Windows 7 RC Free Download Starts Today!

[SonsOfLiberty]

http://pic.leech.it/i/33b45/4ac42eeb4winsevent.jpg


Consumers who want to be the first on their block to try Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT)'s new Windows 7 operating system can get their hands on a free copy of a nearly final version of the OS as soon as Tuesday.

That's when Microsoft plans to make Windows 7 "Release Candidate" available to the general public. Last week, the company began offering Windows 7 RC to professional users who belong to its TechNet and MSDN communities.

Windows 7 RC contains most of the features that will be included in the final version of the OS, and it's been tested for compatibility with hardware and software from most major vendors through a months-long beta program. Still, Microsoft typically warns computer users not to use prerelease software for critical tasks or in business production environments.

Windows 7 RC will function until June 1, 2010. After that, users will need to upgrade to a full, paid version of the operating system.

If Microsoft is following a timetable similar to that employed for Vista development, then it's highly possible that the company is eyeing a September release date for Windows 7.

The first version of Windows Vista RC dropped in September 2006, about five months before the final version shipped. A similar five-month incubation period for Windows 7 RC would point to a commercial release in September -- possibly in time for the critical back-to-school shopping season.

Microsoft's official position remains that Windows 7 will drop about three years from the time Vista debuted. The company launched Vista in January 2007.

Microsoft is counting on Windows 7 to help it recover from the Vista flop. Vista failed to catch on with mainstream computer users and businesses have shunned it outright. Many users have complained about Vista's hardware requirements, intrusive security measures, and lack of compatibility with older applications. Windows 7 is said to be lighter and easier to use than its predecessor.

Microsoft last month reported that Windows sales fell 16% in the most recent quarter.

:source: Source: iNfo Week (http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=217201390&s) | Windows 7 (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/)
:down: Download Link: Download Starting At 12:00PM Tonight (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/)

[Skiz]

Does anyone know if they will be limiting the amount of downloads from the MS site?

[SonsOfLiberty]

I don't know, in a couple of places they said unlimitd to the public, so who knows, I don't there servers will be able to handle the mass downloading....hopefully someone will just Newsgroups it, and the MD5 and all that mumbo jumbo adds up.

[Skiz]

:down: Download Link: Download Starting At 12:00PM Tonight (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/)

What time zone? :unsure:

EDIT - Look here - http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx

[SonsOfLiberty]

Est

[Skiz]

They just posted it. :)


You don't need to rush! The RC will be available at least through July, and we're not limiting the number of downloads or product keys. So you have plenty of time.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx

[rokie]

downloading now... but it's so slow

[Skiz]

It's going much faster than I expected. Coming in at 1.55+ MB/s right now.

[Sanka113]

I'm hitting 10 MB/s on my server, so it seems they've got plenty of bandwidth to go around...for now.

[Jim]

is this the same as the one leaked by iND last week ? just direct from M$ ?

[Skiz]

is this the same as the one leaked by iND last week ? just direct from M$ ?

Not sure about the iND release, but I just found this on 'Windows Seven Forums':


THE MAY 5TH RC MATCHES LEAKED BUILDS AND TECHNET/MSDN BUILDS EXACTLY

Windows 7 RC x64

Build string: 7100.0.090421.1700
ISO Name: 7100.0.090421-1700_x64fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRC1CULXFRER_EN_DVD.iso
Size: 3,119.3MB 3.04GB
MD5: 98341af35655137966e382c4feaa282d
SHA-1: fc867fe1ab2e0a9796f9e4d155b44ea6998f4874
CRC32: 58fb2be0

Direct Download Links from Microsoft (Copy and Paste into IE or IE Tab in FF, Bypasses Load Balancers)
http://wb.dlservice.microsoft.com/dl/downl...frer_en_dvd.iso

Official Link
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx

Windows 7 RC x86

Build string: 7100.0.090421.1700
ISO Name: 7100.0.090421-1700_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRC1CULFRER_EN_DVD.iso
Size: 2,413.73MB 2.35GB
MD5: 8867C13330F56A93944BCD46DCD73590
SHA-1: 7D1F486CA569EFFFFB719CFB48355BB7BF499712
CRC32: E8A1C394

Direct Download Links from Microsoft (Copy and Paste into IE or IE Tab in FF, Bypasses Load Balancers)
http://wb.dlservice.microsoft.com/dl/downl...frer_en_dvd.iso

Official Link
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx

[clocker]

MS got their shit together this time.
DL'ed at 1.5-2.0 MB, no trouble at all.

