Windows 7 Release Candidate

It is finally here, the Windows 7 RC (Release Candidate) is available for public download. For reference this is build 7100, and it is the Ultimate edition.

(It is also a day early, and has been up/down, so if it is not up, then it will be up at the official time, which would be later today (Tues) or Wed.)

You can get your key and a copy of the ISO from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx in either 32 bit or 64 bit form. You can download the RC from now through to July 2009, and the RC will work until June next year! (Meaning a full year of legal, free use of the RC)

If you are using the beta, remember that ISO burning is built in, just double click on the ISO file. (Or if you have an application that has taken the file type association for ISOs, you can choose Open With… and the Windows Disk Image burner will be there)

Better yet, why not install off a USB drive. Just extract the contents of the ISO to a USB drive (needs to be 4GB or larger) and boot with it plugged in. Note that you may need to change a BIOS setting, but more than likely it will just work, and it installs MUCH faster!

I can get a couple of installation DVDs and USB keys for an install-fest if people are interested, let me know if you are interested and I can try and organise something. An install fest can help for those who do not have the bandwidth at home or time at uni to download the ISO.

Check back for links to the Virtual PC and XP mode betas when they are released.

Also let us know what you think of the release candidate, just leave a comment below.