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Windows 7 public RC now available

May 5, 2009 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

I'm sure many of you have seen this, but the public version of the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) is now available:

Read this first

Here's what you need to know before you get started:

  • 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.
  • Installation: If you are running Windows 7 Beta you’ll need to back up your data (preferably on an external device) and then do a clean install of the Windows 7 Release Candidate. Then, you’ll need to reinstall applications and restore your files. If you need help, please see the Installation Instructions.
  • Back up your data: We know you know this already, but please back up your data and please don't test the RC on your primary home or business PC.
  • Keep your PC updated: To get critical updates, be sure to turn on automatic updates in Windows Update.
  • Remember expiration dates: Please plan ahead for the Beta and RC expiration dates. To avoid interruption, you’ll need to rebuild your test machine using a valid version of Windows before the software expires. Windows will notify you that the expiration process is beginning and two weeks later your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. The Beta expires on August 1, 2009, and bi-hourly shutdowns will begin July 1, 2009. The RC will expire June 1, 2010, and the bi-hourly shutdowns will begin on March 1, 2010. In both cases, you’ll need to rebuild your test PC to replace the OS and reinstall all your programs and data.

Get the download

Both the 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows 7 RC are available in five languages: English, German, Japanese, French, and Spanish. Just choose the version that fits the system you'll be using for the test, pick your language and click go to register for and download the software.

Enjoy!

