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Microsoft announces RTM for Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2

Jul. 22, 2009 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

With the completion of this development phase, Microsoft is calling on partners to ready products in time for the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 worldwide general availability.

Windows 7 will be generally available to customers around the world on October 22, and Windows Server 2008 R2 will be generally available on or before that date. 

As always, current Windows Volume License customers, MSDN subscribers and TechNet subscribers will get first customer access, getting Windows 7 on August 6 (MSDN/TechNet) and August 7 (VL), and Windows Server 2008 R2 the second half of August. 

Microsoft will make the announcement on its Windows Team Blog and Windows Server Blog. Here's the official release:

Steven Sinofsky, President of the Windows Division, has just announced on the Engineering Windows 7 Blog that Windows 7 has reached the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) milestone.

As I mentioned previously, RTM officially happens only after sign-off occurs. What happens is a build gets designated as a RTM contender after going through significant testing and meeting our quality bar for RTM. Then, it goes though all the validation checks required for RTM including having all languages of that build completed. If all the validation checks have passed – sign-off for RTM can occur. Today after all the validation checks were met, we signed off and declared build 7600.16385 as RTM.

Included in Steven’s blog post is a video of sign-off happening from the "Ship Room." Sign-off consists of representatives from all the teams here at Microsoft who helped build Windows 7 signing-off for RTM.

Also happening very shortly, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will get on stage for his keynote address to the Microsoft field community at MGX in Atlanta. MGX is an internal Microsoft event held every year. This is where we bring in our folks in the field from around the world and talk about selling Microsoft’s latest products. We’re a global company and this event is super important to us. As you can imagine, Windows 7 is a hot topic at this year’s MGX and we’re anxious to hear what Steve has to say, and I will update that here.

Not only is RTM an important milestone for us – it’s also an important milestone for our partners. Today’s release is the result of hard work and collaboration with our partners in the industry to make Windows 7 a success. We delivered Windows 7 with predictable feature set on a predictable timetable that allowed OEMs to focus on value and differentiation for their customers.

Our customers told us what they want (and expect) and we defined those specific experiences and then built features to support them (like HomeGroup and the Windows Taskbar enhancements). Our customers also told us that “fundamentals” on both the hardware and software side was extremely important. Windows 7 today runs great on the broadest array of hardware types ranging from netbooks to the high end gaming machines. We worked closely with OEMs so that their PCs ignite features in Windows 7 to excite their customers.

Of course, today’s release is also the result of the amazing amount of feedback we received from the millions of people who tested Windows 7 – from Beta to RC. We actually had over 10 million people opt-in to the Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP). That’s a lot of people opting in to help us make Windows 7 a solid release. Through CEIP, our engineers were guided by customer feedback all the way to RTM. We also have had a great group of beta testers who have dedicated a great deal of their time to testing Windows 7 too. A special thank you goes out to all the people who helped test Windows 7.

I’d also like to give a shout-out to my friends over on the Windows Server Team. Today they are also announcing that Windows Server 2008 R2 has RTM’d. Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 together can help businesses cut costs and increase productivity. Click here to read their blog post on Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM.

The RTM code will be delivered to our partners within the next few days who will then start preparing to deliver some amazing new products timed to hit at General Availability (GA) of Windows 7. And going forward, I expect to be showcasing MANY of these new products here on The Windows Blog.

We continue to be overwhelmed at the community’s response to Windows 7 and it has been an extremely rewarding experience to witness. We hope the enthusiasm will continue to grow even more as our partners build amazing experiences with their products and Windows 7.

