I have the key to the castle -- Now where's the castle?

Dude... You're a month late! Microsoft was originally only going to let the first 2.5 million people download it. They extended availability until Feb 12th so anyone could grab it. They've since shut down the download servers. On the plus side, there's a Release Candidate coming soon. Stay tuned for more information and availability...!Oh... and for the record, I would NOT recommend grabbing a copy via the torrents. There's NO telling where that stuff has been and if anyone spiked the ISO with something nasty.

While I absolutely agree with Wolfie2k6, I am confused with terminology.Is "Release Candidate" the final version (neglecting later Service Releases), in other words the commercial "for sale" version? The term 'candidate" seems to belie that.Or is "RC" a product the Microsoft HOPES will be good enough to release to the public, but wants testers to use for awhile before actually releasing it for sale? And if so, will it be an update to all who are currently testing Win 7 Beta?

Wolfie2k6 said:Oh... and for the record, I would NOT recommend grabbing a copy via the torrents. There's NO telling where that stuff has been and if anyone spiked the ISO with something nasty.Actually, there is a way to tell: just verify the ISO's MD5 hash, which has been posted to many forums. Of course, someone could always post a fake MD5 hash. But if you find the same hash at many respectable forums, with no one contradicting it, then you can be reasonably sure it's right.

dumb de dumb dumb dumb,someone on some stray forum told me I could just change the hash key on my 99% download to make it work. trust not the way of the criminal, they tempt you then punish you. Many have downloaded illegally and many have opened the door to their bankaccounts and identities on the way.

I was one of those who downloaded System 7 while it was available yet tragically I have mislaid the serial number/key. You got a key. Can you tell me where I can get a replacement key? After 18 months of porr tecyh support and sw nightmares I am desperate to GET RID OF VISTA ULTIMATE SCREW UP EDITION and need to install System 7 ASAP!

You can get the key at the address you got the iso from. At Microsoft's. Even if you cannot download anymore, you can still get your key.

@TN_Yank Release Candidate is a version, that in theory a software company believes will be good enough to release, however, it will still have to go through a testing period. Assuming no major bugs or issue are found, the the Release Candidate often become the RTM (Release to manufacturer) which is the copy that people will end up buying. However with all software there is various testing stages. Commonly known as Pre-Alpha, Alpha, Beta, RC and RTM. However also bear in mind that each of these stages can have multiple versions of the software available. so there might be RC, and if big or problematic issues are found RC2 etc, normally software doesnt become RTM until the vast majority, hopefully all the issues in it are worked out, but sometimes that isn't the case.Whether or not Windows 7 RC will be an update or a full re-install no-one will know until Microsoft release that information.

Darianhawk told me that build 7048 could be used as an update for build 7000. Why shouldn't another build?RegardsRemPS I AM NOT SAYING EVERY SMART... SHOULD DOWNLOAD A RECENT BUILD AND GIVE IT A TRY.

Even the best programmer could not KNOW the release candidate will stand without rigorous testing. Thats what we are doing here isn't it? Risking our computers "lives" to see that the bugs get ironed out before anyone tries to sell us anything.It is a foolhardy soul who wants to use a beta to make their life easier. Ianmunro...could you get by on xp? at least we know it works ok. Ultimately screwed up seems to have frazzled your good temper....