Discuss this Article 49

LandonAB
on May 5, 2009
Downloaded fast this morning (about 45 minutes ago) but I am sure that will change. Looking forward to giving it a spin this evening. I personally have not used Windows 7 since I tried the Beta when it was released. I don't want to be tire of it before the final is out and I have to pay for it.
Delmont
on May 5, 2009
I have been getting 7meg down with Comcast for the 64bit this morning.
pthurrott
on May 5, 2009
It would nice if some big Microsoft download just proceeded without incident for a change. :)
Waethorn
on May 5, 2009
It's on the Connect website now too. FYI: The Windows Logo Kit has RTM'ed as well. Hopefully we'll see some hardware and software that's actually ready for launch this time....
kenmcnamee
on May 5, 2009
Downloading 64-bit ISO at 16Mb/s using both DownThemAll in Firefox and the ActiveX download manager IE wants to use. I already have it but I just wanted to see whether Microsoft has fixed the download experience since the Technet/MSDN launch. It looks like they have from what I can tell.
Waethorn
on May 5, 2009
If this is going to be usable for a year, what does that mean for updates? Will they be addressing security and other critical updates with this build?
tayme
on May 5, 2009
I think that the MS warning "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. " Was a CYA just in case there were capacity problems again. But, it is good to see that it seems to be going smoothly. --tayme
Waethorn
on May 5, 2009
BTW: It's downloading fast from Connect. It's saturating my connection, which is a 6Mbps line.
Dipsh t Admin
on May 5, 2009
Downloaded very quick this morning with no timeouts trying to access the download site like when downloading the beta.
AugieD369
on May 5, 2009
The Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode Betas are also now downloadable at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx
whiplash55
on May 5, 2009
Just in the nick of time. My daughters Vista laptop went belly up when I uninstalled Spyware Doctor, Its a funky Amd powered Gateway it ran Vista fine but should fly with 7.
clindhartsen
on May 5, 2009
Started downloading and finished it sometime around 10PM PT, now just to back everything up and install it.
Sir_timbit01
on May 5, 2009
Any news on Vista SP2 available for download for us plebs?
LuxZg
on May 5, 2009
A man has to be a man and congratulate Microsoft for everything they've released in last couple of weeks. And noone even noted it, but I don't think that Microsoft EVER had so many major releases in just 10 days span. Count them: - Windows 7 RC - Windows Server 2008 R2 RC - Windows Vista SP2 RTM - Windows Server 2008 SP2 RTM - Office 2007 SP2 RTM - Office Servers 2007 SP2 That's a whole business lineup there that got refreshed in less than a week.. And they haven't stopped there, as whole bunch of things that go with these got refreshed as well: - Windows 7 RC language packs in 5 languages - Windows Server 2008 R2 RC language packs in 5 languages - Windows AIK for Win7/Win2008R2 - Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 RC - Windows Virtual PC beta - Windows XP Mode beta If we look a bit more detailed, those were all published between April 28th (Office and Office Servers SP2) and 30th (Win7, Win 2008 R2,...) so it was all in just 2 days! Not to mention SQL Server 2008 SP1 was also released on April 9th, MDOP 2009 on April 7th, Exchange Server 2010 Beta on April 6th. Don't know about you people, but even though I haven't kept close look at Microsoft lineup in the past, this seems like Microsoft is really starting to be faster and more productive!
Fuzzdad
on May 5, 2009
I've been running the original 7000 beta since it was released. Was able to get the RC this AM a few hours after it was released and initial tests w/my suite of Steam-based games showed no major differences in fps-per-game and I still need to run comparisons using measurement tools but...there's clearly a sense that this version is "slower" on the desktop. I did a complete new install but a simple thing like right clicking on the desktop now brings the blue-circle-of wait where on 7000 it was almost instantaneous. Start up seems slower as well. Opening folders, etc. On both versions I turned off indexing, I'm using the same video drivers, same setup, same anti-virus, etc. IT's not a perfect one-to-one test and I'm only in it a few hours...but for me there's clearly a sense of "slower than beta by a tad" going on. Anyone else w/similar reaction?
DarkSages
on May 5, 2009
Has anyone else notice this: "What happened to the "Send Feedback" feature? Your feedback during the Beta process was very helpful. The "Send Feedback" feature isn't in Windows 7 RC, because we're at a later stage of the software development process. With this release, we're focused on verifying that all the changes and fixes we made based on the Beta tests and feedback are working correctly. We do that by gathering the automatically generated information (called telemetry) that your PC sends us when you use Windows 7 RC. Telemetry provides information about when your computer hangs, crashes or has performance issues, and it lets us know what applications or devices you were using when you experienced problems. It is important that we get this data from thousands of different hardware configurations in order to complete Windows 7. This will help us confirm that the fixes we included based on Beta feedback work on a wide range of hardware, and identify any new problems. " I tried using the feedback method paul posted here but it does not work. It is really stupid to stop receiving feedback I have new problems to report and devices that worked fine in vista that don't work at all on win7. I like windows 7 and I want all my pcs to move to it but as it is right now I would not be able to move my two media center pcs because of hardware incompatibility. So does any know how can I report these problems? The one that bothers me the most is that the Media Center IR Blaster to control my Dish Box is not detected. That device is plug and play on vista.
techfan
on May 5, 2009
I downloaded a copy early this morning at 1:00 AM ET. The download status said it would take about and hour or two to download but I left my machine on all night long, just in case it would take longer. When I woke up this morning, the download had finished. I don't know if I'm going to install the RC, especially since I would have to wipe out XP -- and I just recently installed again XP, but I might do it later. What's keeping me from installing the RC is having to go back to XP and install again SP3 and the more than 100 additional updates.
DarkSages
