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Come and Get It! Windows 7 RC Publicly Released

Next news
9:21 AM - May 5, 2009 by Marcus Yam

It’s the single most talked about topic around these parts and it’s finally here for everyone to enjoy.

Microsoft has released Windows 7 Release Candidate to the public. The company says that there’s no reason rush in downloading it as it’ll remain available till at least through July 2009 and that it’s not limiting the number of product keys, but we know you guys want it now for its snazzy wallpaper goodness.

The RC is available in both 32- and 64-bit versions, with the former weighing in at 2.36 GB and the latter 3.05 GB.

As we reported earlier, the RC will expire on June 1, 2010. Starting on March 1, 2010, PCs still running the RC will begin shutting down every two hours.

The system requirements for the official Release Candidate are the following:

  • 1 GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
  • 1 GB of RAM (32-bit)/2 GB of RAM (64-bit)
  • 16 GB of available disk space (32-bit)/20 GB (64-bit)
  • DirectX 9 graphics device with Windows Display Driver Model 1.0 or higher driver

So, what are you waiting for? Click here to open the official Microsoft Windows 7 RC download page.

Source : Tom's Hardware US

Talkback
Add your comment
theuerkorn 05/05/2009 3:48 PM
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Anonymous 05/05/2009 3:48 PM
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I have installed The beta on less hardware than what is recommended and the experience is great... I find it more responsive than Windows XP!!! Will see if the RC does the same! Compared to vista that just took so long just to check some emails. My Mom seems to Love windows 7 too she never calls me for problems anymore... I'm a Mac fan, but this version looks promising! For once... great job Microsoft!!

tpi2007 05/05/2009 3:56 PM
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I'm downloading it now and I'm getting very good speeds of 770 - 777 KB/s (64% done, started less than half an hour ago.)

I might ask: are they doing this download speed on purpose ? Well, of course not, there are too many factors diciding the download speed. But anyhow, it's a curious thing to have all these sevens :D

omarbadr36 05/05/2009 4:11 PM
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tpi2007 :
I'm downloading it now and I'm getting very good speeds of 770 - 777 KB/s (64% done, started less than half an hour ago.)I might ask: are they doing this download speed on purpose ? Well, of course not, there are too many factors diciding the download speed. But anyhow, it's a curious thing to have all these sevens


770? wow

Ciuy 05/05/2009 4:11 PM
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does the RC update itself?

Marcus Yam 05/05/2009 4:12 PM
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theuerkorn :
Can we make this the last post of the Windows 7 hoopla? Seriously are there any more unimportant features left that can be posted?Don't get me wrong, I will likely upgrade by end of year, but this is a bit out of hand right now.


I understand your feelings that there's a little bit of Windows 7 overload right now, but this new OS will be one of the most important things to happen to the PC industry in years. It's also one of the only interesting things happening in news right now. So, there will be more Windows 7 news coming because there's still progress to report on before it hits retail shelves, plus it's related to the industry that we cover here.

But I'll do what I can though to see if we can boost our coverage of the recent Mac OS X Snow Leopard beta just to keep things even. :P

leo2kp 05/05/2009 4:18 PM
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When you get a product key for Windows 7, does that also work for the XP portion of it?

Greatwalrus 05/05/2009 4:23 PM
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Marcus Yam :
I understand your feelings that there's a little bit of Windows 7 overload right now, but this new OS will be one of the most important things to happen to the PC industry in years. It's also one of the only interesting things happening in news right now. So, there will be more Windows 7 news coming because there's still progress to report on before it hits retail shelves, plus it's related to the industry that we cover here.But I'll do what I can though to see if we can boost our coverage of the recent Mac OS X Snow Leopard beta just to keep things even.



Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

dacman61 05/05/2009 4:30 PM
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When are they going to drop the 32-bit versions of the OS?! We've had 64-bit hardware out there in the wild for many years now. It's time to say goodbye to anyone hanging on to their old 32-bit systems. I still have an AMD Athlon XP 3000+ PC that runs Windows XP just fine and will never plan on running anything newer on it because it is unnecessary for something that old. Does anyone else agree?

radiowars 05/05/2009 4:37 PM
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dacman61 :
When are they going to drop the 32-bit versions of the OS?! We've had 64-bit hardware out there in the wild for many years now. It's time to say goodbye to anyone hanging on to their old 32-bit systems. I still have an AMD Athlon XP 3000+ PC that runs Windows XP just fine and will never plan on running anything newer on it because it is unnecessary for something that old. Does anyone else agree?


