Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft, Beta, Windows x64
Windows 7 RC to be released publicly on May 5
Ok gang, it looks like we may finally have an honest-to-goodness release date for the Windows 7 RC: May 5, 2009.
A page has been posted on Microsoft's partner portal which tells MSDN and Technet subscribers that they can download the RC now, though that doesn't appear to be true just yet. Clicking through to the downloads page still only displays the Windows 7 Beta downloads.
It could turn out to be another gaff like the one last month. However, there's no screwy publication date this time, so it may just be that the partner downloads are due in the very near future. The page includes another reminder that the RC is not a finished product and restates that the goal is to both showcase what's coming in Windows 7 as well as continue real-world testing.
There's been speculation that the RC build may include a significant change to the Windows 7 UI in order to generate some added excitement. We'll have to wait patiently to find out if that's true, but no doubt there will be screenshots or an ISO leak soon after the download is made available.
If you missed out on the beta and aren't excited about downloading an unofficial file via some torrent site, you'll soon have the chance to get your hands on a genuine Microsoft download once again.
[via NeoWin]

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The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
KeegdnaB said 3:42PM on 4-18-2009
Yay!
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inteller said 5:08PM on 4-18-2009
I wish MS would release SP2 final for Vista so I could stand up a clean copy of that to compare with this Win7 RC.
Brent Schmidt said 3:49PM on 4-18-2009
Last day since a Windows 7 post: April 9th @ 4PM.
So that guy can't complain, lol.
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The Gnome said 4:55PM on 4-18-2009
Yes, I've been waiting for this!
I can't wait..
Hope is true though...
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Malteserr said 5:28PM on 4-18-2009
I honestly can't wait. I haven't been too keen on installing the latest leaked builds so it'd be nice to get the legit RC and see what changed :)
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Matt said 6:58PM on 4-18-2009
ummm
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Farseer (GDI) said 7:35PM on 4-18-2009
Good, good, good. I've been extremely pleased with the beta, so I'm interested to see what goodies the RC holds.
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SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) said 11:45PM on 4-18-2009
yea i can't wait for this OS. it's got me postponing the purchase of a new desktop computer in waiting for it (thought i may break this summer and just upgrade later).
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Bryan Price said 10:23AM on 4-19-2009
Yeah! I may get a fairly stable laptop back once I reinstall with RC! I can't complain, but I've been noticing some oddities with it after it comes out of sleep and hibernation. It's been easier to just shutdown and restart. Not that I have been doing any of that in the past month...
Of course, they came out with a new driver for my WiFi, and it's finally going with the IP I assigned it on my router! Yeah!
I'm still not putting in the new HD though until I can install RTM on it though.
And then I get to think about upgrading this desktop.
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dave said 10:30AM on 4-19-2009
Does MS ever provide a path to step from RC1 - >retail or will we be reinstalling when retail comes? I have a HUGE buildout, I can't imagine rebuilding voluntarily!
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Major4Play said 4:13PM on 4-19-2009
upgrading a working finished OS to another is really never a good idea, why on earth would you want to upgrade from a beta !?!
dave said 4:26PM on 4-19-2009
Well, it is an RC, release candidate, RC's are usually different than a beta, especially a Gold RC.
master811 said 5:01PM on 4-19-2009
Yeah but unfortunately, Microsoft's definition of a RC isn't the same as everyone elses, even if it was though, they wouldn't officially support any kind of upgrade from RC, it would just be too much hassle.
Besides, the people who install any kind of RC/Beta are gonna be the people who don't care too much/won't take them long to reinstalll stuff again and/or know what they are doing in the first place.
BrianM said 8:17AM on 4-20-2009
RC = Release Candiate, not RTM or Release to Manufacturing, RCs usually mean the look and feel is complete and not subject to change only bugs are subject to be fixed before RTM.
Gav said 5:09PM on 4-19-2009
Am I the only one who doesn't like the taskbar?
I know you can easily change it back to the 'classic' taskbar (and it looks pretty sexy when you do), but I think it was fine how it was.
It's particularly annoying how it groups all Windows together. I often have several WLM conversations open, and clicking the WLM logo loads them all!
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Mysterius said 3:47AM on 4-21-2009
I'd prefer setting the default option for taskbar buttons to "Combine when taskbar is full" instead of "Always combine". You can set it by right-click on taskbar, "Properties", Taskbar buttons: "Combine when taskbar is full".
Still, I've resolved to try to get used to the button style when the RC comes out. I ought to at least give it a try, to see if it proves more useful.
Grouping windows from the same app next to each other *should* be default, though, with or without combining the buttons.
Jash Sayani said 5:17PM on 4-19-2009
Well, upgrading to RC is a doubt... Build 7000 is perfect! I'm pretty impressed with it.. (Except for HP Laserjet issues).
I'll find a hack to prevent the beta from expiring.
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Luke Barber said 9:45AM on 4-20-2009
RC isn't available in my VL MSDN...
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Phuong Vo said 5:45PM on 4-20-2009
The new taskbar is great. Makes window management a lot better.
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Sam said 12:01PM on 4-23-2009
7100 is the RC Build
http://hacksdaily.net/windows-7-build-7100-is-the-official-rc-build/
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