April 26th, 2009
What you need to know about the Windows 7 Release Candidate
Updated 5-May
Microsoft has finished its work on the Windows 7 Release Candidate and has announced a distribution schedule. For those who are thinking of evaluating this release, I’ve put together this FAQ. If you have any additional questions, ask them in the Talkback section; I’ll update this post as needed.
What is the Windows 7 Release Candidate?
The Release Candidate (RC for short) is the most recent milestone build in the Windows 7 development process. The official build string is 7100.0.090421-1700. It is available in x86 and x64 formats.
Update 5-May: The Release Candidate code is available for update here.
Will there be additional release candidates after this one?
That’s not in the plan of record, and it’s unlikely to happen. Interim builds will be prepared between now and the final release for testing internally at Microsoft and externally by OEM partners. But this is the final version that will be made publicly available before Windows 7 is released for manufacturing and sent to retail channels and OEM partners.
Is the Release Candidate feature-complete?
Yes. Rumors that Microsoft is holding back a secret feature or radical change in the Windows 7 user interface are unfounded. Although it’s possible that Microsoft will add some new desktop backgrounds or screen savers, what you see in the Release Candidate is what you’ll get when the product is released. Microsoft’s work from now until then is in fixing the last round of bugs, most of which will be related to OEM configurations and hardware support.
Back in early March, I spotlighted some of the visual changes in Windows 7 that you’ll see in the Release Candidate (see “A sneak peek at the Windows 7 Release Candidate”). In addition, Microsoft has announced that it will release a custom version of Virtual PC with a licensed copy of Windows XP SP3 and make the combination available as a download for licensed users of the business editions of Windows 7 (Professional and up). This add-on, called Windows XP Mode) will not be included with the release candidate, nor will it be part of the final RTM product.
What’s changed from the beta release?
A lot, actually. See my review “Windows 7: What to expect” and the accompanying screenshot gallery for more details.
Will the RC be available to the general public?
Yes. Just as with the beta release, the public will be able to download and install this release for evaluation purposes.
Do I have to pay anything to use the Windows 7 RC?
No.
When will the RC be officially available for download?
Participants in the technical beta program got access to the RC bits on April 30, as did TechNet and MSDN subscribers. You can sign in using your credentials and download the RC code from those sites. The public download site went live on May 4.
What format will the download be available in?
Downloads will be disk images in ISO format, which can be burned to DVD. You can also mount the file to a virtual drive using a program like Virtual Clone Drive. Your CD/DVD burning program may offer this capability as well.
Can I install the Windows 7 release candidate over an earlier beta release?
That depends. If you use the setup files as distributed, you will be blocked from upgrading over any build prior to 7077. That includes the beta release (build 7000) and most leaked interim builds from April 4 or earlier. There is a workaround, however, which I’ll document in a follow-up post.
Can I upgrade my existing copy of Windows XP?
No. The XP-to-7 upgrade path is not officially supported. Microsoft has advanced deployment tools to assist with XP migrations in enterprise settings, but for the RC you’re better off using the Windows Easy Transfer utility to copy your data and settings to external storage, then restore it (and reinstall your programs) after performing a clean install of Windows 7.
Can I upgrade my existing copy of Windows Vista?
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Ed Bott is an award-winning technology writer with more than two decades' experience writing for mainstream media outlets and online publications. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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| 04/27/09
