Sorry to say, but this is not a real build. You've been duped.

What are the "Various sources, especially enthusiasts on Windows-centric forums"?

While I really really want something better than Vista or at least as good as XP - this is bad news in my opinion. There is no way MS fixed all the issues with Windows 7 beta.


Although I think it is a clear step above Vista, I've got a list of issues with Windows 7 after serious testing.

I like Windows 7 but I have some concerns that I'd like addressed before final release

First thing - EVERYONE I spoke to even at the MS booth at CES said they want the UP FOLDER back in explorer - yes there are other ways to go back one folder but the up folder was convenient.

Classic start menu - not an option - classic start menu makes it easier to support clients if they have key components such as network properties and my computer on the desktop. I'm not saying it should be the default but why not make it an option as it was in Windows XP and Vista? I realize you can put some icons on the desktop (not IE) using personalize.

Media Center won't let you click on album art cover once a song is already playing to play the new song from the album art cover. Seems only logical.

Media Center - often has static in playback - using Audigy 2z sound card.

Search works well but it would be great if the search in the start menu had a drop down just like run has in the start menu so you can repeat a search from your search history.

Aero interface stops working without message so flip 3d stops with alt-tab - using the troubleshooting fix sometimes solves it by enabling desktop manager - sometimes it can't - how do you manually enable Windows desktop manager - personalize desktop works but nothing to control the aero interface

Since most current receivers and other media streaming capable devices will support .flac file playback, it seems a shame not to use the native media player in windows as a media streaming server - instead because windows does not natively support flac playback, we have to look at alternative hardware streaming solutions or mediaplayers similar to windows media player but with flac support such as tversity or Twonky or Nero

Winver does not tell you if you are running 64 or 32 bit - computer properties would be improved if 64 or 32 bit was listed in the top section. It never states if you are installing the 32 or 64 bit version during installation.

It would be nice if it was easy to see what version and build of windows you were running by going to computer properties or by running winver - currently it tells you Windows Version 6.1 - Build 70000 - it doesn't say 7000 x64 081212-1400

During Install if you attempt to install with a brand new drive it won't install until you format the drive and reboot.

There is no desktop icon for IE - this was very handy for clear items and change settings etc before going into IE.

Do something with the 200 MB partion in disk manager so it is clear that it is a restore point or whatever - change the color of it, just make it more clearly defined.

Build 7048 was a rumor that turned out to be false. This has been confirmed by a source at Microsoft. The latest build is 7046 being tested by internal staff, the Windows Team, vendors, and private beta testers. Only build 7000 has been officially released to the public.

Build 7048 exist. Ive seen it on a microsoft employees computer.

I dont know if any one has bothered to recheck but 7048 is as reas as 7022...all the big windows guys got that build. Ever heard of paul thurrott?

I got Windows 7 on the day that the servers came back up, 1/10/2009. Will I be able to access build 7048 as an update? If so, from which site? Thanks.

today i installed a leaked 7048.winmain.090219-1845 (x64). it has all the changed i've seen mentioned elsewhere for 7048, although not all the changed that will be in RC

6.1.7048.0.x86fre.winmain.090219-1845 eventually leaked and I also installed it. It is a build on the road to RC, but not the RC build itself.

The next build to leak was as follows and I installed and tested it.
6.1.7057.0.090305-2000_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GB1CULFRER_EN_DVD
6.1.7057.0.090305-2000_x64fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GB1CULXFRER_EN_DVD

The next build to leak was as follows and I installed and tested it.
6.1.7068.0.090321-1322_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRC1CULFRE_EN_DVD

The next build to leak was as follows and I installed and tested it.
6.1.7077.0.090404-1255_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRC1CULFRER_EN_DVD

Build 7077 both x86 and x64 are the best performing and the most stable I have tested. I started testing with build 6801 (I think that was it). I have tested every build released or leaked since.

7077 is the build designated the first escrow build for release candidate compiled on 4-4-2009, with six followup builds in escrow since, which brings it to yesterdays' build 7083. No additional code changes are expected for this winmain_win7rc branch (unless a glaring bug is found) as they work toward an expected RC build 7100 in May.

7105 was created about the same time from winmain to form the release to manufacturing (RTM) branch and allow additional development in parallel to RC. The final RTM will be announced somewhere between July and September and I speculate it will be build 7700.

I have been using Windows 7 x64 Build 6.1 7077 Rc Escrow since it was
posted and have had no problems with incompatabilities except for Nvidia Graphics card driversBUT the drivers suplied with the OS are completely stable and i have been able to run a Futuremark 3D mark on the system wich means that microsoft have added most of the driver support for this. It great. at the moment i WAS using a Mac that i only got 2 months ago and was running vista and windows XP in Bootcamp but i am going to migrate back to all OPC power as these syetems i have found to run much faster and smoother than a clunky old mac technology. Mac No upgradeability. back to the build I have downloaded 7110 x86 but really want to wait for the x64 vewrsion i see no point in going backwards as all the PCs i do have are X64. the system i have is ASUS Striker Formula 8GB 1066DDR2 Intel Qx9850 Crucial PI 2X EVGA Nvidia 295 In sli 4 X 1.5 TB Seagate 7200 12, Sound ASUS Supreme HD FX Logitech DiNovo Edge Logitech Revolition MX. Logitech QC Pro 9000. all drivers and software I have installed NERO 8 Works Fine.
MS Office Pro 2007.
Miro Itunes
netmeter
Avast Antivirus
Adobe Acrobat readetr 9
Adobe Acrobat 9
Adobe acrobat Pro 9
DiVx
Winfast PVR2
Wionzip 11.1
logitech Setpont Soft
ASUS PC Probe
ASUS AI Booster
DVD Shrink 32
Windows Live Essentials
Adobe Photoshop 9
Windows Moviemaker