Did the Windows 7 RTM leak?

Robert Hallock 13 Jul, 2009 at 10:58am ET Article published in Tech

Update (1:13 AM, 7/14/2009): We have received confirmation from the Windows Team Blog that Windows 7 has indeed not yet been finalized.

We are close, but have not yet signed off on Windows 7. When we RTM you will most certainly hear it here. As we’ve said all along, we will RTM Windows 7 when it’s ready. As previously stated, we expect Windows 7 to RTM in the 2nd half of July.

Update (11:47 AM, 7/13/2009): Word is slowly coming forth that build 7600.16384 is the RTM, but may not the final copy that will be posted to TechNet for partner downloads. Wzor is reporting that the final TechNet ISO will be version 7600.19000. As Microsoft typically increments the major version (7600) when code has been altered, a subversion change from 16384 to 19000 could indicate an engineering signoff or changes to trivial content like themes and wallpapers.

Wzor points out that Windows Vista SP2 went through a similar series of subversion changes leading up to its RTM signoff. Windows Vista build 6002.18005 is the official string for service pack 2, but there were five 6002 builds that span 6002.18001 through 18005.

Original story follows:

The rumor wire was ablaze this weekend with unverified claims that Microsoft had delayed the RTM signoff on Windows 7 due to the discovery of showstopper bugs in the activation process on recent builds. Though we may never be able to uncover the truth, the agonizingly slow leak of Windows 7 build 7600 offers a dramatically incremented build string that points to a new milestone in Windows 7 development.

It is par for the course for the Redmond firm to artificially increase the build numbers in this manner. Windows 7’s famous beta (build 7000) skipped five build strings in its debut. Build 7105 was a straight copy of build 7075 for the purposes of developing RTM code. And the recent 7200 series jumped from 7141 to 7225 to represent the code escrow phase of RTM development. While the numbers are arbitrary, the pattern is clear: A sudden jump in build strings highlights a major turning point in Windows 7’s development.

So just what is build 7600.16384? Some say it’s the very RTM build that Microsoft will soon ship to manufacturers for the production of retail discs. Others believe that it’s an interim build spun to test for resolution of the rumored showstopper bugs.

While speculation is fun, Microsoft will soon put it to rest amidst their Worldwide Partner Conference that kicks off today in New Orleans. The announcement and details of Windows 7’s finalization are expected to be a highlight of the conference’s agenda.

+1 for RTM: No build watermark.

Build 7600 x64

File: 7600.16384.090710-1945_x64fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRMCULXFRER_EN_DVD.iso
Size: 3,075.33MB (3,224,717,312 bytes)
MD5: E6CE9644D0C7A8E1C950D257A7B2C8A4
SHA1:31849B315290EFABFD81F967ED3C553D82925E4C
CRC32: 1EE7DC6F

Build 7600 x86

File: 7600.16384.090710-1945_x86fre_client_en-us_Retail_Ultimate-GRMCULFRER_EN_DVD.iso
Size: 2385.85MB (2,501,750,784 bytes)
MD5:
SHA1: 66588F282A88D71A4A1E11BE7C093F02FBFFDDF9
CRC32:

Comments

13 Jul 2009 ~ 12:16pm shwaip 16384 is also 2^14. Take that as you will.
13 Jul 2009 ~ 1:48pm Cliff_Forster That's great. Now if sorting out what license I should pre order were a little less confusing.... :*)
13 Jul 2009 ~ 1:50pm Snarkasm Weird how it's not at all difficult for 98% of buyers. What's the variable here....
14 Jul 2009 ~ 3:36am Shorty Variables are obvious...

Moderately expensive,
slightly more than moderately expensive,
actually quite pricey,
wow how much?
and...

OMG WTF.. you want HOW much?
14 Jul 2009 ~ 3:43am mas0n I seriously don't understand the argument regarding licensing confusion. There are 3 versions. Ultimate is irrelevant, so cross that one out. We're down to 2. Pro allows Domain Join, XP Mode, and VSS backups; Home does not. If you already have XP or Vista, buy the upgrade, otherwise you need to buy the full version.

