To help make sure you have a great experience, please read this section before you install the software.
What you need to know before you begin:
If you’ve installed Windows 7 Beta on your PC, you’ll need to back up your data, and do a clean installation of the RC. Then you’ll need to reinstall your programs and restore the files, settings, and other information you want to use for testing.
While we consider this a stable and high-quality pre-release version of Windows, the RC is not the finished product. It could crash your computer or cause you to lose important files or information.
You’re pretty much on your own as you test the software. You need to be comfortable setting up and troubleshooting a PC. If you have a problem, you can find a lot of help from other testers online, but we’re not providing formal tech support. Before installing the software please read these two documents for important information: Things to Know and Release Notes.
IMPORTANT: The RC will expire on June 1, 2010. Starting on March 1, 2010, your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. Windows will notify you two weeks before the bi-hourly shutdowns start. To avoid interruption, you’ll need to rebuild your test machine using a valid version of Windows before the software expires. You’ll need to rebuild your test PC to replace the OS and reinstall all your programs and data. (To learn more, see Frequently asked questions.)
Things you need to have before you start:
Dedicated test PC: Please don’t test the RC on your primary home or business PC.
Data backup: The information on your PC will not be saved during installation. Back up your PC before you start, and frequently during testing. You can back up files to an external hard disk, a DVD or CD, or a network folder. (See How to back up a PC.) If you’re running Windows 7 Beta on the PC you’ll use for test, you can use Windows Easy Transfer to create a backup on an external drive. To find and launch Windows Easy Transfer, just type “easy” in the Start search box.
Recovery disc: A recovery disc restores your computer to its out-of-the-box state. Most computers come with one. If yours didn’t, contact your PC maker.
Antivirus program: Make sure your antivirus program is up-to-date, run it, then disable it before installing Windows 7 RC. When you finish the installation, remember to re-enable the antivirus program.
Internet connection: Be sure to connect to the Internet after you finish the installation. Being connected helps make sure you get useful security and hardware updates. We recommend you keep your PC set to automatically check for updates through Windows Update.
Getting ready to install the Release Candidate
What you’ll need:
A blank DVD
A PC with a DVD burner
A PC for testing with these system requirements:
1 GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
1 GB RAM (32-bit) / 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
16 GB available disk space (32-bit) / 20 GB (64-bit)
DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
Please note: Some product features of Windows 7, such as the ability to watch and record live TV or navigate through the use of “touch,” might require advanced or additional hardware.
How to download the Windows 7 RC
Visit the Windows 7 RC download page.
Choose your language.
Choose a 32-bit or 64-bit version of the RC. To see if your computer can run a 64-bit version of Windows, in Performance Information and Tools (Start>Control Panel>Performance Information and Tools) click View and print details and then look under 64-bit capable. For more information that might help with your decision, see 32-bit and 64-bit Windows: Frequently asked questions.
Get a Windows 7 RC product key. (You can use the RC for 30 days without a product key, then you’ll need it for activation.)
Download the Windows 7 RCHow to create an installation DVDThe RC download is an ISO file, which you’ll need to burn onto a blank disc before you can install it. To do that, you’ll need to use software designed for burning ISO files.
In addition to commercial ISO burning software, there are free programs such as ISOBuster and Active ISO Burner. To find one, go to a site such as Download.com or Tucows and search for “ISO,” “DVD,” and “burn”.
Follow the instructions that came with your program to create a Windows 7 RC installation disc.
You’ll need to do a “clean installation.” That means you can’t upgrade an existing PC to Windows 7 RC. So if you’re using an existing PC and want to keep the information on it, you’ll need to back it up before you start.
How to install the Windows 7 RC
Turn on your computer, insert the Windows 7 RC installation disc you created in step 2 into the computer’s DVD or CD drive, and then do one of the following:
If you want to replace your computer’s existing operating system with the Windows 7 RC, and you don’t need to adjust your disk partitions, go to step 2.