Discuss this Article 56

kenmcnamee
on Jul 22, 2009
It's about friggin' time.
Saucy
on Jul 22, 2009
Yay, Congrats to the Microsoft people and to PC users and to book writers who write about Windows lol
ehcap
on Jul 22, 2009
Can't wait to have the box in my hands =)
resplendent
on Jul 22, 2009
Somewhat disappointed they're reusing the Vista startup sound, but glad it's finally done.
truffoo0
on Jul 22, 2009
This is good news. Bring on August 7th (actually, August 8th in our time)! Of course, I'll probably be "disappointed" with the RTM code ... never had much of a problem with the RC code (other than slow shutdown times).
chipwinter
on Jul 22, 2009
Now that the new product is in the pipeline, what would be a good advertising approach? I like the Laptop Hunter ads, but they didn't seem to make a dent, since PC sales are down and Apple's are up. Do you think that promoting Windows 7 features will be enough? Just curious.
Backup77
on Jul 22, 2009
Ah!! We have confirmation. Looking forward to getting my hands on a copy ASAP.
mdsharpe
on Jul 22, 2009
which build is the final RTM then? presumably it's either 7600 16384 or 16385?
mdsharpe
on Jul 22, 2009
Sorry I just realised that's in the article. My bad!
MrDiSante
on Jul 22, 2009
Does anyone know what the release schedule is like for MSDNAA?
lketchum
on Jul 22, 2009
Congratulations to the Microsoft teams responsible for Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2!
Waethorn
on Jul 22, 2009
Dunno if this is a glitch or something, but I just went to the Microsoft Partner Program Digital Dist download site and it says I'm not authorized. I was there earlier today too. Anybody else having problems getting Action Pack or Certified Partner download items from this site?: http://www.microsoft.com/msppdd
rr0de74@live.com
on Jul 22, 2009
August 6th I will rebuild my Win7 RC VDI. Hopefully the VMware vSphere client will work with the RTM version. If not, then 7 will remain a novelty for me.
de Silentio
on Jul 22, 2009
Good news. It gives me renewed hope for mankind.
Bydia
on Jul 22, 2009
Will Server 2008 R2 be a free download for those who already have Server 2008?
RobertC
on Jul 22, 2009
And to think that just last week, Paul was going hysterical about Microsoft's lack of communication. This is despite the fact that Microsoft has been more transparent about the development of Windows 7 than any other piece of software its developed in the past.
LuxZg
on Jul 22, 2009
Wae - all fine with digital downloads over here As for RTM - that was first bit of info I've noticed in my e-mails today, was right there at the top, from MS Partner program, saying Win7 & Server 208 R2 RTM... And I was happy :) This means that as soon as Win 7 pops up anywhere official (MSDN/TechNet/Connect/Digital Distribution) - I'll have it and it goes live :) I agree that I'll probably be disappointed a bit with RTM because RC had been working just fine all this time anyway, but it will be nice to know that I've got a FINAL code on my computer. Congrats to Microsoft, and I hope this will bring an end to Windows XP era finaly ;)
robertsjoe
on Jul 22, 2009
Lap Hunter Ads have no impact.
anonymuos
on Jul 22, 2009
The official era of XP was over ages ago but the OS can't still be taken even below 50-60% marketshare. It'll be very interesting to see Windows 7 battle it out with Windows XP. XP is still going to stay for a long time to come though Windows 7 is a solid product (minus it's Windows Explorer deficiencies of course).
ValSalva
on Jul 22, 2009
So RTM is still just another milestone towards Oct. 22nd? If OEM's and MSDN/Technet subscribers find problems does that mean that Win7 retail will be a different build?
Saucy
on Jul 23, 2009
@de Silentio A 'congrats' is probably sufficient. :o)
hamiltonstallings
on Jul 23, 2009
"I like the Laptop Hunter ads, but they didn't seem to make a dent, since PC sales are down and Apple's are up." Hmm... I'm sure the Microsoft engineers, statisticians, and marketing people gave the exact same analysis, "Well, these don't seem to work." So Microsoft's advertising is what drives PC sales? I'm guessing your post is just a troll post, since no one is really that stupid.
robinwilson16
on Jul 23, 2009
To ValSalva: RTM is the final build. It is build 7600.16385. This is the same build which will end up in the shops in October. However as far as I know all the isos floating around on the internet are not official isos released by Microsoft. I think Microsoft released the files in an unbootable archive which people have made bootable using older boot code. This means that if you install this version you will in fact have the RTM version but the ISO/DVD will not match the exact SHA/CRC code of the official ISOs/DVDs
Balthazar9
on Jul 23, 2009
“...amazing amount of feedback we received from the millions of people...” Fantastic, I can’t wait to get it in my hands. Why Steve Ballmbastic told me Win7 could jump off my lap/desk and wax my car!!! “We continue to be overwhelmed at the community’s response to Windows 7 and it has been an extremely rewarding...” Will M$ be in for a rude awakening? Reuters - Six in 10 companies plan to skip Windows 7. http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE56C0NC20090713
LuxZg
on Jul 23, 2009
ValSalva said: "So RTM is still just another milestone towards Oct. 22nd? If OEM's and MSDN/Technet subscribers find problems does that mean that Win7 retail will be a different build?" No, you will get the same exact build, but anything that OEMs and users discover by October 22nd will probably be patched, so you can expect some "zero-day" patches... meaning even if you buy Win7 on the first day (October 22nd) and install it right away, you will probably have some minor updates downloaded. But I doubt that there will be many such things, as Win7 seemed rock solid even in beta, and it's a very polished product IMHO
rjohn05
on Jul 23, 2009
Woohoo!
shark47
on Jul 23, 2009
