Microsoft is making headway with the development of Windows 7 and closing on the availability of the first and only Release Candidate of the operating system. In this regard, the Redmond company has reportedly already signed off on Windows 7 RC. 7100.0.winmain_win7rc.090421-1700 is the full version of the Release Candidate bits for the next iteration of Windows. Microsoft has of course offered no official confirmation on the build string for Windows 7 RC Build 7100. The Redmond company has also not commented on self-leaked information that it has already made Windows 7 RC Build 7100 available to partners, and that MSDN and TechNet subscribers would be receiving the green light for downloads by the end of April with the public release planned for the first week in May.

The last pre-RC build of Windows 7 to make it into the wild was tagged 7077. The Release was indicated as the RC-Escrow build, again with Microsoft mum on the matter. Subsequently information and screenshots on Windows 7 Build 7082 were leaked. Wzor indicated that Microsoft had been hard at work, making its way toward Windows 7 RC Build 7100, having compiled the following development milestones: 6.1.7078.0.winmain_win7rc.090406-1758, 6.1.7079.0.winmain_ win7rc.090407- 1902, 6.1.7080.0.winmain_ win7rc.090408- 1900, 6.1.7081.0.winmain_ win7rc.090409- 1900, 6.1.7082.0.winmain_ win7rc.090410- 1901, 6.1.7083.0.winmain_ win7rc.090413- 1900, 6.1.7084.0.winmain_ win7rc.090414- 1900, 6.1.7085.0.winmain_ win7rc.090415- 1900, 6.1.7086.0.winmain_ win7rc.090416- 1900, and 6.1.7087.0.winmain_ win7rc.090417- 1900.

Windows 7 RC Build 7100.0.winmain_win7rc .090421-1700 was signed off on April 21, 2009, according to the version number. The software giant is looking to offer the bits via MSDN and TechNet by the end of this month. At the same time, Microsoft pointed to May 5, 2009 as the deadline for the availability of Windows 7 RC. Along with the Windows 7 client, the software giant will also serve Windows Server 2008 R2 RC. Of course, with Microsoft offering nothing on Windows 7 RC through the company's official channels, all leaked information should be taken with a grain of salt.