If your computer doesn’t have an operating system installed, or you want to install the RC on another disk partition, restart your computer with the installation disc inserted in your CD or DVD drive. If you’re asked to press a key to boot from DVD or CD, press any key. If the Install Windows page appears, go to step 2.If the Install Windows page doesn’t appear and you’re not asked to press a key to start from DVD or CD, you might have to specify that your computer uses its DVD or CD drive as the startup device. See Start Windows from a CD or DVD. After you select your DVD or CD drive as the startup device, restart your computer, and then start Windows from the installation DVD or CD as previously described.
On the Install Windows page, follow the instructions, and then click Install now.
On the Get important updates for installation page, we recommend getting the latest updates to help ensure a successful installation and protect your computer against security threats. You need an Internet connection to get updates.
On the Please read the license terms page, if you accept the license terms, click I accept the license terms. (You must accept to continue the installation.)
On the Which type of installation do you want? page, click Custom.
On the Where do you want to install Windows? page, do one of the following:
If you don’t want to specify a specific partition to install Windows on, or create partitions on your hard disk, click Next to begin the installation.
If you already have another existing partition with enough free space and want to install the Windows 7 RC on that partition to create a multiboot configuration, select the partition you want to use, and then click Next to begin the installation. (Be sure to install the RC on a different partition from where your current version of Windows is installed.)
If you want to create, extend, delete, or format a partition, click Drive options (advanced), click the option you want, and then follow the instructions. Click Next to begin the installation. (If the Drive options (advanced) option is disabled, you need to start your computer using the installation disc.)
Follow the instructions.
Note about product keys: When you download the RC, you’ll be given a product key to use for activation. You don’t have to activate when you install the RC, but after 30 days you’ll get persistent reminders to activate. If you lost your key or have a disc without a key, just go to the Download page and start the download process. The first step is to register, and that’s where you get a product key. You won’t need to download the RC. If you have an installation disc, you can get a product key by going to the Download page and following the download process. You just need to give your Windows Live ID and register; you won’t need to download the software.
From : Microsoft
If you’ve installed Windows 7 Beta on your PC, you’ll need to back up your data, and do a clean installation of the RC. Then you’ll need to reinstall your programs and restore the files, settings, and other information you want to use for testing.
While we consider this a stable and high-quality pre-release version of Windows, the RC is not the finished product. It could crash your computer or cause you to lose important files or information.
You’re pretty much on your own as you test the software. You need to be comfortable setting up and troubleshooting a PC. If you have a problem, you can find a lot of help from other testers online, but we’re not providing formal tech support. Before installing the software please read these two documents for important information: Things to Know and Release Notes.
IMPORTANT: The RC will expire on June 1, 2010. Starting on March 1, 2010, your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. Windows will notify you two weeks before the bi-hourly shutdowns start. To avoid interruption, you’ll need to rebuild your test machine using a valid version of Windows before the software expires. You’ll need to rebuild your test PC to replace the OS and reinstall all your programs and data. (To learn more, see Frequently asked questions.)
Things you need to have before you start:
Dedicated test PC: Please don’t test the RC on your primary home or business PC.
Data backup: The information on your PC will not be saved during installation. Back up your PC before you start, and frequently during testing. You can back up files to an external hard disk, a DVD or CD, or a network folder. (See How to back up a PC.) If you’re running Windows 7 Beta on the PC you’ll use for test, you can use Windows Easy Transfer to create a backup on an external drive. To find and launch Windows Easy Transfer, just type “easy” in the Start search box.
Recovery disc: A recovery disc restores your computer to its out-of-the-box state. Most computers come with one. If yours didn’t, contact your PC maker.
Antivirus program: Make sure your antivirus program is up-to-date, run it, then disable it before installing Windows 7 RC. When you finish the installation, remember to re-enable the antivirus program.
Internet connection: Be sure to connect to the Internet after you finish the installation. Being connected helps make sure you get useful security and hardware updates. We recommend you keep your PC set to automatically check for updates through Windows Update.