I agree that we should, but it seems Microsoft WANTS two versions. Personally, I don't really mind, vause both are the same price. But better driver support gor 64bit would be nice.

fulle 05/05/2009 4:39 PM
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Posting an article today that Windows 7 RC just had its public release simply had to be done. Sure, most of us already knew, but if someone missed the exact date or something, its a friendly reminder. theuerkorn needs to STFU. And Marcus, while there are some Mac people here, and as an IT Professional I try not to show preference on OS.... the bottom line is that Mac users are the minority here, and the coverage should be no where close to even. You don't have to try to force a Snow Leopard article, unless you think it'll have information that matters.

dacman61 05/05/2009 4:42 PM
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radiowars :
I agree that we should, but it seems Microsoft WANTS two versions. Personally, I don't really mind, vause both are the same price. But better driver support gor 64bit would be nice.



Yeah the 64-bit driver support is my main reason why we need to drop 32-bit Windows OS's so that it would force PC parts manufacturers to put more effort and focus on the 64-bit drivers exclusively.

captaincharisma 05/05/2009 4:42 PM
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here's hoping that with windows 7 Nvidia will get make VIVO drivers for it now. i had some false hope for the new windows XP VM now with windows 7 but no dice with it

Lockke 05/05/2009 4:51 PM
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Can you install win7 on a current vista install and dual boot? Or would you have to partition the drive first?

gwolfman 05/05/2009 4:52 PM
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64-bit
9JBBV-7Q7P7-CTDB7-KYBKG-X8HHC
MT39G-9HYXX-J3V3Q-RPXJB-RQ6D7
RGQ3V-MCMTC-6HP8R-98CDK-VP3FM
GPRG6-H3WBB-WJK6G-XX2C7-QGWQ9
6JQ32-Y9CGY-3Y986-HDQKT-BPFPG

gwolfman 05/05/2009 4:54 PM
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gwolfman :
64-bit9JBBV-7Q7P7-CTDB7-KYBKG-X8HHCMT39G-9HYXX-J3V3Q-RPXJB-RQ6D7RGQ3V-MCMTC-6HP8R-98CDK-VP3FMGPRG6-H3WBB-WJK6G-XX2C7-QGWQ96JQ32-Y9CGY-3Y986-HDQKT-BPFPG


More 64 bit:
MM7DF-G8XWM-J2VRG-4M3C4-GR27X
KGMPT-GQ6XF-DM3VM-HW6PR-DX9G8
6F4BB-YCB3T-WK763-3P6YJ-BVH24
C43GM-DWWV8-V6MGY-G834Y-Y8QH3

Transmaniacon 05/05/2009 5:00 PM
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10 MB/s, should take me about 5 mins to get the 64 version =)

Marcus Yam 05/05/2009 5:10 PM
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fulle :
Posting an article today that Windows 7 RC just had its public release simply had to be done. Sure, most of us already knew, but if someone missed the exact date or something, its a friendly reminder. theuerkorn needs to STFU. And Marcus, while there are some Mac people here, and as an IT Professional I try not to show preference on OS.... the bottom line is that Mac users are the minority here, and the coverage should be no where close to even. You don't have to try to force a Snow Leopard article, unless you think it'll have information that matters.


I think you understood the first part of my comment in that news of the RC release just had to be done :D And I was just (half) kidding in the whole boosting Snow Leopard coverage. Of course if there's some really cool development in Snow Leopard that deserves to be highlighted, it will be. But Windows 7 is really the big thing happening right now in the industry and we're not about to ignore Windows 7-related news just because some people have had enough of it.

