14 DAY TRIAL // Between Beta and Release Candidate, Windows 7 jumped from Build 7000 to 7100. As the next iteration of the Windows client advances toward RTM, Microsoft has moved past the 7200 mark. Initially information on Windows 7 Build 7201 was leaked into the wild and, as it is now tradition judging from the past interim builds of the operating system, the actual bits have also been leaked and made available for download from illegal third-party sources, including BitTorrent websites.
Reports indicate that both the 32-bit (x86) and the 64-bit (x64) flavors of Windows 7 Build 7201 are available for download. Windows 7 6.1.7201.0.winmain_win7ids.090601-1516 is not available through the official Microsoft channels. The Redmond company continues even at this point in time to serve only Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) Build 7100, while working its way to releasing the operating system to manufacturing in mid-July 2009. Users should of course treat the leaked builds of Windows 7 with utmost care, and even avoid them entirely, as previous pirated releases have been confirmed to be infested with malicious code.
Wzor, the website that leaked information on Windows 7 Build 7201, claims that the development milestone is nothing short of an internal Release Candidate 2 for the platform. The bits are reported to be developed as "Internal Developer Client and Server" (IDX) releases, and only available internally at Microsoft for dogfooding (internal testing) and to select Technology Adoption Program (TAP) customers and OEM (original equipment manufacturer) partners.
Microsoft has not confirmed officially any details related to the leaked Windows 7 Build 7200. However, the Redmond company is stating that there is no RC2. “There is no RC2. There is just RC. Beta was just beta. Next up: RTM,” revealed Kevin Remde, IT Pro Evangelist for Microsoft.
32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 (Release Candidate) RC Build 7100.0.090421-1700 is available for download here.