BleepingComputer.com: Windows 7 RC1 Available For Download 5 May 09

Posting this for general knowledge for all current XP users.

Windows 7 Release Candidate Announcement

On Tuesday, May 5 (PST), the RC will be available to everyone via our Customer Preview Program. As with the Beta, the Windows 7 RC Customer Preview Program is a broad public program that offers the RC free to anyone who wants to download it. It will be available at least through June 30, 2009, with no limits on the number of downloads or product keys available.

So you don’t need rush to make sure you get your copy. When you’re ready to download the RC, it’ll be waiting for you.

IMPORTANT: If you are running Windows 7 Beta you’ll need to back up your data (preferably on an external device) and then do a clean install of the Windows 7 Release Candidate. After installing Windows 7, you will need to reinstall applications and restore your files. If you need help with the installation process, please see the Installation Instructions.

If you’re running Windows Vista, you can install Window 7 RC without having to back up and reinstall your programs and data. But to be on the safe side, please do backup your data before you start.

Please note: All users of the Windows 7 Release Candidate (including Windows Vista users who have upgraded to the Release Candidate) must do a clean installation of Windows 7 RTM. Please keep this is mind as you consider downloading the Release Candidate as opposed to waiting for the general availability release.

RTM equals Released to Manufacturers. I saw a tentative date of Oct 09 for Windows 7 RTM, but that's just guesswork by those who made that statement.

I would suggest that all of us XP-users who have not installed Vista for whatever reason...might want to give a decent look to the Win 7 RC, since it will supplant Vista shortly.

I request that those of you with questions about this or any other facet of Windows 7...consider visiting the Windows 7 forum at this website or using Google to obtain more data.

Louis

Im currently running this on my laptop and let me tell you all it is amazing! It has the power of XP with the look and feel of Vista. I definatly think that Windows 7 will be a much better OS than VIsta and Xp!

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7...de-advisor.aspx

More to be added later(or how miserably my old computer fails the upgrade advisor)

Quote

That might be a real problem

Windows 7 is much better than Win XP and Vista because Win 7 is customized and it has a great looks with an animated themes.


Gibson

Improved taskbar and full-screen previews

The taskbar at the bottom of your screen is what you use to launch programs and switch between them when they're open. In Windows 7 you can pin any program to the taskbar so it’s always just a click away, and you can rearrange the icons on the taskbar just by clicking and dragging. We’ve made the icons considerably bigger, too, so they’re easier to use. Hover over the icons and you’ll see thumbnails of every file or window that open in that program, and if you hover over the thumbnail, you’ll see a full-screen preview of that window. Move the cursor off the thumbnail and the full-screen preview disappears.





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prasad

Just wondering if this thread should be closed and unpinned?

Good point.