Development of Windows 7 - Builds - Pre-release-candidate Builds

Pre-release-candidate Builds

• On February 8, 2009, build 7022 x86 of Windows 7 was leaked to file sharing sites on the Internet by a Microsoft Ukraine employee. On March 1, 2009, build 7022 x64 was leaked. Reviewers have noted that Internet Explorer 8 had been updated to RC1, a few new icons, new animation effects for Windows Desktop Gadgets with new icons and changes to Paint and a faster setup process. The build was completed on January 15, 2009.

• A 64-bit build 7048 was leaked on March 2, 2009 and the 32-bit build 7048 was leaked on March 6. One notable change of this build was that users now had the ability to turn off functionality of various Windows features, like Internet Explorer, Windows Search, and Windows Media Player via the Control Panel. Ars Technica did a roundup of some of the visual UI changes between build 7000 and 7048 and ZDNet managed to do some performance tests showing build 7048 was superior to build 7000.

• On February 26, 2009, Microsoft announced 36 major user-visible changes to Windows 7 since the Beta. On March 6, 2009, Microsoft announced that users would have the ability to turn off even more features than in Windows Vista. Some programs users would be able to turn off included Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center, Internet Explorer 8, Windows Search, and the Windows Gadget Platform.

• On March 11, 2009, build 7057 x86 was leaked and on March 13, 2009, the x64 version was leaked. Build 7057 was compiled on March 5, 2009.

• Build 7068 was compiled on March 21, 2009, and was available to select Microsoft Connect testers. On March 27, 2009, build 7068 x86 was leaked and on March 28, 2009, the x64 version was leaked. CNET journalist Rory Gee noted on a significant decrease of system resources to use build 7068.

• On April 7, 2009, the 32-bit version of build 7077, an RC escrow build, was leaked and the x64 version was leaked two days later, on April 9, 2009.