It is reported from overseas on 20th, April that Windows 7 RC will be ready on 5th, May from Microsoft accidental release.

Microsoft America suddenly announced the release date of Windows 7 RC last Saturday. Seen from the website information, MSDN and Technet users can download Windows 7 RC immediately, while ordinary users cannot use it until 5th, May. But afterwards, this piece of information was deleted.

Currently, Windows 7 Beta is common since its January release from Microsoft. At first some kinds of evidence proved Windows 7 RC version would be ready at around 10th, April. Later on, it is reported the date was cancelled to May.

From RC onwards, only five months left for the formal edition. That means, the formal edition will be released in September if RC would be there in May.

Gartner, the authoritative research group also insists September would be the right time for Windows 7 RTM release. PC developers could of course be ready for a Windows 7 PC Christmas shopping season.

Now it is the Windows RC waiting period for a majority of internet users. Even we didn't get the exact RC release date, yet Windows 7 RC Engineering Team won't let us feel real disappointment in a long-term waiting. In its official blog, an inspiring article named delivering a quality upgrade experience published, in which several common problems and questions are being discussed and answered. But you won't be exciting because there wouldn't any key announcements.

Upgrade from Vista to Windows 7, there must be any procedures users wondering. But what to be sure is, there is no direct upgrading way from Windows XP to Windows 7.

Pure installation is recommended for Windows 7 RC. And Microsoft certainly won't support upgrade since Windows 7 Beta or other editions. RC edition isn't ready from Beta or any disclosed versions as usual. But it will be successful in case of bypassing version check activities. Here are the bypassing procedures:
1. Download ISO mirror and burn on a DVD.
2. Copy the ISO mirror to the memory location in which you want to upgrade (bootable flash disk or any catalog partition with the previous running versions.)
3. Scan source catalog.
4. Open cversion.ini files in text editor, e.g. notebook,
5. Alter the MinClient version number into a lower one, for example, from 7100 to 7000.
6. Save the file
7. Run the setup file in modified mirror, version checking passed.

But backup works should be done at the same time. Windows Easy Transfer could transfer your account, setting and files. Then Windows 7 RC is installed in a safe manner.

In the blog, Microsoft stated its opinion on users' complaint to disclosed version. "From time to time, we heard from bloggers complained on upgrade activities. They said it is unstable. Other users also hold questions on MSN, printer, machine and shortcut reply activities. But the worst thing is to reinstall software or machines." Microsoft appealed to the public for a correct official version instead of disclosed ones. After all, a certain safe and convenient running environment is required together with our passion to any new release.

McAfee, on March 18th, 2009, expressed support of Windows 7 Beta and launched compatible versions of anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall technology on a Beta version for home users.

Within Windows 7 Beta, users can take tests on the McAfee Total Protection Beta version. Clicking http://beta.mcafee.com, upgrade and installation instructions can be found for your information.

The compatibility testing on Windows 7 will be continually launched by McAfee. Those developers with active McAfee subscription history will be eligible for a free updating or installing service since Microsoft Corp. releases Windows 7.

McAfee is all the time engaged in tackling the world's toughest security challenges. With effective solutions and services, McAfee helps users protecting secure systems and networks. Safely connecting to the internet, we are browsing more securely. With a leading award-winning research and development team, McAfee provide innovative products aiming at home users, business the public and enabling them to keep data on a regular running process.

There is no doubt, Windows 7, as the next OS from Microsoft, has all the time deserving more attention and support from users and media. We straightly hope there will be more improvements on next OS than previous Vista. It appears Microsoft took our advice this time. According to the testing results of Windows 7 Beta version, we enjoyed, Windows 7 is faster, more reliable, and makes it easier to do what we want. The Windows 7 Era is coming, are you ready for it?

Windows 7 Software Compatibility Testing
Windows 7 final version release needs additional period of time. Currently few software developers have published versions support Windows 7, and more other publishers are waiting for the final version. We are suffering a long wait. A majority of users couldn’t wait to install Windows 7 Beta. Based on the Vista Kernel, Windows 7 includes a series of detailed developments, in which result in any more or less compatibility problem in certain software once running under Windows 7. On this basis, Microsoft launched Application Compatibility Testing worldwide for a better user experience. Hereby, we BrotherSoft, as a leading software downloading website all over the world, at current time set the Windows 7 Software Compatibility Testing, reporting software compatible test results under Windows 7 for users. Further compatibility solutions are also included. Meanwhile, we will sincerely feedback those testing reports to Microsoft Application Compatibility Testing Program.

