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#REDIRECT [[Windows 7#Development history]]

{{short description|Overview of the development of Microsoft's 2009 operating system}}
{{Windows 7}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
'''Development of [[Windows 7]]''' occurred over the span of two years, starting in earnest in 2000,<ref name=":1">{{cite web
|date=2019-07-22
|title=What was the codename of Windows 7?
|url=https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20190722-00/p=102724
|accessdate=2020-06-25
|website=The Old New Thing
|language=en-US
}}</ref> prior to the release of [[Microsoft]]'s [[Windows Vista]] operating system, and continuing until July 22, 2009.

Microsoft originally expected to ship the new version sometime late in 2000 as a minor step between [[Windows Vista]] (codenamed "Longhorn") and [[Windows 8]] (2012).{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} Windows 7's original [[List of Microsoft codenames|codename]], "Blackcomb" was planned as the successor to [[Windows XP]] and [[Windows Server 2003]] in 2000. 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. However, an interim, minor release, codenamed "Longhorn," was announced for 2003, delaying the development of Blackcomb. By the middle of 2003, however, Longhorn had acquired some of the features originally intended for Blackcomb. After three major malware outbreaks—the [[Blaster worm|Blaster]], [[Nachi worm|Nachi]], and [[Sobig worm|Sobig]] worms—exploited flaws in Windows operating systems within a short time period in August 2003, Microsoft changed its development priorities, putting some of Longhorn's major development work on hold while developing new [[service pack]]s for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. [[Development of Windows Vista|Development of Longhorn (Windows Vista)]] was also restarted, and thus delayed, in August 2004. A number of features were cut from Longhorn. Blackcomb was renamed '''Vienna''' in the Year of 2006. As such, adoption of Vista in comparison to XP remained somewhat low.

In July 2007, six months following the public release of Vista, it was reported that the next version of Windows would then be codenamed Windows 7, with plans for a final release within three years. [[Bill Gates]], in an interview with ''[[Newsweek]]'', suggested that Windows 7 would be more "user-centric". In October 2008, it was announced that '''[[Windows 7]]''' would also be the official name of the operating system. Speaking about Windows 7 on October 16, 2008, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer confirmed compatibility between Windows Vista and Windows 7, indicating that Windows 7 would be a refined version of Windows Vista. On December 27, 2008, the Windows 7 Beta was leaked onto the Internet via [[BitTorrent]].

On July 22, 2009, Windows 7 (build 7600<ref name="RTM">{{cite web
| url=https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2009/07/22/windows-7-has-been-released-to-manufacturing/
| title=Windows Blogs: Windows 7 has been released to manufacturing!
| website=Windows Experience Blog
| publisher=Microsoft
| first1=Brandon
| last1=LeBlanc
| date=July 22, 2009
| archive-url=https://blogs.microsoft.com/windowsexperience/2009/07/22/windows-7-has-been-released-to-manufacturing/
| archive-date=March 29, 2013
}}</ref>) was [[Software release life cycle#Release to manufacturing (RTM)|released to manufacturing]] (RTM) with the build number 6.1.7600.16384. Windows 7 was launched for [[Software release life cycle#General availability (GA)|general customer availability]] on October 22, 2009.<ref name="GA">{{cite web
| url=https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2009/10/22/windows-7-arrives-today-with-new-offers-new-pcs-and-more/
| title=Windows Blogs: Windows 7 arrives today with new offers, new PCs, and many more!
| website=Windows Experience Blog
| publisher=Microsoft
| first1=Brandon
| last1=LeBlanc
| date=October 22, 2009
| archive-url=https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2009/10/22/windows-7-arrives-today-with-new-offers-new-pcs-and-more/
| archive-date=May 31, 2013
}}</ref>