on May 5, 2009
@Fuzzdad This might be becuase MS added procceses to send feedback to them on your computer use and problems. Another reason that I find true on some hard drives if that they make your computer slow unless you defrag first after install. I have not notice it being really slow but I think you are right about it responding slower. It is still better than vista, but im sure the final product will be back to speed.
DarkSages
on May 5, 2009
@techfan Did you know that you can add SP3, IE8, and all updates to an xp disk so you can put in on a machine and forget about it. It takes me about 35min to have xp with all updates istalled plus 1h to istall all my apps. Search google, I thinks paul might have writen about this also. I can remember the utility I used it's on my laptop at home.
kenmcnamee
on May 5, 2009
techfan: "What's keeping me from installing the RC is having to go back to XP and install again SP3 and the more than 100 additional updates." If you're like me then you won't want to go back to XP after using Windows 7, and odds are slim that you'll run into an issue that forces you to go back.
darkmax
on May 5, 2009
Wow! MS has done it right this time! Proves the lumbering giant is still willingly to learn!
GRBX3
on May 5, 2009
Anyone having an issue of W7RC locking up or reverting to classic view (plain blue background). No problems with Beta. Seemed to install fine and got the Beta fish background until it locked up! Loved Beta, RC giving me problems!
GRBX3
on May 5, 2009
Anyone having an issue of W7RC locking up or reverting to classic view (plain blue background). No problems with Beta. Seemed to install fine and got the Beta fish background until it locked up! Loved Beta, RC giving me problems!
GRBX3
on May 5, 2009
Anyone having an issue of W7RC locking up or reverting to classic view (plain blue background). No problems with Beta. Seemed to install fine and got the Beta fish background until it locked up! Loved Beta, RC giving me problems!
bdizzel
on May 5, 2009
is anyone having issue saving files, one of the problems i ran into time and time again with the betas was when i would go to backup my quicken file or save a document in word that it would give me a write error saying the disk was not ready has anyone had any problems with the rc doing this?????
LandonAB
on May 5, 2009
@GRBX3 Clean install or upgrade from Beta?
techfan
on May 5, 2009
@DarkSages: Yes I remember Paul's article on how to slipstream Windows XP with SP3 and wanted to do that but, IIRC, the article mentioned a setup copy of Windows XP and all I have a is a recovery DVD. I don't know if that's good. http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/xpsp3_slipstream.asp I'm going to see if this article on Lifehacker makes is a snap to create a Windows XP iso, though it looks like a lot of steps: http://lifehacker.com/software/windows/create-a-windows-xp-image-156970.php @kenmcnamee: No doubt! I am looking forward to Windows 7. Most of the programs I have run on Vista, so I don't think I'll have issues there. What I'm worried about is if my machine, about 5 years old, might be too old for Windows 7. I guessing if Windows 7 runs fine in netbooks, it should also run well on my machine but I don't know. It's not that I won't like Windows 7, from what I read and seen it's going to be an awesome OS, but more about if my machine can't handle it.
kenmcnamee
on May 5, 2009
techfan: Windows 7 runs fine on my 6 year old Dell laptop with a Pentium 4 1.4GHz CPU. I did increase the RAM from 1GB to 2GB because it was cheap but Windows 7 also runs fine with just 1GB. That said, I don't really recommend some who only has a single machine running XP jump to Windows 7 RC. Only if you've got a spare machine to try it out on first.
warhol
on May 5, 2009
@Fuzzdad I'm also having an issue with the desktop hanging when right clicking (Clean install, went from 7000 to 7100). I found the forum below, and suggest you may want to post your specs. I will do the same when I get home tonight. Also, some people have mentioned issues with winrar & the right click context menu.. Do you happen to have winrar installed? http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/801-right-click-hangs-expl...
Waethorn
on May 5, 2009
@techfan: Sometimes OEM's will call their discs "Recovery" discs when it's really a clean install CD. If you can boot into a blue text setup screen with no mouse support, you probably have an install CD, and you can slipstream. Dell and HP business systems usually come with those kind of discs. If it's a branded GUI recovery program that comes up, it's a recovery CD and you can't slipstream the service pack. I just got info about a new Windows 7 Readiness Kit for partners and although it mentions features for all different market types (consumers, small business, mid market, and enterprise), nowhere does it mention XP Mode. They even stress the "programs have to just work" mantra that is a business customer sentiment. Strange. You'd expect that to be a good marketing point that partners should be mentioning.
Fuzzdad
on May 5, 2009
@DarkSages: I installed on a freshly formated (quick) 1TB drive. I'll defrag and then do a full format/defrag/reinstall if it's still slow. @Worhol: No...don't have winrar...I noticed the slowdown almost immediately (w/o loading any additional software). One of the first things I did was cycle through the themes and right-clicked to go to the next picture and immediately felt it.
whiplash55
on May 5, 2009
@techfan I think nlite will work
techfan
on May 5, 2009
@kenmcnamee: Yeah the machine I'm thinking of installing Windows 7 RC is the only computer I have. It has a Pentium 4 3.0GHz CPU and 1GB of RAM. Another reason why I'm apprehensive of installing Windows 7 RC is that I installed Ubuntu 9.04, as a dual boot with XP, which went w/out a glitch, but apparently the 16G I gave the partition wasn't enough to install additional updates -- and Ubuntu made itself the default OS (You know how after a short time w/out selecting an OS, the top one is loaded?), so I decided to remove Ubuntu by deleting the partition -- (a bad move on part my part for not first reading up on how to remove Ubuntu, and when I rebooted, Ubuntu couldn't find the loader. I tried to recover Windows XP but when I rebooted again, Ubuntu couldn't find the loader, so I had to do a destructive recovery. @Waethorn: Bummer. I have the GUI recovery program and am able to use the mouse throughout the recovery/setup. The options I get are destructive recovery and non-destructive recovery. I have a Gateway machine.
techfan
on May 5, 2009
@whiplash55: Sorry. I somehow didn't see your post. I will look into that.
