Upgrading from Windows 7 Beta to Windows 7 RC

Already their has been lot of rumors about the Windows 7 RC . Today the Engineering Windows 7 blog has posted the long article explaining how to upgrade from Windows 7 beta to Windows 7 RC. Here are some of the main points from the long post

Here’s what you can do to bypass the check for pre-release upgrade IF YOU REALLY REALLY NEED TO:

1. Download the ISO as you did previously and burn the ISO to a DVD.
2. Copy the whole image to a storage location you wish to run the upgrade from (a bootable flash drive or a directory on any partition on the machine running the pre-release build).
3. Browse to the sources directory.
4. Open the file cversion.ini in a text editor like Notepad.
5. Modify the MinClient build number to a value lower than the down-level build. For example, change 7100 to 7000 (pictured below).
6. Save the file in place with the same name.
7. Run setup like you would normally from this modified copy of the image and the version check will be bypassed.

These same steps will be required as we transition from the RC milestone to the RTM milestone.

Download Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.5 for Windows 7

The Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) version 5.5 contains the necessary tools and documentation to evaluate and mitigate application compatibility issues before deploying Windows 7, Windows Vista®, a Windows Update, or a new version of Windows® Internet Explorer® in your environment.

The Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) 5.5 helps customers understand their application compatibility situation by identifying which applications are compatible with the Windows 7 RC and Windows Vista® operating system and which require further testing. ACT helps customers lower their costs for application compatibility testing, prioritize their applications, and deploy Windows more quickly.
You can use the ACT features to:

• Verify an application’s compatibility with a new version of the Windows operating system, or a Windows Update, including determining your risk assessment.
• Become involved in the ACT Community, including sharing your risk assessment with other ACT users.
• Test your Web applications and Web sites for compatibility with new releases and security updates to the Windows® Internet Explorer® Internet browser.

You can download the Microsoft ACT here

Windows 7 RC technet page is live

The Windows 7 RC page was live yesterday and the published date stated that it would be released in May 2009 contrary to the previous rumours regarding it’s release on April 10.

Here is what the page reads-

Windows 7 Release Candidate
Published: May 2009
Download instructions

Welcome to Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) testing. We’re on our way to Windows 7, and the RC is a great opportunity for IT professionals like you to take Windows 7 and begin testing it in your real environment. You get to see what’s coming, and we get to see if our changes and fixes from the Beta testing are working correctly. We want to encourage you to install and actively test the RC code. This will help us ensure Windows 7 is the best possible release, and help you get ready for Windows 7 deployment.

Here’s what you need to know:

• This is pre-release software, so please read the following to get an idea of the risks and key things you need to know before you try the RC.
• You don’t need to rush to get Windows 7 RC. The RC release will be available at least through June 2009 and we’re not limiting the number of product keys, so you have plenty of time.
• Watch the calendar. Windows 7 RC will expire on June 1, 2010. So if you install the RC release you’ll either need to upgrade to the final version of Windows 7 before that date, or install a prior version of Windows. (For more about installing Windows, see installation instructions.
• Protect your PC and data . Be sure to back up your data and please don’t test Windows 7 RC on your primary home or business PC.
• Technical details/updates: before installing the RC please read the Release Notes, and Things to Know for important information about the release.
• Keep up with the news. You can keep up with general technical information and news by following the Springboard Series blog or Windows team blog. Want technical guidance, tips, and tools? Visit the Springboard Series on TechNet.
• And, you can get non-technical news, tips, and offers on the Springboard Series on TechNet
• Keep your PC updated: Be sure turn on automatic updates in Windows Update in case we publish updates for the RC.
• Microsoft Partners: Learn more about Windows 7on the Microsoft Partner Portal.

Here’s what you need to have:

• Internet access (to download Windows 7 RC and get updates)
• A PC with these minimum recommended specifications:
  • 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor or higher
  • 1 GB of system memory or more
  • 16 GB of available disk space
  • Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB memory (to enable the Aero theme)
  • DVD-R/W Drive

Please note these specifications could change. And, some product features of Windows 7, such as the ability to watch and record live TV or navigation through the use of "touch," may require advanced or additional hardware.

Get the download

The 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows 7 RC are available in five languages: English, German, Japanese, French, and Spanish. (Note: The RC version will not be available in Hindi or Arabic.) Just choose the version that fits the system you’ll be using, pick your language, and click go to register for and download the RC.

Downloading the Windows 7 RC could take a few hours. The exact time will depend on your provider, bandwidth, and traffic. The good news is that once you start the download, you won’t have to answer any more questions - you can walk away while it finishes. If your download gets interrupted, it will restart where it left off. See this FAQ for details.

Existing TechNet Plus subscribers, download the Windows 7 RC software here. Not a subscriber yet? Learn more about TechNet Plus.

Select the Windows 7 RC version you want to download

Choose between the 32-bit and 64-bit versions, based on the version of Windows you are currently running and your machine’s hardware configuration. Each version is available in five languages: English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish.

