Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) Public Download Links Are Live

It looks like Microsoft has learned its lesson with the delivery of Windows 7 Beta Build 7000. The Redmond company jumped the gun on the pre-announced deadline for the availability of the Release Candidate development milestone and started serving the bits a day early, with downloads running smooth. At this point in time, both the 32-bit and the 64-bit flavors of Windows 7 RC are available for public download. What does this mean? Unlike on April 30, when only MSDN and TechNet subscribers were allowed access to the bits, now all users can download their own copy of Windows 7 RC Build 7100.0.090421-1700, completely free, as well as get the product keys from Microsoft to activate the platform.

“You don't need to rush to get the RC. The RC will be available at least through July 2009 and we're not limiting the number of product keys, so you have plenty of time,” Microsoft revealed in the documentation accompanying the RC download. Build 7100 is available in no less than five languages: English, German, Japanese, French, and Spanish. Microsoft is no longer offering the Hindi and Arabic variants as it did with Beta Build 7100, replacing the localized versions with French and Spanish. The only reason why Hindi and Arabic were considered for the Beta of Windows 7 was the need to run Globalization Engineering tests.

“Watch the calendar. The RC will expire on June 1, 2010. Starting on March 1, 2010, your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. Windows will notify you two weeks before the bi-hourly shutdowns start. To avoid interruption, you’ll need to install a non-expired version of Windows before March 1, 2010. You’ll also need to install the programs and data that you want to use,” Microsoft added.

The software giant is encouraging users willing to test drive Windows 7 Release Candidate to either perform a clean install, or to upgrade from Windows Vista. Instructions on how to upgrade from Beta Build 7000 or a pre-RC release to Build 7100 can be found here. This link will provide you with an insight into Windows 7 Release Candidate in case you are not yet convinced to try the operating system out. The minimum system requirements for Windows 7 RC can be found here.

32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 (Release Candidate) RC Build 7100.0.090421-1700 is available for download here.