Windows 7 RTM finalized – RC users upgrade option
Windows 7 edges closer to release every day. And each new day brings new details on the release or facts surrounding it. The Windows 7 RTM now looks to have been finalized, and Microsoft has confirmed that people using the Release Candidate will have an option to upgrade to the retail version.
The Windows RTM is expected to be announced this week at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference taking place in New Orleans. It could be revealed today (July 13) or during Steve Ballmer’s keynote speech (July 14).
However, according to Geek Smack, Microsoft has already compiled the RTM (Release to Manufacturing) version of Windows 7, and it’s build 7600.16384.090710-1945. This build is sure to leak on the Internet but the legit (but not legal) copies will be competing with fakes, so caution is advised if you go searching for it on a file-sharing site.
Whether this leaked version of Windows 7 is the RTM build or whether there will be a 7700 as well remains to be seen. But the RTM version is sure to be announced during the next week, and is expected to be released to Microsoft’s partners by the end of the month. The day of General Availability is Oct. 22.
Meanwhile, Microsoft has finally answered a question that many Windows 7 Release Candidate users have been asking. Will it be necessary to revert back to an old version of Windows before upgrading to the retail version of Windows 7? Or can the RC be upgraded instead?
A Microsoft spokesman told the Chron TechBlog that, “If you are running the Windows 7 Release Candidate, and you have activated it, you will not need to reinstall an older version of Windows before using an Windows 7 upgrade disk.”
This doesn’t mean you’ll be able to do an upgrade installation, which would leave everything in place while upgrading the OS. Instead, you’ll have to make do with a custom installation, which will act like a clean install, but will retain all your old data in a folder labeled WINDOWS.OLD. Programs will have to be reinstalled. And a reinstall at a later date will require the installation and activation of your old copy of Windows XP or Vista.
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July 29th, 2009
Love the fact that when Windows 7 is released I am going to have to reinstall approximately 400GB of games and another 200 GB of applications… not allowing an upgrade from Windows 7 RC to Windows 7 final while allowing an upgrade from XP or Vista to Windows 7 RC is just ridiculous.
August 5th, 2009
Unless your games are in your Default directory, You do not need to reinstall them. They will work after another installation as well, it has been tested and confirmed to work by me.
Nomi