About The Testing
Famous common software will be selected here, compatibility testing runs on Windows 7 32/64-bit. We use public release Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 for the Compatibility testing. Windows 7 RC version would be in place of testing system for its public release.

The following is about Hardware platform. Read the rest of this entry »

We are all waiting and hearing from notable changes from RC. Since Beta, Microsoft Windows 7 has brought so many surprises and we are busying on enjoying those. To our satisfaction, Windows 7 changes all the way to RC. Let's see this time how different and advanced features RC take for us.

Basically, Windows 7 insists on users'feedback and put into practice and development all the time. Based on Beta, does RC own a series of feedback? The answer is definitely yes. Well then, see the desktop improvement first!

Desktop experience
The taskbar thumbnail overflow, with scaling mechanism, really turns into a list view completely. There is a small close button on the thumbnail previews, which inspires them to add a similar one when it's showing as a list. Compared with right-clicking, to run down the list with close button is really a fantastic thing. This toolbar has been well experienced on Windows XP and Vista. Sans thumbnails are viewed architecturally the same as the thumbnail view. No clicking needs to open in Beta, each close buttons and the menus are realized opening on hover in RC.

While the Control Panel Jump List improvement takes users' feedback into operation. We all hope there is something shown in the Jump list when pinned to the taskbar. Now, right-clicking on the control panel icon in Beta, the control panel jump list in RC supplies quick access to recent used items. Similarly, power shell jump and desktop jump lists made us smile and enjoying their alternation. Taskbar settings could be further customized. In Beta, the OS is not shutdown properly, settings do not persist. But in RC, these settings can be saved within 30seconds. Settings will presently be more reliable. Read the rest of this entry »

When we are now enjoying the happiness and convenience Windows 7 Beta brought, the engineering team of Windows 7 are busying on RC (Release Candidate). Since we got this news, most of us feel curious about the change. What will we get from RC since Beta? Yesterday, we finally got the changes from official engineering blog of Windows 7.

Totally, there must be some improvements, many under the hood but also many visible. For the visible changes, we discuss from three points of view: Core User Experience, Find & Organize and Devices & Media.

Core User Experience
1. Aero Peeks supports ALT+TAB
Customers have overwhelmingly given positive feedback about Aero Peek. Some users wondered the reason why Peek was never made in application for the ALT+TAB window. When we hold the mouse over the taskbar, the thumbnail shows the same way. Hence in RC, Windows took this request into it.

As a new piece of improvement in Windows 7, the selected windows show normally. With a partially transparent frame，some website windows are mostly transparent. This time in RC, customers can switch them with ALT+TAB. Aero Peek will appear when more window information is needed. There is also another application. Some users are dedicated to touch benefits. So, the Aero Peek let us drag our fingers in taskbar's thumbnails. the show desktop button is improving, we can conveniently see our desktop in a press-and-hold way. Read the rest of this entry »

Bugs happens, there is no way out… obviously, since Windows 7 is still in its Beta stage and unfortunately, we may expect them to be present and to bother us sooner or later in our testing period. However, they are not really big or significant and of course they will never tarnish its various awesome novelties and virtues and for sure they are going to be nothing but a bad memory when beta testing feedback data is turned into improvements for the final version.

Nevertheless, Windows 7 Beta already brings some options for us to perform some troubleshooting in advance on our own. This is undoubtedly good news, isn't it? Today I'm going to tell you about some tips which are going to help us to avoid some bugs and even prevent rude comments from happening.

