14 DAY TRIAL // On March 30, 2010, Microsoft revealed that free Windows 7 downloads would be kept alive until the end of 2010. But when it comes down to free Windows clients available as free downloads from the Redmond company itself, there’s even more good news for customers. The Internet Explorer Application Compatibility VPC images have been updated and the new versions are now up for grabs from the Microsoft Download Center. What the company is offering users is virtualized copies of Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista, which can be run as virtual machines in Virtual PC.
There are no less than five VPC images available for download, three of XP SP3 and the remaining two featuring Vista. The images have been packaged as virtual hard disk VHD files, which need to be run in Virtual PC 2007. However, customers will be able to use any virtualization solution with support for VHD files, including Windows Virtual PC in Windows 7.
Microsoft is offering “IE6-on-XP-SP3.exe [that] contains a Windows XP SP3 with IE6 VHD file. Expires July 1, 2010. IE7-on-XP-SP3.exe contains a Windows XP SP3 with IE7 VHD file. Expires July 1, 2010. IE8-on-XP-SP3.exe contains a Windows XP SP3 with IE8 VHD file. Expires July 1, 2010. IE7-VIS1.exe+IE7-VIS2.rar+IE7-VIS3.rar contain a Vista Image with IE7 VHD file. Expires 120 days after first run. IE8-VIS1.exe+IE8-VIS2.rar+IE8-VIS3.rar+IE8-VIS4.rar contain a Vista Image with IE8 VHD file. Expires 120 days after first run. For The Vista image, you will need files in that set, downloaded and in the same directory, then run the EXE in the root directory.”
As I told you yesterday, Microsoft has also prolonged the availability of the free version of Windows 7 Enterprise, the trial release that the company is offering to IT professionals for testing. According to the software giant, high demand from customers has catalyzed the pushing back of the download discontinuation deadline until December 31st, 2010.
Internet Explorer Application Compatibility VPC Images are available for download here.
Microsoft Windows 7 90-Day Eval VHD is available for download here.
Another Windows 7 RTM Enterprise 90-Day Evaluation is available for download here.
Windows 7 RTM Starter Edition, 100-Screenshot Gallery
Windows 7 RTM Home Basic 110-Screenshot Gallery
Windows 7 RTM Home Premium 120-Screenshot Gallery
Windows 7 RTM Professional 110-Screenshot Gallery
Windows 7 RTM Enterprise 100-Screenshot Gallery