Development of Windows 7: Difference between revisions

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{{#REDIRECT [[Windows 7}}#Development history]]

'''Development of [[Windows 7]]''' began when [[Windows Vista]] was released. Milestone 1, Milestone 2, and Milestone 3 were sent to Microsoft's partners in 2008. In October 2008, Microsoft gave build 6801 to PDC attendees and a public beta was released in January 2009.

The release candidate was available from April 30, 2009 for MSDN and Technet subscribers, and was released to the public on May 5, 2009. The final build of Windows 7 was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/07/microsoft-windows-7-is-done-on-its-way-to-manufacturers.ars |title=Microsoft: Windows 7 is done, on its way to manufacturers |last=Protalinski |first=Emil |date=2009-07-22 |publisher=Ars Technica |accessdate=2009-07-22}}</ref> Technet and MSDN subscribers were able to download it on August 6. On October 22, the operating system was made generally available for public purchase.

==History==

In 2000, Microsoft was planning to follow up [[Windows XP]], and its server counterpart, [[Windows Server 2003]] (both codenamed ''Whistler''), with a major new release of Windows, [[Microsoft code names|codenamed]] ''Blackcomb'' (both codenames refer to the [[Whistler-Blackcomb]] resort). This new version was, at that time, scheduled for a 2005 release.<ref>[http://www.wininsider.com/news/?226 Microsoft pushes back Blackcomb to 2005]</ref><ref>[http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-966174.html .Net Server: Three delays a charm?]</ref>

Major features were planned for Blackcomb, including an emphasis on searching and querying data, and an advanced storage system named [[WinFS]] to enable such scenarios. In this context, a feature mentioned by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates for Blackcomb was "a pervasive typing line that will recognize the sentence that [the user is] typing in."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/billg/speeches/2000/07-12pdc.aspx |title = Professional Developers Conference Remarks |last=Gates |first=Bill |authorlink=Bill Gates |publisher=[[Microsoft|microsoft.com]] |date = 2000-07-12 |accessdate=2008-03-05}}</ref>

Later, Blackcomb was delayed, and an interim, minor release, codenamed "Longhorn" (named for the Longhorn Tavern between the resorts), was announced for a 2003 release.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/10/24/gates_confirms_windows_longhorn |title=Gates confirms Windows Longhorn for 2003 |last=Lettice |first=John |date=2001-10-24 |publisher=The Register |accessdate=2008-03-05}}</ref> By the middle of 2003, however, Longhorn had acquired some of the features originally intended for Blackcomb, including [[WinFS]], the [[Desktop Window Manager]], and new versions of system components built on the [[.NET Framework]]. After the 2003 "Summer of Worms", where three major viruses − [[Blaster (computer worm)|Blaster]], [[Sobig (computer worm)|Sobig]], and [[Welchia]] − exploited flaws in Windows operating systems within a short time period, Microsoft changed its development priorities, putting some of Longhorn's major development work on hold in order to develop new service packs for Windows XP and [[Windows Server 2003]]. [[Development of Windows Vista|Development of Longhorn]] was also "reset" in September 2004.

===Naming===

As major feature work on Windows Vista wound down in early 2006, Blackcomb was renamed ''Vienna''.<ref name=thurrottfaq>{{cite web |url=http://www.winsupersite.com/faq/windows_7.asp |title=Windows "7" FAQ |last=Thurrott |first=Paul |authorlink=Paul Thurrott |publisher=Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows |date=14 February 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-05}}</ref> However, following the release of [[Windows Vista]], it was confirmed by [[Microsoft]] on July 20, 2007 that "the internal name for the next version of the Windows Client OS"<ref name="zdnet592">{{cite news | first=Mary J |last=Foley |title=Windows Seven: Think 2010 |date=2007-07-20 |publisher=[[ZDNet]] | url=http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=592 |accessdate = 2007-09-19}}</ref> was ''Windows 7'', a name that had been reported by some sources months before.<ref name="thurrottfaq" /> On October 13, 2008, it was announced that ''Windows 7'' would also be the official name of the operating system.<ref>{{cite news | first=Ina | last=Fried | title=Microsoft makes Windows 7 name final | date=2008-10-13 | publisher=[[CNET]] | url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10064971-56.html | accessdate=2008-10-13}}</ref><ref name="CBC14Oct08">{{cite news|url = http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/10/14/tech-windows.html|title = For Microsoft's Windows, 7th time's a charm|accessdate = 2008-10-27|last = [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = October | work=CBC News}}</ref> Mike Nash, Microsoft's vice-president of Windows product management said:

{{blockquote| The decision to use the name Windows 7 is about simplicity. Simply put, this is the seventh release of Windows, so therefore Windows 7 just makes sense.