Getting ready to install the Release Candidate
What you’ll need:
A blank DVD
A PC with a DVD burner
A PC for testing with these system requirements:
1 GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
1 GB RAM (32-bit) / 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
16 GB available disk space (32-bit) / 20 GB (64-bit)
DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
Please note: Some product features of Windows 7, such as the ability to watch and record live TV or navigate through the use of “touch,” might require advanced or additional hardware.
How to download the Windows 7 RC
Visit the Windows 7 RC download page.
Choose your language.
Choose a 32-bit or 64-bit version of the RC. To see if your computer can run a 64-bit version of Windows, in Performance Information and Tools (Start>Control Panel>Performance Information and Tools) click View and print details and then look under 64-bit capable. For more information that might help with your decision, see 32-bit and 64-bit Windows: Frequently asked questions.
Get a Windows 7 RC product key. (You can use the RC for 30 days without a product key, then you’ll need it for activation.)
Download the Windows 7 RCHow to create an installation DVDThe RC download is an ISO file, which you’ll need to burn onto a blank disc before you can install it. To do that, you’ll need to use software designed for burning ISO files.
In addition to commercial ISO burning software, there are free programs such as ISOBuster and Active ISO Burner. To find one, go to a site such as Download.com or Tucows and search for “ISO,” “DVD,” and “burn”.
Follow the instructions that came with your program to create a Windows 7 RC installation disc.
You’ll need to do a “clean installation.” That means you can’t upgrade an existing PC to Windows 7 RC. So if you’re using an existing PC and want to keep the information on it, you’ll need to back it up before you start.
How to install the Windows 7 RC
Turn on your computer, insert the Windows 7 RC installation disc you created in step 2 into the computer’s DVD or CD drive, and then do one of the following:
If you want to replace your computer’s existing operating system with the Windows 7 RC, and you don’t need to adjust your disk partitions, go to step 2.
If your computer doesn’t have an operating system installed, or you want to install the RC on another disk partition, restart your computer with the installation disc inserted in your CD or DVD drive. If you’re asked to press a key to boot from DVD or CD, press any key. If the Install Windows page appears, go to step 2.If the Install Windows page doesn’t appear and you’re not asked to press a key to start from DVD or CD, you might have to specify that your computer uses its DVD or CD drive as the startup device. See Start Windows from a CD or DVD. After you select your DVD or CD drive as the startup device, restart your computer, and then start Windows from the installation DVD or CD as previously described.
On the Install Windows page, follow the instructions, and then click Install now.
On the Get important updates for installation page, we recommend getting the latest updates to help ensure a successful installation and protect your computer against security threats. You need an Internet connection to get updates.
On the Please read the license terms page, if you accept the license terms, click I accept the license terms. (You must accept to continue the installation.)
On the Which type of installation do you want? page, click Custom.
On the Where do you want to install Windows? page, do one of the following:
If you don’t want to specify a specific partition to install Windows on, or create partitions on your hard disk, click Next to begin the installation.
If you already have another existing partition with enough free space and want to install the Windows 7 RC on that partition to create a multiboot configuration, select the partition you want to use, and then click Next to begin the installation. (Be sure to install the RC on a different partition from where your current version of Windows is installed.)
If you want to create, extend, delete, or format a partition, click Drive options (advanced), click the option you want, and then follow the instructions. Click Next to begin the installation. (If the Drive options (advanced) option is disabled, you need to start your computer using the installation disc.)
Follow the instructions.
Note about product keys: When you download the RC, you’ll be given a product key to use for activation. You don’t have to activate when you install the RC, but after 30 days you’ll get persistent reminders to activate. If you lost your key or have a disc without a key, just go to the Download page and start the download process. The first step is to register, and that’s where you get a product key. You won’t need to download the RC. If you have an installation disc, you can get a product key by going to the Download page and following the download process. You just need to give your Windows Live ID and register; you won’t need to download the software.
From : Microsoft