== History ==
Originally, a version of Windows codenamed "Blackcomb" was planned as the successor to [[Windows XP]] and [[Windows Server 2003]] in 2000. 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. However, an interim, minor release, codenamed "Longhorn," was announced for 2003, delaying the development of Blackcomb.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/10/24/gates_confirms_windows_longhorn|title=Gates confirms Windows Longhorn for 2003|last=Lettice|first=John|date=October 24, 2001|website=The Register|accessdate=April 29, 2019}}</ref> By the middle of 2003, however, Longhorn had acquired some of the features originally intended for Blackcomb. After three major malware outbreaks—the [[Blaster worm|Blaster]], [[Nachi worm|Nachi]], and [[Sobig worm|Sobig]] worms—exploited flaws in Windows operating systems within a short time period in August 2003,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.computerweekly.com/feature/Businesses-are-left-reeling-after-a-triple-strike-by-Blaster-Nachi-and-the-Sobig-virus|title=Businesses are left reeling after a triple strike by Blaster, Nachi and the Sobig virus|last=Goodwin |first=Bill |work=[[Computer Weekly]]|publisher=[[TechTarget]]|date=August 15, 2003|accessdate=March 20, 2016}}</ref> Microsoft changed its development priorities, putting some of Longhorn's major development work on hold while developing new [[service pack]]s for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. [[Development of Windows Vista|Development of Longhorn (Windows Vista)]] was also restarted, and thus delayed, in August 2004. A number of features were cut from Longhorn.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Microsoft-cuts-key-Longhorn-feature-1152747.php|title=Microsoft cuts key Longhorn feature|last=Bishop|first=Todd|date=August 28, 2004|work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]|accessdate=April 29, 2019|publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]]}}</ref> Blackcomb was renamed '''Vienna''' in early 2006.<ref name=thurrottfaq>{{cite web |url=http://winsupersite.com/article/faqtip/windows-7-faq |title=Windows "7" FAQ |last=Thurrott |first=Paul |authorlink=Paul Thurrott |work=SuperSite for Windows |publisher=[[Penton Media]] |date=February 14, 2007 |accessdate=January 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430132301/http://www.winsupersite.com/article/faqtip/windows-7-faq |archive-date=April 30, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

When released, Windows Vista was criticized for its [[Development hell|long development time]], performance issues, spotty compatibility with existing hardware and software on launch, changes affecting the compatibility of certain PC games, and unclear assurances by Microsoft that certain computers shipping with XP prior to launch would be "Vista Capable" (which led to a class action lawsuit), among other critiques. As such, adoption of Vista in comparison to XP remained somewhat low.<ref name="nyt-vistashouldknow">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/business/09digi.html|title=They Criticized Vista. And They Should Know|last=Stross|first=Randall|date=March 29, 2008|work=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=April 29, 2019}}</ref><ref name="pcw-15disapointments">{{cite news|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/140583/article.html?page=5|title=The 15 Biggest Tech Disappointments of 2007|last=Tynan|first=Dan|date=December 16, 2007|work=[[PC World]]|accessdate=April 29, 2019|publisher=[[IDG]]}}</ref><ref name="pcw-resistance">{{cite web|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/137635/article.html|title=Vista Resistance: Why XP Is Still So Strong|last=Larkin|first=Erik|date=September 25, 2007|work=[[PC World]]|publisher=[[IDG]]|accessdate=April 29, 2019}}</ref> In July 2007, 13 years following the birthday of [[Justin Bieber]], it was reported that the next version of Windows would then be codenamed Windows 7, with plans for a final release within three years.<ref name="zdnet592">{{cite news |first = Mary J|last = Foley|title = Windows Seven: Think 2010|date = July 20, 2007|work= [[ZDNet]]|url = http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-seven-think-2010/|accessdate = September 19, 2007}}</ref><ref name=cnet-callit7>{{cite news|title=Next version of Windows: Call it 7|url=http://news.cnet.com/Next-version-of-Windows-Call-it-7/2100-1016_3-6197943.html|work=CNET|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|accessdate=March 22, 2014}}</ref> [[Bill Gates]], in an interview with'' [[Newsweek]]'', suggested that Windows 7 would be more "user-centric".<ref name="gates">{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16934083/site/newsweek/page/4/print/1/displaymode/1098/ |title=Bill Gates on Vista and Apple's 'Lying' Ads |last=Levy |first=Steven |work=Newsweek|date=February 3, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070331223518/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16934083/site/newsweek/page/4/print/1/displaymode/1098/ |archivedate=March 31, 2007 }}</ref> Gates later said that Windows 7 would also focus on performance improvements.<ref name="gates2">{{cite web |url=http://news.microsoft.com/2008/05/08/bill-gates-japan-windows-digital-lifestyle-consortium/ |title=Bill Gates: Japan—Windows Digital Lifestyle Consortium |website=News Center |publisher=Microsoft |first=Bill |last=Gates |date=May 7, 2007 |location=Tokyo, Japan}}</ref> [[Steven Sinofsky]] later expanded on this point, explaining in the ''Engineering Windows 7'' blog that the company was using a variety of new tracing tools to measure the performance of many areas of the operating system on an ongoing basis, to help locate inefficient code paths and to help prevent performance regressions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/archive/2008/12/15/continuing-our-discussion-on-performance.aspx |title=Continuing our discussion on performance |last=Sinofsky |first=Steven |authorlink=Steven Sinofsky |date=December 15, 2008 |accessdate=December 18, 2008 |work=Engineering Windows 7 |publisher=Microsoft }}</ref> [[Senior Vice President]] Bill <!--Do not change this to Gates. It is Veghte.-->Veghte stated that [[Windows Vista]] users migrating to Windows 7 would not find the kind of device compatibility issues they encountered migrating from [[Windows XP]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-7-Will-Not-Inherent-the-Incompatibility-Issues-of-Vista-88625.shtml|title=Windows 7 Will Not Inherit the Incompatibility Issues of Vista|first=Marius|last=Oiaga|date=June 24, 2008}}</ref> An estimated 1,000 developers worked on Windows 7. These were broadly divided into "core operating system" and "Windows client experience", in turn organized into 25 teams of around 40 developers on average.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/e7/2008/08/17/the-windows-7-team/ |first=Steven |last=Sinovsky |title=The Windows 7 Team |work=Engineering Windows 7 |publisher=Microsoft |date=August 18, 2008 |accessdate=December 9, 2009}}</ref>

