Windows 7 News: Software, Virus Protection

Until now there were a couple of ways to determine if your applications were compatible with Windows 7 – you can test everything, look them up one-by-one in the Windows Compatibility Center, or inventory your production machines using the Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.5 and synchronize your inventory with hosted compatibility data from Microsoft and ISVs. For about a year, we’ve been posting regular updates to the Windows Vista Application Compatibility List for IT pros and even though compatibility between Windows Vista and Windows 7 is pretty high, there has still …

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 releases are just around the corner.  Are you thinking about deploying these new operating systems?  Get a head start with Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 4.0 to help you determine readiness of your machines and accelerate the deployment planning process. Over 690,000 Microsoft customers and partners including Costco Wholesale Corporation, Continental Airlines, and Banque de Luxembourg have already downloaded and used this toolkit to date.
Today at the Worldwide Partner Conference 2009, we are announcing the public RTM release of the MAP Toolkit for …

Windows 7 upgrade path has been published and is available for download which outlines both supported and unsupported upgrade paths for Windows 7 SKU.
Here are the tables which depict the upgrade path to different versions of Windows 7

You can download the full document here or view it online here
Search terms:win 7 upgrade home path (2)windows 7 upgrade path (2)what are latest upgrade paths for Win 7? (1)win 7 upgrade path (1)win7 upgrade path (1)

Still on the Windows 7 Beta,? You need to move to the RC and fast. Starting July 1st, the Beta will start to reboot every 2 hrs and expire Aug 1st.
Want to download the RC? The RC download program closes August 15. After that, you won’t be able to get the download, but you can still install the RC and get a key if you need one. (To get a key, just go to the Downloads page and follow the instructions.)
If you’re using the Windows 7 Release Candidate, …

The Windows 7 Training Kit for Developers includes presentations, hands-on labs, and demos. This content is based on Windows 7 RC and provides an early peak to our final training. This training kit is designed to help you learn how to build applications that shine on Windows 7 by utilizing key features such as:

Taskbar
Libraries
Multi Touch
Sensors and Location
Ribbon
Trigger Start Services,
Instrumentation and ETW
Application Compatability

Download Here

Microsoft is pleased to announce the public availability of the Beta release for the Windows 7 Software Logo Toolkit.  The toolkit allows ISVs to submit and receive the "Compatible with Windows 7" logo for their products.
Improvements, including self-test for applications, instant approval of passing applications, and a streamlined waiver process dramatically speed up the logo testing and the submission process. Fees for logo submissions have also been eliminated. 
As a valued logo partner, the "Compatible with Windows 7" program also offers a variety of benefits including co-branding, MS partner …

Windows 7 IT Pro Guides is now available for download. These documents include:
1) A What’s New in Windows 7 Guide, covering many new and changed Windows 7 features of interest to IT professionals, including DirectAccess, BranchCache and other networking technologies, VHD boot and other deployment technologies, and AppLocker, Biometrics, and other security technologies, and
2) A Windows 7 Manageability Overview Guide, covering the manageability improvements that can reduce total cost of ownership by helping to increase automation, improve user productivity, and provide flexible administrative control to meet compliance requirements.management …

Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7 RC enables IT administrators to manage roles and features that are installed on remote computers that are running Windows Server 2008 R2 (and, for some roles and features, Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2003) from a remote computer that is running Windows 7 RC. It includes support for remote management of computers that are running either the Server Core or full installation options of Windows Server 2008 R2, and for some roles and features, Windows Server 2008. Some roles and features on …

The Windows AIK is now available for download on Microsoft Downloads site
The Windows® Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) is a set of tools and documentation that support the configuration and deployment of Windows® operating systems. By using Windows AIK, you can automate Windows installations, capture Windows images with ImageX, configure and modify images using Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management (DISM), create Windows PE images, and migrate user profiles and data with the User State Migration Tool (USMT). Windows AIK also includes the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT), which enables IT …

Windows 7 RC is now available for download on the Microsoft site.Currently Windows 7 RC is available in the following languages- English,Germen,Japanese,Spanish and French. Without further posting you could download Windows 7 RC from here.
Check the Windows 7 RC FAQ’s here
The file name for the x64 bit is 7100.0.090421-1700_x64fre_client_en-us_retail_ultimate-grc1culxfrer_en_dvd.iso and the size is 3.04 GB and the file name for 32 bit version is 7100.0.090421-1700_x86fre_client_en-us_retail_ultimate-grc1culfrer_en_dvd.iso and the size is 2.35 GB
System Requirements for Windows 7 Release Candidate
1. 1 GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
2. 1 GB RAM …