Thanks for reading and your support. :)

Marcus Yam 05/05/2009 5:11 PM
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gwolfman :
More 64 bit:MM7DF-G8XWM-J2VRG-4M3C4-GR27XKGMPT-GQ6XF-DM3VM-HW6PR-DX9G86F4BB-YCB3T-WK763-3P6YJ-BVH24C43GM-DWWV8-V6MGY-G834Y-Y8QH3


Thanks for posting keys, but since all keys are free from Microsoft, there isn't much point.

Also, all keys obtained during the beta seem to work and activate just fine.

gwolfman 05/05/2009 5:14 PM
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Marcus Yam :
Thanks for posting keys, but since all keys are free from Microsoft, there isn't much point.Also, all keys obtained during the beta seem to work and activate just fine.


Just in case people download it via other site instead of M$ and don't want to register for a key

Marcus Yam 05/05/2009 5:28 PM
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gwolfman :
Just in case people download it via other site instead of M$ and don't want to register for a key


True. Well, in that case, both 32-bit and 64-bit keys are interchangeable -- for anyone who is in need of key.

Tindytim 05/05/2009 5:36 PM
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Lockke :
Can you install win7 on a current vista install and dual boot? Or would you have to partition the drive first?


Why wouldn't you have to install a new partition? You can't install 2 OSes on a single partition. It's not like it's difficult to make a new partition.

[nom]Marcus Yam[/nom]But I'll do what I can though to see if we can boost our coverage of the recent Mac OS X Snow Leopard beta just to keep things even.[/citation]
Hahaha. real funny.

You're kidding right?

...right?

keither5150 05/05/2009 5:41 PM
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I am downloading it now.

I said that I might skip win 7 as vista 64 is working well for me.

They got me with the new features of Media sharing. Including media center was smart and needed. Where the hell is H.264 support?

I have 5.5 TB to fill.

Marcus Yam 05/05/2009 5:44 PM
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Tindytim :
Why wouldn't you have to install a new partition? You can't install 2 OSes on a single partition. It's not like it's difficult to make a new partition.[nom]Marcus Yam[/nom]But I'll do what I can though to see if we can boost our coverage of the recent Mac OS X Snow Leopard beta just to keep things even. Hahaha. real funny.You're kidding right?...right?



Yes, you would have to create a new partition.

And if something is newsworthy for Snow Leopard, it's news. But yeah, for the most part I was kidding and it was in response to a complaint about there being too much Windows 7-related news on this site. :D

captaincharisma 05/05/2009 6:21 PM
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Antilycus 05/05/2009 8:27 PM
Show
Antilycus 05/05/2009 8:31 PM
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dacman61 :
When are they going to drop the 32-bit versions of the OS?! We've had 64-bit hardware out there in the wild for many years now. It's time to say goodbye to anyone hanging on to their old 32-bit systems. I still have an AMD Athlon XP 3000+ PC that runs Windows XP just fine and will never plan on running anything newer on it because it is unnecessary for something that old. Does anyone else agree?



Um in case you've been living in a hole. Xenon's are not 64-bit. Intel was liceseing the technology from AMD since. I've tried multiple times ot install 64--bit windows on our servers (which are Dell 2950's) and it comes back saying that the chip is 32-bit not 64 bit.

Anonymous 05/05/2009 8:42 PM
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it is faster then bother vista and xp. thats y

antemon 05/05/2009 8:50 PM
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I'm getting 40 KB/sec

this is actually decent, i usually only get around 30. shtty third world country ISP. :(

antemon 05/05/2009 8:52 PM
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Antilycus :
Um in case you've been living in a hole. Xenon's are not 64-bit. Intel was liceseing the technology from AMD since. I've tried multiple times ot install 64--bit windows on our servers (which are Dell 2950's) and it comes back saying that the chip is 32-bit not 64 bit.



uh... directx?

tpi2007 05/05/2009 8:54 PM
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omarbadr36 :
770? wow




I am now downloading the 64-bit version and it is more unstable - is stays most of the time at 848 KB/s but sometimes it goes down to 350 KB/s for a few seconds. Still, it's an awsome speed. The 32-bit version was ready in about 45-50 minutes. This one should be done in 1h10.

I don't know if it's because I'm in Europe, Portugal. How's the download speed over in the US ?


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