Coming up with an all-new 'aspirational' name does not do justice to what we are trying to achieve, which is to stay firmly rooted in our aspirations for Windows Vista, while evolving and refining the substantial investments in platform technology in Windows Vista into the next generation of Windows.<ref name="CBC14Oct08" /><ref>{{cite web

|url = http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/230106/windows-7-to-be-called-windows-7.html

|title = Windows 7 to be called... Windows 7

|date = 14 October 2008

|accessdate = 2008-10-17

|last = Collins

|first = Barry

|publisher = [[PC Pro]]

}}</ref> }}

Numbering this version of Windows as "7" has confused many users, so on October 14, 2008, Nash clarified his earlier remarks, saying:<ref name="Protalinski">{{cite web|url = http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2008/10/15/final-release-of-windows-7-to-have-kernel-version-6-1|title = Final release of Windows 7 to have kernel version 6.1|accessdate = 2008-11-24|last = Protalinski |first = Emil|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = October}}</ref><ref name="Nash14Oct08">{{cite web|url = http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/10/14/why-7.aspx|title = Windows Vista Team Blog - Why 7?|accessdate = 2008-11-24|last = Nash|first = Mike.|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = October}}</ref>

{{blockquote|The very first release of Windows was Windows 1.0, the second was Windows 2.0, the third Windows 3.0. Here's where things get a little more complicated. Following Windows 3.0 was Windows NT which was code versioned as Windows 3.1. Then came Windows 95, which was code versioned as Windows 4.0. Then, Windows 98, 98 SE and Windows Millennium each shipped as 4.10.1998, 4.10.2222, and 4.90.3000, respectively. So we're counting all 9x versions as being 4.0. Windows 2000 code was 5.0 and then we shipped Windows XP as 5.1, even though it was a major release we didn't want to change code version numbers to maximize application compatibility. That brings us to Windows Vista, which is 6.0. So we see Windows 7 as our next logical significant release and 7th in the family of Windows releases...There's been some fodder about whether using 6.1 in the code is an indicator of the relevance of Windows 7. It is not. Windows 7 is a significant and evolutionary advancement of the client operating system. It is in every way a major effort in design, engineering and innovation. The only thing to read into the code versioning is that we are absolutely committed to making sure application compatibility is optimized for our customers.<ref name="Nash14Oct08" /> }}

==Service Packs==

<!--ATTENTION: Please do not remove the Pre-Service Pack 1 section. It is not too early to write about these builds which are in existence. See the discussion page.-->

===Service Pack 1 (pre-beta)===

*Build 7138.0.winmain_sp.090523-2200, built on May 23, 2009, is the first known Service Pack 1 build. This build belongs to the winmain_sp branch, which incorporates preliminary changes as a Service Pack 1 build.

*Build 7227.0.winmain_sp.090602-2110, built on June 2, 2009, was leaked on June 9 in x86 VHD formats.

*Build 7230.0.winmain_sp.090607-2000, built on June 7, 2009, is the last known Service Pack 1 build prior to the RTM release.

*Build 7601.16485.winmain_sp.100114-1500, built on January 14, 2010, is the final Service Pack 1 build in the winmain_sp branch.

*Build 7601.16518.100302-1530, built on March 2, 2010, is the pre-beta build for Service Pack 1.

===Service Pack 1 Beta===

Build 7601.16562.100603-1800, built on June 3, 2010, is the Beta release for Service Pack 1.

Build 7601.17077.100813-0322, v.693, built on August 13, 2010, is the Beta refresh release for Service Pack 1 and the new internet browser made by [[Microsoft]] is [[Internet Explorer 9]] .

===Service Pack 1 Release Candidate===

Build 7601.17105.100929-1730, built on September 29, 2010, is the RC release for Service Pack 1.

===Service Pack 1 Pre-RTM===

Build 7601.17125.101210-1930, v.741; compiled on December 10, 2010 was leaked on December 28, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-7-SP1-pre-RTM-Build-7601-171257-Leaked-and-Available-for-Download-175000.shtml |title=Windows 7 SP1 pre-RTM Build 7601.171257 Leaked and Available for Download - Softpedia |publisher=News.softpedia.com |date= |accessdate=2011-06-15}}</ref>

===Service Pack 1 RTM===

On February 9, 2011, Microsoft officially released the final release (RTM) of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) to OEM partners. As of February 16th Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 have been available for MSDN and TechNet Subscribers as well as Volume License customers. As of February 22nd, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 has been generally available for download via the Microsoft Download Center and available on Windows Update. It has a version number of "6.1.7601.17514.101119-1850".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2011/02/09/announcing-availability-of-windows-7-and-windows-server-2008-r2-sp1.aspx |title=Announcing Availability of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 |publisher=Windowsteamblog.com |date= |accessdate=2011-06-15}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Development of Windows 98]]

* [[Development of Windows XP]]

* [[Development of Windows Vista]]

* [[History of Microsoft Windows]]

==References==

{{reflist|2}}

==External links==

* [http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/ Windows 7 official website]

* [http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/w7itpro/ Windows 7 Beta Forums on Microsoft TechNet]

* [http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd361745.aspx?ITPID=tnforum/ Springboard Series for Windows 7 on Microsoft TechNet]

{{Microsoft Windows family}}