There are many different versions of Windows 7 available today. RTM, or Release To Manufacturing, is the first version of Windows 7 that was released to manufacturing. This is the original version of Windows 7 that was used for development and testing. Final, or Retail, is the most recent version of Windows 7 that has been released to the public. The main difference between these two versions is that RTM does not include all of the updates and fixes that have been released since it was first released. If you want to make sure you have the latest updates and fixes installed, you should install Final instead.
What is RTM Windows 7?
RTM Windows 7 is the code name for the release to the manufacturing version of Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system. RTM generally indicates that a software product is ready for commercial release and that no further changes or patches will be made to the code. For Windows 7, RTM was released on July 22, 2009.
RTM versions of Windows are typically only available to developers and IT professionals; however, end-users can also download RTM versions of Windows if they have a valid product key. RTM versions ofWindows tend to be more stable than later releases, as they have undergone more testing before being made available to the public. For this reason, RTM versions are often used as the basis for corporate deployments of Windows.
What is Final Windows 7?
Final Windows 7 is the last version of Microsoft Windows, a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft. It was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009 and became generally available on October 22, 2009, less than three years after the release of its predecessor, Windows Vista. Final Windows 7’s server counterpart, Final Server 2008 R2, was released at the same time.
- Final Windows 7 is an incremental upgrade to Windows Vista, with very few new features and focused more on refining the existing codebase. Many features were removed in Final Windows 7 due to negative reception in Vista.
- Final Windows 7 received positive reviews upon its release, although some critics did note that it was not as innovative as its predecessor. It sold well initially, with Microsoft reporting that Final Windows 7 sold 150 million copies in its first six months of release.
- As of March 2019, Final Windows 7 has a market share of 38.41%, making it the most popular version of Final Windows ever. Despite this success, Final Windows 7 was the subject of much controversy, with many users and commentators expressing disappointment with the operating system. Microsoft announced in January 2020 that support for Final Windows 7 will end on January 14, 2020, and encouraged users to upgrade to Final Windows 10.
Difference between RTM and Final Windows 7
- RTM (Release to Manufacturing) is the final stage of the Windows 7 development process. After RTM, Microsoft will make available the final version of Windows 7 to computer manufacturers and enterprise customers. Final Windows 7 is essentially RTM plus six months’ worth of updates and security fixes.
- For most users, there will be no noticeable difference between RTM and Final Windows 7. However, those who plan to install Windows 7 on a new computer should wait for Final Windows 7, as it will include all the latest bug fixes and security patches. Enterprises that have Volume License agreements with Microsoft will also want to wait for Final Windows 7, as they will be able to get it at a discount.
- In short, RTM is the last stage of development before Windows 7 is officially released, while Final Windows 7 includes all the latest updates and bug fixes. For most users, there is no need to wait for Final Windows 7; however, those who are installing Windows 7 on a new computer or have a Volume License agreement with Microsoft should wait for the final release.
Conclusion
Microsoft has released Windows 7 in different stages over the past few years. The first stage, release to manufacturing (RTM), is when the software is sent to manufacturers. The second stage, general availability (GA), is when it becomes available to the public. There are several differences between RTM and final versions of Windows 7. We’ve highlighted some of these key differences below.
