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Unlike Windows Vista installation discs, which permitted the choice of install (this was only if you did not input your key during install AKA activate later) Windows 7 does not give you the opportunity to choose your edition. However the install.wim file does contain all variants and this can be overridden by modifying the “EI.CFG” file on the DVD contained within the sources directory.

The file contents looks like this:

[EditionID]
Ultimate
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
0

Personally I would have preferred that Microsoft allow us to choose, but I’m sure they had their reasons to not adopt this approach.

Credit – Aidan Finn

Mark Minasi’s latest newsletter illustrates two workarounds that in most cases with get you out of jail

1. Run the installation in Windows Vista SP1 compatibility mode, right-click properties -> compatibility tab and run in Vista SP1 mode.

2. Extract the driver, in an elevated command prompt type pnputil -i -a name-of-folder\*.inf, like “pnputil -i -a c:\newdriver\*.inf.”  The system will think about it for a moment or two and report that you’ve properly installed the driver. Then you can go ahead and install manually.

Great work Mark – like most this is a major concern for pre-retail adoption!

Source: here

To ensure XP hold-ons make the jump to Windows 7 Microsoft have launched “Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualisation” or “Med-V”. From a “very” high level this provides a virtual version of XP that can host legacy XP applications with a layer of central management on top. Whilst I prefer that this type of technology exists than not at all, it does seem a little over-engineered, unlike App-V which I love, but unfortunately non-Microsoft software vendors don’t understand (and therefore don’t support).

My beliefs is that Microsoft has offered the enterprise two solutions and if you can get your vendor to support you running on App-V I would take this route over and above Med-V (who knows maybe in this climate your legacy app vendor has gone under!)

Source: here

A Microsoft Twitterer divulged the location of the first of many Microsoft retail stores, shame it is not local (for me).

As rumoured the file hashes match that of the previously “leaked” copy…but for purists like me this is the moment to enjoy [:D]

Enda Flynn from the TechNet Ireland Team has just tweeted that Windows 7 will hit MSDN and TechNet at 18:00 GMT.

Source: here

Update: Windows 7 now available for download!