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Windows 7 Release Candidate Downloads will end August 15th

Jun. 23, 2009 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

Microsoft sends word describing the wind-down of public availability of the Windows 7 release candidate:

Still on the Windows 7 Beta? You need to move to the Release Candidate (RC) and fast. Starting July 1st, the Beta will start to reboot every 2 hours and expire August 1st.

Want to download the RC? The RC download program closes August 15th. After that, you won’t be able to get the download, but you can still install the RC and get a key if you need one. (To get a key, just go to the Downloads page and follow the instructions.)

If you’re using the Windows 7 Release Candidate, we hope you like what you see. Let us know -- go to http://input.microsoft.com and tell us what you think. You’ll be able to give feedback on various aspects of the operating system.

Discuss this Article 23

Grannyville
on Jun 23, 2009
I thought the download program closed at the end of June. Hm, I was obviously mistaken. Still loving the RC. If you hear distant screams in March 2010, that's just me kicking and screaming my way back to Vista in reluctance : )
subzerohitman721
on Jun 23, 2009
I gave my feedback. Overall, I do think Windows 7 is ready, however some additional work on IE 8 should be done between now and the RTM.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 23, 2009
Grannyville, You could, you know, actually buy a copy... :-)
de Silentio
on Jun 23, 2009
@Subzero Agreed, I can crash IE8 in matter of seconds. I have a nasty habit of selecting and deselcting text rapidly while I'm reading something online. This seems to crash IE8.
Grannyville
on Jun 23, 2009
@mikegalos I know. But when Windows 7 comes out I'll be a poor student fending for himself : ) I guess I'll just have to get used to slow start up times and HP's crapware when the time comes. Solution? Convince my dad I need a new laptop. Sell old laptop. Purchase Windows 7. Get a spiffing nice degree in computer science. Startup my own tech company. Become successful. Meet Paul Thurrott and be the bestest buds ever. Life: Sorted *thumbs up*
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 23, 2009
Grannyville Well, as a poor student you'll probably have access to really discounted poor student versions of the products so that should help. (Like "The Ultimate Steal" program which, in the UK where it appears you live, offers Office Ultimate and Vista Ultimate for very low prices) Of course, that's assuming you used the phrase "poor student" to mean "impoverished student" and not "student unable to pass their classes"...
Grannyville
on Jun 23, 2009
@mikegalos Oh yeah, that has completely slipped my mind. Thanks for reminding me : ) Haha, I do mean poor in the sense of money. However, university is just the next stepping stone I need to take to reach greatness Cheers : )
rr0de74@live.com
on Jun 23, 2009
Here is a funny story I recently had with IE8. I had to download a hotfix for Windows 2003, a storport driver that some NetApp SnapDrive software needed be in place on the server. I went to the MS link for the hotfix in IE8, clicked on request hotfix. I filled out the form with my email address and such and hit submit and got an error saying that my browser was not supported. I then used FF 3.5beta to get the hotfix. That would be the definition of irony.
GoodThings2Life
on Jun 23, 2009
Ah yes, I miss the days of student licensed discounts on software! :'( I remember buying Adobe Creative Suite CS3 Web Premium for $500... full version, not upgrade.
subzerohitman721
on Jun 23, 2009
I also forgot to mention that besides IE8 issues, Microsoft should be working to improve the OS speed and improving the benchmark scores. I think Microsoft should be looking to eliminate any performance bottlenecks within Windows 7, reducing the lagtime between applications, further network file copy improvements, and getting everything quicker. With multicores, GB's of ram, Windows 7 should be running a whole lot faster than XP. It needs to be reflected in the benchmark scores.
robertsjoe
on Jun 23, 2009
@mikegalos: "You could, you know, actually buy a copy... :-)" Pay hundreds of dollars for a point update? Pathetic. That's just the start of the Microsoft tax one pays. At least Apple don't rip people off and only charge $29 for a minor update.
RaggieSoft
on Jun 23, 2009
@robertstroll So then explain the $129 price charged for OS X 10.1, .2, .3, .4, and .5...Each I guess Apple didn't rip you off then, huh?
Master3
on Jun 23, 2009
@Paul I think it may be time to brush off the ban hammer for robertsjoe.
RaggieSoft
on Jun 23, 2009
@Master3 I second that
tayme
on Jun 23, 2009
@robertsjoe - I believe that it was you, who over the last year bragged about Snow Leopard being such a great upgrade...now, since Apple has admitted to you and the rest of the world that they cannot deliver anything more than a very minor update to Leopard, you agree. That is what everyone means when they call you and the rest of the blind brand loyalists Apple lemmings. Of course, there are those that are blindly loyal to Microsoft, too...and they are no better. --tayme
darkmax
on Jun 23, 2009
@robertsjoe - you again. Sigh.... Apple don't rip people off in the software department because they already rip you to shreds in the hardware. Ever consider that?
darkmax
on Jun 23, 2009
Since the beta is ending.... when are we getting a pricing model from M$?
robertsjoe
on Jun 23, 2009
@RaggieSoft: Those previous OS releases were not a smaller update, like Snow Leopard is. Which Windows 6.1 (7) is. So yes, Microsoft are ripping Microsofties off. At least Apple has the decency to only charge $29. @darkmax: You get what you pay for. Want to buy cheap, crappy hardware, go ahead.
johnbaxter
on Jun 23, 2009
Since the upgrade pricing hasn't been released*, it's really premature to say that there is a pending overcharge. My current plan is to pick one of the better upgrade offers for the Dell (quite likely it will come from Dell) desktop, and keep the RC on my aging Sony laptop until February, then decide on a replacement laptop (NOT Netbook) or no replacement, depending on need. Or a hefty enough Mac laptop that running bootcamp makes sense (I have an aging Mac laptop, too). Sony is about as old as GA of Vista; Mac is a couple of years older. *Other than the leaked BestBuy memo, which showed a $49 (for Home Premium) or $99 (for Business) preorder price starting soon and running for a short time. I suspect BestBuy isn't alone--just sloppier than others. That BestBuy memo suggests it's about time to start paying attention, keeping in mind that without price guarantees, first offer may not be best offer. .
g6672D
on Jun 23, 2009
I'm still waiting for their 7.Ultimate upgrade pricing. I'm quite sick at myself for paying $750 AUD for V.Ultimate. (ugh) Whatever it is priced, I'm not likely to pay anyway. My Vista only gets used (rarely) in a virtualized environment. But, if it turns out evil, it'll be a nice justification for skipping out on Microsoft. :) ->robertsjoe Not everyone wants to buy into the Apple "lifestyle" or pay that much for a computer, or wants OS X. I have my reasons for using a plastic laptop. I'm not asking to ban him though. Having debate topics makes this more interesting.
stimshady
on Jun 23, 2009
i think robertsgay might have finally left the building - woohoo! :)
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 24, 2009
OT: (But the Morro topic is closed now) Liveside.net is reporting that the US slots in the Microsoft Security Essentials beta are now closed. They didn't know about Brazil, Israel or People's Republic of China. http://www.liveside.net/main/archive/2009/06/24/microsoft-security-essen...
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 24, 2009
And as an FYI: NeoWin is reporting that the Windows7UpgradeOption site is supposed to go live on Friday the 26th. Take the rumor however you value rumors. http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/06/24/microsoft-set-to-launch-windows...

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