The much-anticipated operating systems Windows 7 hit RTM (Release To Manufacturing) status today (Wed July 22, 2009) which means, in layman’s terms, the program is officially done. The build number is 7600.
Windows Server 2008 R2 hit RTM today as well. Read about it on the Windows Server Blog:
When to expect Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM
Now comes the hard part – more waiting…
Here are the Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 dates you need to be aware of:
- July 1, 2009 – Win7 Beta (Build 7000) starts shutting down every 2 hours, as does the Server 2008 R2 Beta.
- July 22, 2009 – Windows 7 (Build 7600) hits Release To Manufacturing (RTM) status
- July 29, 2009 – OEMs will receive Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM.
- Aug 1, 2009 – Win7 Beta (Build 7000) expires and stops working.
- Aug 6, 2009 – Windows 7 available on TechNet and MSDN subscriptions in ENGLISH, also available to Independent Software Vendors (ISV) and Independent Hardware Vendors (IHD) on this date.
- Aug 7, 2009 – Software Assurance (SA) customers can download Windows 7
- Aug 14, 2009 – Server 2008 R2 available for download on MSDN.
- Aug 16, 2009 – Certified and Gold Partners can download Windows 7 through the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) in ENGLISH
- Aug 19, 2009 – Server 2008 R2 available for download to Volume License (VL) via the (VLSC) and to Certified and Gold Partners via the Microsoft Partner Program Portal (MPP).
- Aug 20, 2009 – Win7 RC1 (Build 7100) no longer available for download
- Aug 20, 2009 – You can download the 180-day evaluation version of Server 2008 R2 at the following URL.
- Aug 23, 2009 – Windows 7 available in the Microsoft Action Pack Subscription (MAPS) for download
- Sep 1, 2009 – Windows 7 available for purchase through Volume Licensing (VL) and Windows Server 2008 R2.
- Oct 1, 2009 – Windows 7 available on TechNet and MSDN subscriptions in OTHER languages, also Certified and Gold Partners in OTHER languages on the same date through the Microsoft Partner network (MPN).
- Oct 22, 2009 – General Availability (GA) of Windows 7 in retail stores
- Feb 15, 2010 – Win7 RC1 (Build 7100) will warn you with an “Is Expiring” message that in 2 weeks it will start shutting down bi-hourly.
- March 1, 2010 – Win7 RC1 (Build 7100) starts shutting down every 2 hours.
- June 1, 2010 – Win 7 RC1 (Build 7100) expires.
Want to download and try out the Release Candidates?
Here are the download links (until Aug 20, 2009):
- Windows 7 Release Candidate (Build 7100)
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx - Windows Server 2008 R2 Release Candidate ISO
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/dd459137.aspx - Windows Server 2008 R2 RC Evaluation Virtual Hard Drive (VHD)
Images for Hyper-V
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=053691A9-9FA8-47F2-916C-3FC8B02284B6&displaylang=en
Here’s a short video of the Windows 7 RTM Sign-Off celebration:
Congratulations to Microsoft and the Windows 7 Team on delivering an awesome product that will finally lay XP to rest (though it may still live on virtually in XP Mode).
Source: Eric Ligman’s blog