answer any question Windows 7 related you might have.

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More...

 

[mdodge]

Glad I'm waiting for the official release this time

 

[Avien]

Good Info. I guess i have a new bookmark until we see the RTM lights go off.

 

[zrtom]

Thanks for the update.
Pretty much as I expected and why I generally refrained from joining the 7600 frenzy (um, er, well, with the exception of reading all 2000+ posts and, um, downloading the iso....you know.....just in case).
Tom

 

[WiFi Ed]

"MSDN & TechNet Subscribers: Subscribers will be able to download the final version of Windows 7 a few weeks after we announce RTM"

Oh, man.....I am cast into the pit of despair

A few weeks? Geez, I think I'll go kill myself...

 

[Jacee]

"MSDN & TechNet Subscribers: Subscribers will be able to download the final version of Windows 7 a few weeks after we announce RTM"

I am a subscriber to both of these and also an official Beta tester ... I will wait until I can get the "full retail version". I want the Ultimate Edition

There is nothing to cry about. We'll all get it eventually and it most definately won't be free to any of us.... altho' piracy may be a factor for some in this equation.

 

[Zidane24]

I am a subscriber to both of these and also an official Beta tester ... I will wait until I can get the "full retail version". I want the Ultimate Edition

There is nothing to cry about. We'll all get it eventually and it most definately won't be free to any of us.... altho' piracy may be a factor for some in this equation.

People always have their methods of getting what they want

 

[Jacee]

I know that Zidane2424, that's why I excel in 'consumer Security' ... pirating doesn't come without a price

 

[Zidane24]

I know that Zidane2424, that's why I excel in 'consumer Security' ... pirating doesn't come without a price

Very true...thats why I try to preach that 7 is a great product and should be bought...to reward the developers for thier effort. Of course all of their other products that warrant a buy (in the user's mind if they intend to use it) should be also bought...

 

[Gbsnplr]

Will the upgrade be like Vista in that you have to upgrade to Windows 7 Ultamte if you have Vista Ultamet? If so is there a work around this issue? I don't want to have to rebuild my son's computer just install the upgrade.

 

[holo88]

I know that Zidane2424, that's why I excel in 'consumer Security' ... pirating doesn't come without a price

Does that mean your on like a 'Windows-S.W.A.T.' team type thing? OH! do you get to break down peoples doors and put a foot in their ... sorry, ranting...
i buy all my stuff *whistle-whistle-whistle* i like to 'demo' stuff before i shell out the $.

-on topic.
thanks for the info Zer0. i hope to get my technet sub soon. mainly for all the neat stuff i get to learn. $3xx for technet, or $3xxxx for 'u can do computerz!' school.

<--

 

[reghakr]

Windows 7 RTM Is No Go – 7600 Not the Gold Build

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

 

[mez4junk]

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.).

 

[nate42nd]

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.

 

[segobi]

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.

 

[segobi]

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.

 

[reghakr]

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")

 

[Brand]

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

Yep, buddy! That's what they provide in physical delivery pacakages for subscribers. As an MSDN Premium subscriber, I truly know about it and have quite some discs made in that way, dual layer D9 DVDs containing both 32-bit and 64-bit of Windows Vista w/SP1 and the same for Windows Server 2008.

Also keep in mind that it's not the first time they do this kind of trick. Microsoft had released system image collections of Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003 SP1 within one DVD disc years ago. When you boot with that DVD, you will have a menu to choose which system you'd like to install.

Kinda save resouces

 

[wkgbn]

family pack

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.(#)

 

[Mercurial]

maybe it detects your CPU architecture and requirements for 64 bit and will install it if requirements are met automatically =O lol ?