UPDATE @ 3:13 PM EST, 4/18/09: It appears that the page may have been activated for TechNet Gold subscribers. Reports are trickling in that the release candidate uses build number 7200, something nobody expected. Obviously this is all hearsay at this point, but it’s an interesting piece of conjecture that we’re working hard to confirm.
UPDATE @ 4:22 PM EST, 4/18/09: The build 7200 string is a hoax. Back to guessing!
Original information: Less than a month after accidentally confirming a May release candidacy for Windows 7, Microsoft has again slipped up and confirmed the precise day: May 5.
It appears that some time early this morning, Microsoft activated the release candidate download page for MSDN and TechNet subscribers, both of whom receive a release a few days ahead of the general public. While the download is unavailable and the page may go offline at any time, we have to give Microsoft our thanks for errantly clearing up another big question mark in Windows 7’s lifecycle.
We are pleased to announce that Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) is available. Windows 7 RC is the prerelease version of Windows 7. Since this is not the final release, your PC will gather and send information to Microsoft engineers to help them check the fixes and changes made based on testing of Windows 7 Beta.
Test-drive Windows 7 RC today to see for yourself-and to show your colleagues and customers-how Windows 7 delivers improved management, security, reliability, and performance.
Download Windows 7 RC
Partners: If you have a subscription to MSDN or TechNet, you can download Windows 7 RC now. Otherwise, you can download Windows 7 RC starting May 5, 2009.
Eager beavers who want to take a look at the page have been treated to a screencap beyond the jump.
Windows 7 RC1
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