Troubleshooting Tool
Included in the Control Panel there is a handy tool called Troubleshooting. To gain access to the wizard you have to click "Find and fix problems" under the "System and Security" category or if you switched view to "View by: Large icons" or "Small icons" is its right there between System and Windows Defender icons. Read the rest of this entry »

In the previous article I promised to share with you some configuration tips I found very useful for Windows 7 Beta. These tips will help us to get the most of it. By now you may be thinking "Humm… You said Windows 7 Beta was ready to go from the very beginning…" I know, you are right, and today's article may seem nonsensical, but in that article I was just talking about basic operative system functioning and the fact that I didn't have to configure anything. As a matter of fact, Windows 7 Beta automatically installed most of the drivers needed for my computer to run smoothly from the first time I booted.

Nevertheless, as we usually do, we want more, the basics are never enough, are they? So, let's see what is there behind Windows 7's curtain for us to start squeezing the real juice. So, now that we've managed to impress bits to metal, our new-born Windows 7 Beta is stable and running and if like me you feel grateful and released because you didn't have to go through the painful process of installing a myriad of drivers for it to happen, we can start our OS tweaking.

Display & Taskbar
As I said that one of the things that most surprised me was that multiple monitors worked so well from the very beginning, so, that is going to be today's start tip.

Lazy Monitors, Let's Work!
As I had an extra monitor lying there with no use, I thought I could make the best of my new graphic card which has support for dual monitors, and bought an adapter that allowed me to plug it in the DVI output:

After connecting it to the port I just checked that monitor resolution was the one I desired among the possibilities my hardware brought, to do that I right-clicked desktop and went to Screen Resolution. There you can choose the display from the list and below you can adjust resolution, orientation and the way it behaves in relation to the others by selecting one multiple display setting such as extend, duplicate or to show only one. Read the rest of this entry »

Security, stability, reliability… Windows 7?
The most important part of each and every operating system is security, that is vital for two reasons: user safety and data safety. Microsoft has put huge effort into securing OS environment but until Vista we haven't seen anything special about security measures in Windows platform.

In 2007 Microsoft proved that too much is for them not enough what resulted in spawning strange creature called User Account Control. If you would ask any Vista user what UAC is they will tell you: "something I have disabled long time ago". Why? Because Microsoft thought that there is never enough security for everyday user and blasted the screen with confirmation windows: "Are you sure you want to open this link?", "Do you want to run this program?", "Still want to scratch your back?" - these are all the questions we want to forget after one day with Vista, especially when they are coming on-screen every two minutes. Now you can lay back, because Microsoft introduced upgraded version of UAC.

The primary target of previous version of UAC was to annoy the user then take care of security measures. Now we can choose how we want User Account Control to react, to question every user move or stay down and ask only for permission when the important things are coming up. We have foru levels of security in UAC. The highest one is recommended by Microsoft but avoided usually by all because it causes stress and anger. It notifies user about almost everything, opening unknown weblink from IM, running unsigned programs or openning unknown downloaded files. The level of annoyance is high. Next tier of security excludes user decisions from notification system and notifies only when programs are trying to make some changes to the system settings. Level of annoyance is moderate. Third tier is basically the same as tier two but does not dim the desktop when UAC notification comes on-screen. Level of annoyance is low. The final tier lets us turn the UAC off which leaves us with no interception system and we have to rely on ourselves. There is no annoyance at all. If it comes to other changes to User Account Control, now system detects less usual safe actions and is more precise about what we are doing. Of course if you choose highest level of security UAC is going to make your life a nightmare. Read the rest of this entry »

Beta download period is over, so, if like me you are suffering the "XP UIT" syndrome (XP User Interface Tiredness) and were successful in downloading a copy of this brand new operative system by Microsoft, we can take our next move together and go step by step into the installation and configuration.

Preliminary settings
If you could download it but did not get an activation key which will extend the testing period until August 1st, you can get it here for 32-bit and here for 64-bit.

Please be sure that your computer complies with minimum system requirements before you start installing, that would be:
• 1GHz processor (either for 32- or 64-bit versions)
• 1GB of RAM
• 16GB of free HDD space
• Graphic card which supports DX9 graphics and has at least 128MB of memory (for the Aero interface)
• DVD-R/W drive

As you can see, these requirements are not different to those for Vista (taking in consideration the almost three-year gap), thus making of Windows 7 is a really feasible upgrade if you are not willing to change your PCs just to upgrade the operative system. Read the rest of this entry »