Anyone who thinks this is too difficult is probably already using a Mac.
14 Jul 2009 ~ 4:20am Nate_LapT God, dont show these people the tree of linux distros.

http://futurist.se/gldt/gldt93.png

oh wait, I just did.
14 Jul 2009 ~ 9:34am Snarkasm OHGODWHATHAVEYOUDONE
14 Jul 2009 ~ 10:49am mirage I have no idea why many people here are so blind to MS' monopoly while I saw them defending AMD vigorously against Intel's monopoly. When you can have an OS that runs the most powerful super computers and the largest web sites for free, another OS that can not handle any of these but cripples even a desktop/notebook computer requires $199 for an upgrade. This is not because the expensive OS is above the competition in performance and efficiency but just because you need that for running your favorite applications and games. This is monopoly and the price is outrageous. Windows 7 is just a bug fix of Vista and some more polish, that is all. It is only what Vista should have been in the beginning. You can not simply set an upgrade price 6x more than your closest competitor and be done with it.
14 Jul 2009 ~ 10:51am Snarkasm The market says they can.

They don't fit the definition of a monopoly according to the DoJ; as close as they might be, they're not right now.
14 Jul 2009 ~ 10:52am Thrax Or it could be that you've really not done your research, and Windows 7 contains substantial kernel rewrites. It's hardly a "bug fix," and no amount of angry hyperbole is going to make that go away.

Don't you think the monopoly argument is a bit dead, anyhow? The US has volunteered to end its oversight next year, and the company has complied with every demand of the European Union.
14 Jul 2009 ~ 11:23am mirage

Thrax wrote:

Or it could be that you've really not done your research, and Windows 7 contains substantial kernel rewrites. It's hardly a "bug fix," and no amount of angry hyperbole is going to make that go away.

Don't you think the monopoly argument is a bit dead, anyhow? The US has volunteered to end its oversight next year, and the company has complied with every demand of the European Union.

Do you think rewriting parts of kernel could be for fixing some (maybe a tiny bit of) bugs? Why would you rewrite a kernel when you had just a released a super-duper kernel with Vista? Are those rewrites bringing some even more advanced features than Vista or just better performance and efficiency?

I do not set my personal opinions based on political/economical rulings of courts. I obey the law but speak my mind.

Okay, this grumpy dude stops bitching about MS.
14 Jul 2009 ~ 11:54am mas0n No one has to run MS software to use a computer and there are plenty of options available. MS does not prevent entry to the market. It may be your opinion that they are big, mean, and smelly but the "economic rulings" you are so quick to ignore are what actually define a monopoly.

You may have serious points to make against MS, but when you play the monopoloy card most people are going to ignore you and/or assume you're a troll.
14 Jul 2009 ~ 12:06pm Thrax MICRO$OFT.
14 Jul 2009 ~ 12:09pm mirage Okay Mason, I will not use *that word* again until another lawyer brings it up. I learned my lesson by being called troll.
14 Jul 2009 ~ 12:34pm mas0n I did not actually call you a troll. I said that when you throw the word monopoly out there when describing Microsoft, most people will assume that you are a troll.

No need for a lawyer, I'm not even referring to the term monopoly in a legal sense, but from a purely economic standpoint: Microsoft is not a monopoly, by definition.

Also, have you used Windows 7? It's hardly a Vista fix. 7 is the real deal.
14 Jul 2009 ~ 12:40pm Linc

mas0n wrote:

7 is the real deal.

QFT.
14 Jul 2009 ~ 5:27pm Greg44 I agree with mirage. It's not vista SP3, but its only marginally better than vista. The xp compatiblity mode is a significant change, but that appears to be an after thought. Nonetheless I'm enjoy the 7600 build.. well atleast for the next 30 days.
14 Jul 2009 ~ 5:35pm Thrax Build 7600, like all Windows 7 builds, can actually remain unactivated for about 120 days. You get the 30 day trial period, and then you can rearm the trial period for another 30. Read more about that process over here.