Rumors of Windows 7 Release to Manufacturing (RTM) being finalized shook the blogosphere yesterday as Wzor reported that Windows 7 RTMed at Build 7600. In response to the raging rumors, Microsoft’s Brandon Leblanc posted on the Windows Team Blog stating that Windows 7 RTM has not yet been signed off. Brandon informed the public that when Windows 7 RTMs in the second half of July, an announcement will be made on the Windows 7 Team Blog.

He also provided some detail on the process behind when a milestone such as RTM is reached:

Another thing to keep in mind is that when we do a specific build internally of Windows 7 we have an extensive step-by-step validation process to ensure quality. This process takes time. Just because a single build may have “leaked” it does not signal the completion of a milestone such as RTM. As always, don’t believe everything that you read on the Internet – except this post .

What exactly does this mean?

Microsoft is saying that Windows 7 RTM has not yet been signed off. Build 7600 may still be the RTM build if it checks out fine.

Upgrading from Windows 7 RC to RTM

Many were wondering whether an in-place upgrade from Windows 7 RC to RTM could be done. The official word on this is no. Users would be required to do a Custom Installation, which is also known as a clean install. Microsoft has discouraged the use of in-place upgrades between builds but also provided a workaround for those who insisted. The workaround relied on a file on the installation image called cversion.ini, which still seems to exist on the latest leaked build. This suggests that the workaround may continue to work with Windows 7 RTM.

Technet and MSDN

Technet and MSDN subscribers will be able to download Windows 7 RTM a few weeks after its announced. As we already know, Windows 7 Beta and RC keys will not work with the RTM.

Rumors from Wzor

Russian Windows rumour site Wzor has updated its Windows 7 RTM post. Here’s a direct translation from Google Translate of the most recent update:

The fact that this 7600.16384.090710-1945 is not yet final assembly, I am sure at 99.99%, but this naiblizhayshaya assembly to the finale, finale may be something like this: 7600.19000.
That if you follow the lines of how they were going to Windows Vista with SP2, but there was the case before the finale:
- At Microsoft also identified the final build, they then became the 6002 and dale went, gone, scrambled to gather the assembly for assembly:
6002.18001
6002.18002
6002.18003
6002.18004
6002.18005 – and here it 6002.18005.090410-1830 assembly became the official final release of Windows Vista with SP2.
That’s worth to think about this finale 7600.16384.win7_rtm.090710-1945 finals or not Windows 7!

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Related posts:

1. Rumor: Windows 7 RTM sign off on July 13 [Updated] Russian rumor w
2. Windows 7 RTM at Build 7600 – Download Leaked (updated x7) Wzor is reporti

. Read the rest at windows7center.com.