"...” Fantastic, I can’t wait to get it in my hands. Why Steve Ballmbastic told me Win7 could jump off my lap/desk and wax my car!!!" Proves that you're an idiot. Are you related to robertsjoe by any chance?
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jul 23, 2009
Ocean (Continued from previous closed topic but since I was told what it is that I think I figure I can respond to clarify the record) "The goal of a business is to return profit...market share is just one way to do it. Even Mike Galos would agree that there are other ways." I, in actuality, would TOTALLY DISAGREE with the premise that "the goal of a business is to return profit". That is one side effect of some business models. If money acquisition is anyone's reason for being in technology they should get out of this business and find some snake oil to peddle.
RobertC
on Jul 23, 2009
Mike, a business that is not profitable will cease to exist. Don't be such a communist.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jul 23, 2009
RobertC A business that is profitable is NOT the same thing as a business whose only, or even major, goal is to return profit. Stop confusing a lack of a knee jerk love of greed with "communism". There's a huge range between Gordon Gekko and Karl Marx.
panache1023
on Jul 23, 2009
MikeGalos, You said, "If money acquisition is anyone's reason for being in technology they should get out of this business and find some snake oil to peddle" Does this mean Microsoft should get out of the technology business and peddle snake oil instead? If not, other than turning a profit, what is Microsoft's reason for being in the technology business?
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jul 23, 2009
panache1023 Microsoft's reason for being in the technology business has been very clearly stated in the corporation's mission and vision statements throughout the years. Note the difference beween Microsoft's initial mission of "A computer on every desk and in every home" and your impression that every business should have a vision that reads "Make as much money as we can however we can" If you don't see the difference in direction and result you've missed the point of the personal computer revolution.
de Silentio
on Jul 23, 2009
On another "release" note, I just got an email to download the Office 2010 Technical Preview.
techfan
on Jul 23, 2009
Hurrah! I can't wait to get my new Windows 7 PC :-)
shark47
on Jul 23, 2009
"Microsoft's reason for being in the technology business has been very clearly stated in the corporation's mission and vision statements throughout the years." And Mozilla calls itself a charitable organization.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jul 23, 2009
An example of why blind profit seeking is a bad idea: When Windows 3.0 shipped, Microsoft had spent $100,000,000 on Windows and Windows had NEVER made a profit after being in development and R&D for nearly half the company's lifetime and sucking out a significant percentage of Microsoft's total lifetime earnings. A "profit is the goal" company would have pulled the plug years earlier and milked MS-DOS for all it was worth rather than "wasting money" on some "pie in the sky project" that was bleeding the company dry. BillG had enough vision to understand that to achieve the goal of "a computer on every desk and in every home" the world would have to switch from the MS-DOS command line (and Microsoft cash cow) to GUIs and literally bet the company on it. I'm guessing that somebody now is going to call Bill Gates a communist for not optimizing for profit and shareholder return...
panache1023
on Jul 23, 2009
MikeGalos, First, point out to me where I said my impression was that every business should have a vision that says, "Make as much money as we can however we can" Second...if you think Microsoft's initial mission of "A computer on every desk and in every home" was *NOT* because there was a lot of money to be made, then you are clearly naive. Microsoft's mission was more like....a computer on every desk and in every home and hopefully lots of profits for us...and there's nothing wrong with that. I knew you were going to bust out that quote as their reason (or at least initial reason) for being in business...so predictable, and yet....so clueless for someone so clever.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jul 23, 2009
Panache You seem to have confused your own cynicism with reality. That you've chosen to sell out your own values does not mean everyone else has. Including Microsoft. Microsoft has, on many occasions, gone the less profitable route if that money would have meant selling out the vision of the corporation. And that's a lot of why Microsoft is around now when almost nobody else from personal computing in 1975 still exists.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jul 23, 2009
panache1023 Or, as Harry Chapin once told me, "It doesn't pay to be a cynic on the Titanic"
panache1023
on Jul 23, 2009
MikeGalos, In your example, Microsoft's spending of the money, and not making a profit at that time, did NOT mean that they were not ultimately seeking a profit. Sometimes, you have to take on debt, or have unprofitable quarters, in order to eventually get to the goal....which in BUSINESS, is to make money. If MS's goal was NOT to make money, which is what you claim....they would have given away Windows, along with any other products they were selling, for free. Why sell products if profit is not your goal?
ValSalva
on Jul 23, 2009
@ robinwilson16 and @LuxZg Thanks. I can't wait to download Win7 on Aug. 6th knowing it is the final code. Can finally start to test it in preparation for widespread upgrading. I'll wait to download it from TechNet. Two weeks to go.
panache1023
on Jul 23, 2009
