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Just a quick hands up
for our readers that Microsoft has finally published the
Windows 7 Release Candidate publicly. Users from all
over the world can download both the 32-bit and the 64-bit
edition of the Windows 7 Release Candidate to their computer
systems. The very same announce page that was published
accidentally weeks ago is now showing once again containing
the instructions on how to download the release candidate.
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.
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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.
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Watch the calendar. The RC will expire on
June 1, 2010. 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. (Learn more
about
installing Windows.
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Protect your PC and data. Be sure to back up
your data and please don't test the RC on your primary
home or business PC.
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Tech details/updates: Before installing the RC,
please read the
Release Notes and
Things to Know for important information about the
release.
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Keep up with the news. You can keep up with
general technical information and news by following the
team blog. And, you can get non-technical news, tips,
and offers
by subscribing to the monthly Exploring Windows
newsletter.
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Keep your PC updated: Be sure to turn on
automatic updates in Windows Update in case we publish
updates for the RC.
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Installation: You can install the Windows 7 RC
on a PC running Windows Vista without backing up the
PC—but we encourage you to make a backup for safe
keeping. If you’re running Windows XP or the Windows 7
Beta, you’ll need to backup your data, then do a clean
installation of the RC, then reinstall your applications
and restore your data. If you need to do a backup,
please see
How to back up your PC for more details and a
suggestion for how to backup a PC running Windows 7 Beta
or Windows Vista.
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To learn more about the Windows 7
RC, see
Frequently asked questions.
Get the download
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, 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 internet 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 it gets interrupted,
it'll restart where it left off. See this
FAQ for details.
32-bit, 64-bit? Once relatively
rare, today’s more powerful PCs often use 64-bit versions of
Windows. If you’re not sure what to download, just match the
version you’re currently running.
Here's how to check.
Download
Windows 7 Release Candidate
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