Blogs - The Windows Blog

Update on Windows 7 Beta Availability

Due to very heavy traffic we’re seeing as a result of interest in the Windows 7 Beta, we are adding some additional infrastructure support to the Microsoft.com properties before we post the public beta. We want to ensure customers have the best...

Posted to Windows 7 Team Blog by Brandon LeBlanc on 01-09-2009

Tags: Windows 7, Announcement, Windows 7 Beta, Download, Microsoft.com

When will you get Windows 7 RTM?

When will I get Windows 7 RTM? I recognize this is an important question to have answered. Many of you have said you want to know exactly when you will be able to get your hands on RTM. Last Monday , I gave an update on RTM to close out some myths. In...

Posted to Windows 7 Team Blog by Brandon LeBlanc on 07-21-2009

Tags: Windows 7, TechNet, MSDN, Partners, RTM, Volume License, Windows 7 RTM, Beta Testers, OEM, Action Pack, IT Professionals, Business Customers, Microsoft Partner Program, Software Assurance, Developers, Consumers, Enthusiasts

Windows 7 Release Candidate Update

There certainly has been a lot of discussion about Windows 7 in the last few weeks. A lot of folks want to know when they can get their hands on the official RC, when we are going to RTM, and what I had for breakfast. I’m pleased to share that the RC...

Posted to Windows 7 Team Blog by Brandon LeBlanc on 04-24-2009

Tags: Windows 7, Windows Touch, Windows Media Player, Release Candidate, Aero Peek, Windows 7 RC

Announcing the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program & Windows 7 Pricing – Bring on GA!

Today we have some news to share around Windows 7 including answering what may be some of the “hottest” questions people have as we head toward General Availability (GA) on October 22nd. I had the opportunity to sit down with Brad Brooks , Corporate VP...

Posted to Windows 7 Team Blog by Brandon LeBlanc on 06-25-2009

Tags: Windows 7, Announcement, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Ultimate, General Availability, Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program, Pricing, Brad Brooks, Offers, Pre-order, Global, International, International Availability

Windows 7 Has Been Released to Manufacturing

I am pleased to announce that Windows 7 has RTM’d! As I mentioned previously, RTM officially happens only after sign-off occurs. What happens is a build gets designated as a RTM contender after going through significant testing and meeting our quality...

Posted to Windows 7 Team Blog by Brandon LeBlanc on 07-22-2009

Tags: Windows 7, Announcement, Partners, Feedback, RTM, Windows 7 RTM, OEM, Release to Manufacturing, Awesomeness

Here’s where we stand

I know many of you have had issues with the Windows 7 Beta site over the last 24 hours. As you may have noticed the download site has been up and running smoothly since this morning. That said, we apologize for the inconvenience that it caused some of...

Posted to Windows 7 Team Blog by Brandon LeBlanc on 01-10-2009

Tags: Windows 7, Announcement, Windows 7 Beta

Windows Vista SP1 Released to Windows Update

Today, you can now download Windows Vista SP1 via Windows Update. For those of you eager to receive the benefits of Windows Vista SP1, you can now do so. We've seen quite a bit of questions in our comments so we want to communicate as much as possible...

Posted to Windows Vista Team Blog by Nick White on 03-18-2008

Tags: Windows Vista, Announcement, Featured News, Windows Update, SP1, Windowss Vista SP1

Windows Vista Content Protection - Twenty Questions (and Answers)

A conversation has cropped up since the recent publication of a paper scrutinizing how Windows handles digital rights management, especially for HD video. I've since looped back with Dave Marsh, a Lead Program Manager responsible for Windows' handling...

Posted to Windows Vista Team Blog by Nick White on 01-20-2007

Tags: Windows Vista, Featured News, Digital Rights Management

Windows Anytime Upgrade and Family Pack Pricing

Most people buy a PC preinstalled with the edition of Windows that meets their unique needs. However, for some customers their needs may change over time. With Windows Anytime Upgrade (or WAU), we make it super easy and convenient for the small number...

Posted to Windows 7 Team Blog by Brandon LeBlanc on 07-31-2009

Tags: Windows 7, Announcement, HomeGroup, Windows 7 Starter, Netbook, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Ultimate, Aero Peek, Pricing, Windows Anytime Upgrade, Taskbar Previews, Windows 7 Family Pack, Windows XP Mode, Family Pack, BitLocker, Remote Media Streaming

Let’s talk about Windows 7 Starter

There has been a lot of talk recently about Windows 7 Starter, so I thought I’d dive a little deeper into what it means to have this edition of Windows 7 running on a small notebook PC (a.k.a. a netbook). Today, the Starter edition of Windows is designed...

Posted to Windows 7 Team Blog by Brandon LeBlanc on 05-29-2009

Tags: Windows 7, SKU, Editions, Windows 7 Starter, Netbook, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Home Premium, Small Notebook PC

Introducing the Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7

At Wall Street Journal's D: All Things Digital conference about a year ago today, Julie Larson-Green first introduced Walt Mossberg to Windows 7 and its multi-touch capabilities, which we call Windows Touch . While we’ve been working on bringing natural...

Posted to Windows 7 Team Blog by Brandon LeBlanc on 05-27-2009

Tags: Windows 7, Announcement, Multi-Touch, Windows Touch, Touch, Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7, Touch Pack

General availability for the Windows 7 Beta to end

First off: thank you for your interest in beta testing Windows 7! As we near January 24th, we wanted to update everyone again on the next steps for the Windows 7 Beta. The amount of feedback we have received has been amazing and continues to pour in....

Posted to Windows 7 Team Blog by Brandon LeBlanc on 01-23-2009

Tags: Windows 7, TechNet, MSDN, Announcement, Windows 7 Beta, Download

Update on Windows 7 RTM

I’d like to offer up a little insight into the “Release to Manufacturing” (RTM) for Windows 7. Over the past week, there have been many rumors surrounding RTM. We are close, but have not yet signed off on Windows 7. When we RTM you will most certainly...

Posted to Windows 7 Team Blog by Brandon LeBlanc on 07-13-2009

Tags: Windows 7, TechNet, MSDN, RTM, Customers, WPC09, Q&A, Volume License, Update, Windows 7 RTM, Questions

The Date for General Availability (GA) of Windows 7 is…

This is one of those posts where I’m truly excited to be writing. I get to tell you when Windows 7 will be on store shelves! According to input from customers and partners we’ve made a lot of progress with Windows 7. Our milestone-to-milestone approach...

Posted to Windows 7 Team Blog by Brandon LeBlanc on 06-02-2009

Tags: Windows 7, RTM, General Availability, Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program

Coming Soon: Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC

Windows XP Mode is specifically designed to help small businesses move to Windows 7. Windows XP Mode provides you with the flexibility to run many older productivity applications on a Windows 7 based PC. All you need to do is to install suitable applications...

Posted to Windows for your Business by Scott Woodgate on 04-24-2009

Tags: Windows 7, Virtualization, Windows XP Mode, Windows Virtual PC