MikeGalos, This is exactly why most people on this board thing you are a joke. For you to even suggest I have "sold out my own values", without knowing a thing about me is absurd. Microsoft was, and is, in business to make money. That is the goal of a business. Just because they haven't always chosen the most profitable path, for whatever reason, does not mean their goal is NOT to make money eventually. For example...are you suggesting that MS has lost billions of dollars on XBOX and XBOX 360 for fun? Or, is it because they think they see a way to someone either make that profitable, or see a way to use those properties in other ways to make money? Microsoft is in the game to make money. The fact that you dispute that is ridiculous.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jul 23, 2009
panache For somebody who has never been inside Microsoft you seem to have an amazing ego to think you know the internal motivations better than people who have spent decades there. Sorry to burst your post-Reagan "Greed is Good" view of the world but being profitable is NOT the same as being in the profit business.
panache1023
on Jul 23, 2009
You know that I've never been inside Microsoft....how? Again...i never said, "Greed is good", and that is not my view of the world. Looking to make money is NOT greedy. How can you be profitable if you aren't out to make a profit? I'm curious...If you aren't looking to make a profit, as you say Microsoft is, then you would give away your products for free, or you would charge exactly what it costs to make for a break even. Microsoft is in business to make money. In fact, they have a responsibility to shareholder to make money. You have an amazing ego to think that because you have spent decades at Microsoft, that it means you know 100% of what Microsoft's business plans and intentions are. Business are in business to make money. I don't know how you can even dispute this?
Saucy
on Jul 23, 2009
@panache1023 You are correct there. Making money is not greed, neither is making a profit. Compromising one's morality for money might be indicative of greed etc. etc. But when a person goes and works hard and is honest, they can expect to make a profit, the bigger the better, and it is not greed. No one has to be ashamed of a profit no matter how little or how big. Money and wealth is good where there is no wrong doing.
panache1023
on Jul 23, 2009
@Saucy, I agree 100%. I also agree that if someone works hard and is honest, they can expect to make a profit...doesn't mean they will. That's part of what capitalism is about. But to claim that the largest software maker in the world, is not in business to make a profit is just ridiculous....I mean...have you been following these ridiculous statements?! Anyway....I'll end this post with a quote from you. "Money and wealth is good where there is no wrong doing"
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jul 23, 2009
Once again... There is a vast range of options between Gordon "greed is good" Gekko and Karl Marx And Microsoft is NOT pegged on the "greed is good" side of that scale no matter how much people want to think that optimizing for profit works. Sorry guys. Ideals and long term goals of making the world better often result in profits. Goals of making maximum profit rarely result in making the world better OR making much long-term profit.
panache1023
on Jul 23, 2009
AAAAH..and the truth finally comes out. MikeGalos changes his turn from saying Microsoft is not out to make profit to "Microsoft is NOT pegged on the 'greed is good' side of that scale." Yet, no one here suggested that. So once again when MikeGalos can't win an argument, he CHANGES the argument so that he can win. Sorry MikeGalos...no one here said that Microsoft was being GREEDY! We only said that they do exist in order to make a profit. You need to realize that working for a profit is not the same thing as being greedy...then maybe you can re-join the conversation.
subzerohitman721
on Jul 23, 2009
Well, congrats is definitely inorder for to Steven Sinofsky and his team for getting Windows 7 to the competed RTM stage. I wonder how much change there actually is between the RC code and the RTM code. That's something I hope that tech writers wil provide some insight on. Overall, the beta and RC process itself seemed to go very well for testers. However, I do agree with the sentiments of many other testers out there that I've read across several sites. That sentiment was that Microsoft should have allowed more access to updated builds between the beta and the RC. Hopefully in the future, Microsoft will return to the beta 1, beta 2, RC 1, & RC 2 testing format. To join in the discussion, there's a world of difference between profit and greed. I for one was glad to see that Ford turned a profit today. I'm also glad that the banks are becoming profitable. Profit should never be demonized. If you work hard at a business and deliver a quality product, you definitely deserve adequite compensation. If after all the bills are paid, you have a reasonable amount of money left over, congrats to you then because you deserve the spoils of your work. Greed can in rare occassions be incentive. However, often times greed comes at the expense of quality, morals, ethics, and sometimes its illegal. I would hope in the light of a global recession that honest profits would be the goal over carte blanche greed. If anyone is interested, Microsoft is signing up people to test out the new Xbox dashboard at Microsoft Connect. Later.
Balthazar9
on Jul 23, 2009
panache1023, Why are you wasting your time with that guy? Clearly he posses NO acumen of the business world. MS is a public corporation which answers to its shareholders and to a lesser degree govt. regulators. If only for a moment shareholder determine Steve Ballmbastic may not continue to make obscene profits, he is OUT. Shareholders own MS - the board of directors are stewards serving at the behest of shareholders. shark47, No, but I do question my sanity from time to time for I have installed RTM on two machines (86 & 64) THIS PAST Monday july,20th.

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