14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is currently cooking not only the gold version of its next iteration of the Windows client, but also the associated resources designed to permit end users, IT professionals, hardware manufacturers, software developers, etc. to make the best out of the new operating system. In this regard, the Redmond company is gearing up to make available the Windows Driver Kit documentation for the RTM version of Windows 7. Because of the input received from developers related to the way it has packaged the WDK documentation, Microsoft will not only continue to publish the new resources online but also offer them as CHM (Compiled HTML Help).
“Thanks for all the feedback regarding the CHM version of the WDK documentation. Based on your overwhelmingly positive response, we’ll continue posting the CHM version to WHDC at major Windows release intervals (Beta, RC, RTM, etc.). The CHM for the Windows 7 RTM release will be posted near the end of July,” a member of the Windows Driver Kit (WDK) Documentation team revealed.
Since Windows 7 continues to be in pre-RTM stage, the documentation available currently is designed to accompany the Release Candidate build of the platform. Microsoft revealed that it was targeting the second half of this month for the RTM of Windows 7. Following the release to manufacturing, Windows 7 will also get the CHM version of the WDK documentation. The launch of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 is scheduled for October 22, 2009.
“By using [the Windows Driver Kit (WDK) Documentation] download, you can install an updated version of the Microsoft Windows Driver Kit (WDK) documentation for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. This version also includes pre-release documentation for the Windows 7 RTM edition of the WDK. This documentation does not include information for any future releases of the WDK,” Microsoft revealed.