Microsoft announced the release to manufacturing of Windows 7 Build 7600.16385 three months ahead of the General Availability deadline, on July 22nd, 2009. But the Redmond company is in no way wasting any time getting the next iteration of the Windows client “out there.” In fact, the first wave of Windows 7 RTM releases is already shipping. Original equipment manufacturers are the first to get their hands on the gold build of Windows 7. OEMs will work to pre-install Windows 7 on new computers that will be made available to customers come GA on October 22nd, 2009, approximately a year after Microsoft provided the first Milestone 3 bits at PDC08.

Brandon LeBlanc, Windows communications manager on the Windows Client Communications Team, indicated one day before the official RTM that OEMs were scheduled to start “receiving Windows 7 RTM software images beginning approximately 2 days after we officially RTM.” There is little preparation that needs to go intro distributing the OEM images of Windows 7, and this is why original equipment manufacturers are first in line to get the gold bits of Windows Vista's successor. It's now two days after RTM.

But as Microsoft announced the official RTM, Steven Sinofsky, president, Windows Division, revealed that the company had already started serving OEM partners the final development milestone of Windows 7. “[July 22nd] marks an important milestone in the Windows 7 project. The Windows 7 team is proud to share with you that a short while ago we have started to release Windows 7 to PC OEM and manufacturing partners. This means our next major milestone will be the availability of PCs loaded with Windows 7 and store shelves stocked with Windows 7 on October 22, 2009. This is a milestone we could not have achieved without the broad participation across the PC Ecosystem we have talked so much about,” Sinofsky noted.

Next in line to get Windows 7 RTM Build 7600.16385 are ISVs (Independent software vendors) IHVs (Independent hardware vendors), MSDN and TechNet subscribers. The second wave of Windows 7 RTM releases will be made available in under two weeks, on August 6, 2009. Read the complete Windows 7 RTM general availability milestones here. Access this article to get inside the Windows 7 ship room at the exact moment of RTM.