In October 2008, it was announced that '''Windows 7''' would also be the official name of the operating system.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10064971-56.html|title=Microsoft makes Windows 7 name final|last=Fried|first=Ina|date=October 13, 2008|work=[[CNET]]|accessdate=October 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426041502/http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10064971-56.html|archive-date=April 26, 2011|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</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 =October 27, 2008|date=October 2008 | work=[[CBC News]]}}</ref> There has been some confusion over naming the product Windows 7,<ref name="msJustifiesWin7NamingDecision">{{cite web | url = http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/microsoft_justifies_its_windows_7_naming_decision | title = Microsoft Justifies Its Windows 7 Naming Decision | first = Alex |last = Castle | date = October 15, 2008 | work = [[Maximum PC]] | publisher = [[Future US]] | accessdate = November 18, 2009 }}</ref> while versioning it as 6.1 to indicate its similar build to Vista and increase compatibility with applications that only check major version numbers, similar to [[Windows 2000]] and [[Windows XP]] both having 5.x version numbers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/why-call-it-windows-7 |title=Why Call it Windows 7? |website=worldstart.com |accessdate=November 20, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091018054112/http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/why-call-it-windows-7 |archivedate=October 18, 2009}}</ref> The first external release to select Microsoft partners came in January 2008 with Milestone 1, build 6519.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.w7forums.com/windows-7-build-numbers-t58.html|title=Windows 7 Build Numbers|first=Ian |last=Cunningham|date=December 3, 2008}}</ref> Speaking about Windows 7 on October 16, 2008, [[Microsoft]] CEO [[Steve Ballmer]] confirmed compatibility between [[Windows Vista]] and Windows 7, indicating that Windows 7 would be a refined version of Windows Vista.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=10464 |title=Ballmer: It’s ok to wait until Windows 7; Yahoo still ‘makes sense’; Google Apps ‘primitive’ |accessdate=October 17, 2008 |last=Dignan |first=Larry |date=October 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017231501/http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=10464 |archivedate=October 17, 2008 }}</ref>

At [[Professional Developers Conference|PDC]] 2008, Microsoft demonstrated Windows 7 with its reworked [[taskbar]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2008/10/28/windows-7-unveiled-today-at-pdc-2008/ |title=Windows 7 Unveiled Today at PDC 2008 |last=Nash |first=Mike |date=October 28, 2008 |accessdate=November 11, 2008 |work=Windows Experience Blog |publisher=Microsoft |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101011844/http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windows7/archive/2008/10/28/windows-7-unveiled-today-at-pdc-2008.aspx |archivedate=November 1, 2008}}</ref> On December 27, 2008, the Windows 7 Beta was leaked onto the Internet via [[BitTorrent (protocol)|BitTorrent]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.osnews.com/story/20703/Windows_7_Beta_1_Leaked |title=Windows 7 Beta 1 Leaked |website=OSNews.com |accessdate=May 25, 2009}}</ref> According to a performance test by [[ZDNet]],<ref>{{cite web |first=Adrian |last=Kingsley-Hughes |url=http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-7-beta-1-performance-how-does-the-os-compare-to-vista-and-xp/ |title=Windows 7 beta 1 performance - How does the OS compare to Vista and XP? |website=[[ZDNet]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=January 1, 2009 |accessdate=May 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105145717/http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=3236&page=2 |archivedate=January 5, 2009}}</ref> Windows 7 Beta beat both Windows XP and Vista in several key areas, including boot and shutdown time and working with files, such as loading documents. Other areas did not beat XP, including PC Pro benchmarks for typical office activities and video editing, which remain identical to Vista and slower than XP.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.pcpro.co.uk/blogs/2008/11/12/follow-up-benchmarking-windows-7/|title = Follow-up: Benchmarking Windows 7 |accessdate =January 29, 2009|last = Graham-Smith|first = Darien|authorlink = Darien Graham-Smith| date=January 2009 }}</ref> On January 7, 2009, the [[x64]] version of the Windows 7 Beta (build 7000) was leaked onto the web, with some torrents being infected with a [[Trojan horse (computing)|trojan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slashgear.com/leaked-windows-7-rc-torrents-infected-with-trojan-2842048/|title=Leaked Windows 7 RC torrents infected with trojan|website= SlashGear}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://w7info.com/articles/2009/01/windows-7-64-bit-beta-hits-the-web/ |title=Windows 7 64-Bit Beta Hits the Web |accessdate=January 7, 2009 |last=Pennington |first=Kenneth |date=January 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121125718/http://w7info.com/articles/2009/01/windows-7-64-bit-beta-hits-the-web/ |archivedate=January 21, 2009}}</ref> At [[Consumer Electronics Show|CES]] 2009, Microsoft CEO [[Steve Ballmer]] announced the Windows 7 Beta, build 7000, had been made available for download to MSDN and TechNet subscribers in the format of an ISO image.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/jan/08/steve-ballmer-ces-keynote |title=CES: Steve Ballmer unveils Microsoft's Windows 7 &#124; Technology &#124; guardian.co.uk |work=The Guardian |location=London |accessdate=May 25, 2009 | first=Bobbie | last=Johnson | date=January 8, 2009}}</ref> The stock wallpaper of the beta version contained a digital image of the [[Siamese fighting fish|Betta fish]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yes, the Windows 7 beta wallpaper was a picture of a betta fish – The Old New Thing|url=https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20100901-00/?p=12973|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218082719/https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20100901-00/?p=12973|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-02-18|date=2019-02-18|access-date=2020-05-05}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