Download the 32-bit (x86) version: Select Your Language English French German Japanese Spanish

Download the 64-bit (x64) version: Select Your Language English French German Japanese Spanish

Information about Windows 7 is preliminary and subject to change. Some product features of Windows 7, such as the ability to watch and record live TV or navigation through the use of "touch," may require advanced or additional hardware. The features and functionality you find in the pre-release product may not appear in the final version of Windows 7. If we change the software before it’s released, we’ll change this information accordingly. We’re not making express or implied warranties with this information.

The 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows 7 RC would be available in five languages: English, German, Japanese, French, and Spanish.The RC version of Windows 7 would expire on 1st June 2010,and the specifications remains the same as the beta version of Windows 7

Windows 7 build 7057 x86 leaked

Windows 7 builds are being leaked pretty fast just before we are expecting the release of Windows 7 RC.After Windows 7 Build 7048, the Windows 7 build 7057 32 bit has been leaked on the net.The build string is 7057.0.x86fre.winmain.090305-2000 which clearly states that the build was compiled on 5th March.

Few things to note that contrary to the previous builds these build would expire in March 2010 and contrary to the Windows 7 build 7048 in which the EULA states it to be BETA version,in build 7057 EULA states it to be Windows 7 Release Candidate.

The changes in it are the new logon and shutdown screens and addition of new wallpapers.The file name is 7057.0.090305-2000_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GB1CULFRER_EN_DVD.iso.

We would be soon uploading the new wallpapers found in Windows 7 build 7057

Download Windows 7 build 7057 wallpapers and user pictures

As we have already stated that Windows 7 Build 7057 has been leaked on net,here are some of the goodies found in Windows 7 build 7057.

Windows 7 build 7057 wallpapers

Some new wallpapers has been added to Windows 7 build 7057.These wallpapers has been categorised as Architectures,Characters,Landscapes,Nature,Scenes

Download Windows 7 build 7057 architecture wallpapers

Download Windows 7 build 7057 characters wallpapers

Download Windows 7 build 7057 Landscapes wallpapers

Download Windows 7 build 7057 Nature wallpapers

Download Windows 7 build 7057 Scenes wallpapers

Download Windows 7 build 7057 wallpapers (All in one)

User Pictures

This build of Windows 7 has atleast twice the number of user pictures as in Windows Vista.

We have uploaded the user pictures on our server for better download speeds.

Download Windows 7 Build 7057 user pictures here

To use these user pictures on XP, copy these user pictures to: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures

To use these user pictures on Windows Vista or earlier version of Windows 7, copy these user pictures to: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures

Some Other Download Links from build 7048

Download Windows 7 Build 7048 Icons

Download Windows 7 Build 7048 Sample Video

Download Windows 7 Build 7048 Wallpapers

Download Windows 7 Build 7048 sounds

Windows 7 build 7048 screenshots

After previous rumours about the Windows 7 build 7048,which was subsequently declared that it wasn’t actually  by Sinofsky himself. This time Mydigitallife has posted screenshots of Windows 7 build 7048.Windows 7 build 7048 full tag version is 7048.0.x86fre.winmain.090219-1845 which clearly states that the build was created on 19th Feb 2009.However it’s still unclear whether the build belongs to the RC escrow category or the build to be provided to public in April.

One thing worth noteworthy is that the Send Feedback link on the title bar of Windows has been removed.

Windows 7:Some Changes Since Beta for the RC(Build 7033)

It should be no surprise but the Release Candidate for Windows 7 will have quite a few changes, many under the hood so to speak but also many visible.  Some have asked if the featureset is "frozen" then what will we change–we change a lot of things in the beta based on feedback and we try to do so in a systematic manner with the focus on the goals for the release.  The goal of having a fully functional Beta was to make sure we received reliable feedback and not a lot of "hey this doesn’t work at all" sorts of reports.  This has allowed us to really focus on delivering a refined RC where the changes we made are all the reflection of feedback we have received.

The post made on the Engineering Windows 7 blog is long enough,so we arent going to post the whole thing here,just check the new enhancements and addition to Windows 7 RC on the E7 Blog.

One thing to note is that the last image is of Windows 7 Build 7033 (We doesn’t had any information about it earlier) which is indeed pretty old the latest build is Build 7047, so we are hoping to see some more new features in the upcoming builds

Microsoft is already working on Windows 7 RC

Microsoft is apparently working on the Release Candidate version of Windows 7.

Geeksmack reports through the unnamed sources that the Windows 7 RC build has already been compiled by Microsoft. The Build number is 7048 and the complete build string is 7048.winmain_win7rc1.090211-1625 which clearly states that the build is RC 1 and was compiled on 9th Feb 2009 .

If the information from the source is correct then we could see the public version of Windows 7 RC soon.We already knew that Microsoft has already working on Windows 7 Build 7034,according to the twitter posts

So far no other information is available about the build,we would be posting as soon as we find some more info about it.

Source- Windows 7 News