Microsoft admitting that it has been so focused on building Windows 7 that it actually managed to put a stop to communicating any actual details or information on the next iteration of the Windows client is the closest that you will be able to come to the official confirmation that the Release Candidate build is just around the corner.

Windows boss Steven Sinofsky explained that the radio silence on the official Engineering Windows 7 blog was catalyzed by the amount of work the software giant poured into the operating system. Of course, there was no mention of the Release Candidate for Windows 7.

Sinofsky, Senior Vice President, Windows and Windows Live Engineering Group, only mentioned that “Also, as you have noticed, the site has had some uptime troubles over the past 10 days or so and I think we’re all back to normal. That’s ok since we’ve also been pretty busy in the Windows 7 hallway,” and strategically placed a smiley face at the end of the phrase. Yes, the Windows 7 RC is coming.

According to information leaked in the wild, Microsoft has already signed off the code for Windows 7 Release Candidate. The Win7 RC will be Build 7100. More specifically, the full build string is 6.1.7100.0.winmain_win7rc .090421-1700, compiled on April 21.

However, not even at this point in time is Microsoft breathing a single word on the availability of Windows 7 RC Build 7100, although the release is imminent. The Redmond-based company is reportedly planning to offer Windows 7 RC Build 7100 bits to partners, then to MSDN and TechNet subscribers by the end of April and then to the public on May 5.

At the time of writing this article, Windows 7 RC Build 7100 was not yet live on MSDN or TechNet. But be sure to keep the download pipes wide opened - the Release Candidate for Windows 7 is coming your way.