The release candidate, build 7100, became available for MSDN and TechNet subscribers, and Connect Program participants on April 30, 2009. On May 5, 2009, it became available to the general public, although it had also been leaked onto the Internet via [[BitTorrent (protocol)|BitTorrent]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller |first=Paul |url=https://www.engadget.com/2009/04/24/windows-7-rc-7100-making-its-way-to-oems-a-torrent-tracker-near/ |title=Windows 7 RC 7100 making its way to OEMs, a torrent tracker near you |website=[[Engadget]] |publisher=[[Aol]] |date=April 24, 2009 |accessdate=May 25, 2009}}</ref> The release candidate was available in five languages and expired on June 1, 2010, with shutdowns every two hours starting March 1, 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx | title = Windows 7 Release Candidate Customer Preview Program | accessdate =May 5, 2009 | website= Microsoft.com|publisher=Microsoft}}</ref> Microsoft stated that Windows 7 would be released to the general public on October 22, 2009<ref name="GA" />, about less than three years after the launch of its predecessor, [[Windows Vista]]. Microsoft released Windows 7 to MSDN and Technet subscribers on August 6, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windows7/archive/2009/07/21/when-will-you-get-windows-7-rtm.aspx|title=When Will You Get Windows 7 RTM?|website=The Windows Blog}}</ref> Microsoft announced that Windows 7, along with [[Windows Server 2008 R2]], was released to manufacturing in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]] on July 22, 2009. Windows 7 [[Release to manufacture|RTM]] is build 7600.16385.090713-1255<ref name="RTM" />, which was compiled on July 13, 2009, and was declared the final RTM build after passing all Microsoft's tests internally.<ref name="rtm">{{cite web|url=http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windows7/archive/2009/07/22/windows-7-has-been-released-to-manufacturing.aspx|title=Windows 7 Has Been Released to Manufacturing|last=LeBlanc|first=Brandon|website=Windows Team Blog|publisher=Microsoft|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227022915/http://blogs.windows.com/windows/archive/b/windows7/archive/2009/07/22/windows-7-has-been-released-to-manufacturing.aspx|archivedate=February 27, 2014|url-status=}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book|title=Windows 7 Inside Out|first1=Ed|last1=Bott|first2=Carl|last2=Siechert|first3=Craig|last3=Stinson|isbn=978-0-7356-2665-2|publisher=[[Microsoft Press]]|location=[[Redmond, WA]]|year=2010|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/windows7insideou0000bott}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Microsoft Windows 7}}
* [https://support.microsoft.com/en-my/help/15090/windows-7-install-service-pack-1-sp1 Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)]
* [https://support.microsoft.com/en-my/help/4009469/windows-7-sp1-windows-server-2008-r2-sp1-update-history Windows 7 SP1 update history]

{{Microsoft Windows family}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Windows 7| ]]
[[Category:2009 software]]
[[Category:IA-32 operating systems]]
[[Category:Windows NT|7]]
[[Category:X86-64 operating systems]]

Latest revision as of 05:57, 8 September 2021

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