LuxZg
on May 5, 2009
I've got just one issue with Win 7. All my pictures that were tagged using several different applications, all show up as "untagged" in Win7 when using libraries. But behold - Live Photo Gallery shows all tags fine. OK, I can at least use Photo Gal, but I'd like to use it in Windows explorer (libraries) as well.. Does anyone know anything about this?
warhol
on May 5, 2009
@Fuzzdad: Yes, i also noticed this within the first 30 mins or so of the first boot. I did a clean install from (X86) builds 7000 to 7100 (i didn't worry about the inbetween builds) and have seen a number of others post similar situations. To clarify, right clicking on any non-system icon (anything other than IE/Computer, etc) will result in the "busy circle" for about 10 seconds and then give you the "stopped responding...restart program or wait" message for explorer.exe. I noticed this in the first 30 mins of the first starting up, so I'm not sure if it has to do with a 3rd party app (though I do have WINRAR installed, and I've seen some issues with that...will try uninstalling it tonight). Although I'll have to double check this, I think it also was happening when I was in the "desktop" directory within windows explorer.
Waethorn
on May 5, 2009
@techfan: Methinks you have software from SoftThinks (look for the copyright in the corner). The System Builder version is called PC Angel [LE]. The full OEM software has more features, but most OEM's don't include the extra features. SoftThinks software is also used by HP a lot. I feel for you.
techfan
on May 5, 2009
@Waethorn: I think you might be right. The recovery DVD came in a paper sleeve but I think I have seen that name before. If it's a medialess recovery DVD, then I have a recovery DVD from SoftThinks. I'm going to make sure to ask for a full recovery/setup DVD when I purchase my next computer, even if I have to pay a little extra.
Waethorn
on May 5, 2009
@techfan: SoftThinks allows OEM's (the big ones, not system builders) to make their own recovery discs, or has options for the end-user to create them with a copy of what's on the recovery partition on your hard drive after first boot. Ask for genuine Microsoft installation discs, not branded recovery discs. Or else, buy from a local system builder. If you're in the US, they have this good program for local PC builders: http://www.localpcbuilder.com When you buy from a local builder, you can get a bunch of free stuff: http://www.localpcbuilder.com/offer/valuehome/ Unfortunately, it's mostly only available in the US, but not in Canada :(
Waethorn
on May 5, 2009
@Doc: You might also want to check that site out if you're upgrading a bunch of computers. They have a specific section for vertical markets.
techfan
on May 5, 2009
@Waethorn: You know, for some unknown reason, I did not great prompt to make a recovery DVD after the first boot. Strange because I had seen that prompt before. I'm in the US and will look and bookmark the links you have me. Thanks for the links and info ('genuine Microsoft installation discs, not branded recovery discs')! I'm thinking of getting a new PC either at the end of this year, after the RTM of 7 or sometime next year.
DRWAM
on May 5, 2009
Just started the DL. Can I just remove the XP system boot drive, and test drive Win 7 RC on a spare blank drive, then swap the XP drive back when I want the the old system again?
Waethorn
on May 5, 2009
@techfan: Look for something called "Recovery Manager" or "Create recovery discs" in your Start Menu. @doc: Yes, you can take the original drive out (or just disconnect it) and install a spare drive to install Windows 7. It's best not to have both in/connected at the same time otherwise you might have boot issues.
techfan
on May 5, 2009
@Waethorn: Thanks! I found "System Recovery" with a lot of useful options. I'm going to read the instruction manual (PDF).
DRWAM
on May 5, 2009
Thanks Wae. I'll just disconnect the XP Drive and plug in the spare and install. I'm have some time off next week, so it can wait. I once borked a new 500 GB drive by hitting the bottom of it while installing another. I'll be more careful.
subzerohitman721
on May 5, 2009
I'm writing this on my newly installed Windows 7 x64 Ultimate Edition. Wow! Absolutely stunning. Installation was about 20 minutes. Thanks to all the back ups I did for 7057 and some earlier today, rebuild has been going much faster. Very clean. It feels even more responsive than 7057, definitely faster than XP, and WAY faster than Vista. I'm in the process of downloading and installing the Windows Live Essentials suite. First, I'm glad Microsoft and Akami for having their game together. It was really smooth downloading even on my DSL. The speed was very consistent giving me a very quck download compared to both 7000 and 7057. I'm glad I was able prepare thanks to the hard work done there. Kudos. Second, the install process was much faster. I had to ask myself, this is a Microsoft product? Wow. Very impressive that it was so painless and efficient. If this is the future, I'm liking the view so far. Now that I've got it running, I think both businesses and consumers are in for a real treat. My first impressions are extremely positive. This is going to be an OS that people won't be so frustrated with once they unlearn what they've learned with XP and Vista. Tomorrow, I'm wiping Vista on my notebook and going to Windows 7 on that unit as well. Might as well fully play in 7's universe until the product is purchaseable. AT this point, Vista has become moot. Nice job Microsoft. Now lets see how Apple answers this?
subzerohitman721
on May 5, 2009
@Fuzz I am using the x64 version and I have not experienced the slowdown that you mentioned. Are you using the 32 bit version? I've only been testing the x64 versions. However, my brother's 7 test machine will be upgraded later this week. We'll check to see if there is any slowdown on the 32 bit version. If anything, the x64 version feels even more responsive in my opinion.
gorath
on May 6, 2009
I'll just add that I have not experienced the slowdown either, so maybe it's some kind of hardware or driver compatability problem? I've tried the RC build on a very slow celeron laptop we have, with 1Gb RAM, that has been nightmarishly slow on XP, Linux and Vista. Windows 7, however, absolutely flies on this thing, even after it's been fully loaded up with office et all, and it runs aero?!? Its idling with 560Mb RAM free - on machine that only has 1Gb to start with!
anonymous
on May 13, 2009
Microsoft anuncia el Service Pack 1 para Surface : Soporte para XNA (entre otras APIs), mejores respuestas

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