[Jim]

Not sure about the iND release, but I just found this on 'Windows Seven Forums':


THE MAY 5TH RC MATCHES LEAKED BUILDS AND TECHNET/MSDN BUILDS EXACTLY

Windows 7 RC x64

Build string: 7100.0.090421.1700
ISO Name: 7100.0.090421-1700_x64fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRC1CULXFRER_EN_DVD.iso
Size: 3,119.3MB 3.04GB
MD5: 98341af35655137966e382c4feaa282d
SHA-1: fc867fe1ab2e0a9796f9e4d155b44ea6998f4874
CRC32: 58fb2be0

Direct Download Links from Microsoft (Copy and Paste into IE or IE Tab in FF, Bypasses Load Balancers)
http://wb.dlservice.microsoft.com/dl/downl...frer_en_dvd.iso

Official Link
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx

Windows 7 RC x86

Build string: 7100.0.090421.1700
ISO Name: 7100.0.090421-1700_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRC1CULFRER_EN_DVD.iso
Size: 2,413.73MB 2.35GB
MD5: 8867C13330F56A93944BCD46DCD73590
SHA-1: 7D1F486CA569EFFFFB719CFB48355BB7BF499712
CRC32: E8A1C394

Direct Download Links from Microsoft (Copy and Paste into IE or IE Tab in FF, Bypasses Load Balancers)
http://wb.dlservice.microsoft.com/dl/downl...frer_en_dvd.iso

Official Link
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx



thanks for the info looks exactly the same downloaded it anyways as im having trouble with it booting to a black screen 2 times out of 5 only happened recently might reinstall official one now its avaliable :01::cool:

[FACE_TO_FACE]

How long can this windows be tested?

how long is the key?

[SonsOfLiberty]

Until April 2010, I know it's 2010 not sure about Month.

[Skiz]

It's useable until June 1, 2010 but you should plan on using it only until March 1, 2010. After 3/1/10 it will reboot your PC every 2 hours.

[FACE_TO_FACE]

Ok, not a bad deal ;)

[SonsOfLiberty]

Microsoft: Don't rush to download Windows 7 RC, take it slow like Vista :lol:


Microsoft is advising people against rushing to download the Windows 7 Release Candidate, which became broadly available today.

The company has also reminded potential testers they won't be getting a gratis operating system, pointing out that while the Windows 7 RC 1 won't expire until next June, it will expire.


No-doubt stung by the past rush to download advance copies of Windows 7, which succeeded in choking and crashing Microsoft's download servers and web pages, the RC 1 notes said:

"You don't need to rush to get the RC. The RC will be available at least through July 2009 and we're not limiting the number of product keys, so you have plenty of time."

But there's a reminder that RC will expire on June 1, 2010. Microsoft said:

"Starting on March 1, 2010, your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. Windows will notify you two weeks before the bi-hourly shutdowns start. To avoid interruption, you'll need to install a non-expired version of Windows before March 1, 2010. You'll also need to install the programs and data that you want to use."

And don't go upgrading straight from the Windows 7 beta. Microsoft has advised a completely clean install.

What do you get for your bits? Reg reviewer Tim Anderson reckoned Windows 7: "At least looks like a sound return to the company's core competency."

Windows 7 XP Mode - which uses Virtual PC to run legacy Windows-XP-compatible applications inside your new desktop - has promise. But there are performance problems, and integration with Windows 7 is both a blessing and a curse.

You can check out Tim's review of Windows 7 here and Windows 7 XP Mode here.

The RC has been pushed out just as Microsoft released its recommended - and historically generous - minimum hardware requirements for the latest version of Windows.

To run the Windows 7 RC 1 then your machine, according to Microsoft, will require a 1 GHz processor (32- or 64-bit), 1GB of RAM for 32-bit operation or 2GB of RAM on 64-bit, 16GB of available disk space on a 32-bit installation or 20GB of available disk space when using 64-bit, and DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver.

But it was interesting that Microsoft equipped reviewers with loan machines that go beyond these specs. Tim got more memory (3GB RAM) and a faster processor (a Core 2 Duo that clocked in at 2.3GHz).

Microsoft has historically tended to understate the hardware needed to run the latest versions of Windows. The advice on Windows 95 was for a 386DX processor and 4Mb memory, but it was recommended you actually had a 486 and 8MB. You could get away with a 233MHz processor and 64MB memory on Windows 2000, but you really needed at least 300MHz and 128MB or higher. The fudging of the hardware numbers on Windows Vista landed the company in court.


XP Mode for Windows 7 goes live

http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=4315

[SonsOfLiberty]

What's New in the Windows 7 Release Candidate

http://lifehacker.com/5239563/whats-new-in-the-windows-7-release-candidate

Lifehacker's Guide to Upgrading to Windows 7 RC

http://lifehacker.com/5240931/lifehackers-guide-to-upgrading-to-windows-7-rc

Set Up and Use XP Mode in Windows 7

http://lifehacker.com/5245396/set-up-and-use-xp-mode-in-windows-7

[SonsOfLiberty]

Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 to ship before the holidays

http://www.betanews.com/article/Windows-7-Windows-Server-2008-R2-to-ship-before-the-holidays/1242065980

Top 10 Windows 7 Features #6: DirectX 11
http://www.betanews.com/article/Top-10-Windows-7-Features-6-DirectX-11/1241825289

[SonsOfLiberty]

Box art has leaked if anyone is interested :lol:

http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/05/12/windows-7-box-art-leaks

[VinX]

aaww sweet // u made my day SonsOfLiberty ... i m loving Win7

[mallipeddi]

May i know when they will release final version

[SonsOfLiberty]

Late 2009, or early 2010 is what I've been seing RTM later in 2009