Win 7 Build 7264 No Longer Accepts Beta/RC Keys

By Marcus Yam
published

Could this be one of the major steps to RTM?

According to various reports, Windows 7 build 7264 has just been leaked and is now available for download on torrent channels.

The continued surge in the build number signifies little else other than Microsoft is still making small changes before the operating system hits the 'final' release to manufacturing stage.

Build 7264 offers a good sign that it's nearing the RTM stage, the product keys used to activate both the beta and release candidate no longer work. This could mean that Microsoft has integrated into this version the final activation key code structure that’ll be used for the final release. Also, the file name for the release is "6.1.7264.0.win7_rtm.090622-1900," which contains three very specific letters.

Interestingly, 7264 isn't the latest build, as a Softpedia reports that there exists a "6.1.7265.0.win7_rtm.090624-1905," which hasn't yet leaked.

If all goes as planned, Microsoft will be hitting RTM sometime this month.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
8 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Netherscourge
    Ok, call me dumb.

    What does R.T.M. stand for?
    Reply
  • scook9
    i would want to keep the final activation code structure a secret as long as possible.....you know that someone already has this and is working on a crack for it.
    Reply
  • hemelskonijn
    Release To Manufacture

    Or in other words the product is matured enough to come out of beta.
    Reply
  • tommysch
    Concept > Alpha > Beta > RC > RTM/Gold > You giving money to MS
    Reply
  • Kill@dor
    I'm still using 7100 build...and i plan on using that build on another PC for general use, will the keys not work to active?
    Reply
  • Harby
    They'll continue to work fine as long as you use them for beta/rc.
    Reply
  • randomizer
    scook9i would want to keep the final activation code structure a secret as long as possible.....you know that someone already has this and is working on a crack for it.I'm sure MS knows that a few days is all that is needed to crack it anyway.
    Reply
  • So, the final version has been built already, as of July 13. Now, if I don't want to wait till October 22 and want to install the final now, and if it does not accept the beta/RC keys, does that mean that the final version is not usable until we can actually get the right keys for it? Thanks!
    Reply