Windows 7 RTM

The "Gold" Version of Windows 7

Windows 7 RTM (Release To Manufacturing) is the "Gold" Edition of Windows 7 operating system. This version was sent for mass production and shipping in August 2009. Few days after the gold version was sent for manufacturing, it was sent to PC and laptop manufacturers to be used as OEM versions of the operating system.

How Windows 7 RTM was made available to Microsoft Partners

ISV (Independent software vendor) partners of Microsoft were able to download Windows7 RTM through Microsoft Connect in the first week of August. IHV (Independent hardware vendor) Partners also received similar benefit. Downloading the RTM version was also possible using MSDN and TechNet subscriptions.

Soon after the second week of August, Microsoft Partner Program Gold/Certified Members were able to download RTM version from Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) Portal. However, the download consisted of the English version only. Multilanguage support was not available till the first week of October.

Microsoft Action Pack Subscribers were able to download Windows 7 RTM in the third week of August, but the installer was only available in English only. Multilanguage User Interface (MUI) was not made available until the first week of October.

How OEMs and business owners got Windows 7

OEMs got their hands on Win 7 RTM a few days after it was made available to Microsoft Partners. Business owners who held existing Software Assurance (SA) agreements made with Microsoft were able to download Win7 RTM within the first week of August via the Volume License Service Center (VLSC). The download was, however, available only in English. Multilanguage packs were not made available to these customers until a few weeks following that.