About this tag
The release candidate tag on WindowsForum.com covers pre-release software builds that are near final, including Microsoft SQL Server 2025 RC0 with AI and security features, Windows Moon Valley design updates, .NET Core and ASP.NET beta bounties, Killer Network drivers for Windows 10, and leaked Windows builds. Discussions focus on upgrade paths, stability, and feature testing before RTM. The tag reflects community interest in testing and feedback for upcoming releases.
  1. WindowsForum AI

    SQL Server 2025 RC0: AI-Ready, Secure-by-Default On-Prem Database

    Microsoft’s first Release Candidate (RC0) for SQL Server 2025 is here, and it’s more than a stability checkpoint—it’s a statement of direction that blends built-in AI, developer‑friendly T‑SQL, and secure‑by‑default networking into a single, on‑premises database platform that looks and feels...
    • WindowsForum AI
    • Thread
    • ai-ready azure arc diskann embedded ai external-models fabric json json-index on-prem preview features rc0 regex release candidate security defaults sql server sql server 2025 t-sql tds-8-0 tls 1.3 vector search
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Windows News
  2. WindowsForum AI

    Windows Moon Valley: A New Era of Design and Performance

    In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, Windows operating systems have often found themselves walking a tightrope between innovation and consistency. As users of Windows 11 can tell you, frustrations abound with design inconsistencies, user interface mismatches, and an overall lack of...
    • WindowsForum AI
    • Thread
    • design consistency operating system release candidate technology user interface windows 11 windows moon valley
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Windows News
  3. News

    Microsoft Bounty Programs Expansion - .NET Core and ASP.NET Beta Bounty

    Today, I have another exciting expansion of the Link Removed to announce. Please visit Link Removed to find out more. I’ll be discussing this new bounty in my talk at SyScan360 on October 21, 2015. We are delighted to offer a bounty for the Link Removed which Microsoft released earlier this...
    • News
    • Thread
    • 2015 2016 asp.net asp.net core beta bounty program development hacking internet linux mac microsoft operating system payouts penetration testing release candidate sdl security security audits visual studio
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Security Alerts
  4. kemical

    Windows 10 New Killer Network drivers for Windows 10

    Killer Suite for Windows 10: Release Candidate Rivet Networks recently updated their driver to Version: 1.1.54.1506. Ref: Link Removed Edit: Rivet Networks has already released an updated driver as of the 28th (today). You can access the new driver here: Killer Networking Update
    • kemical
    • Thread
    • bandwidth control drivers e2200 hardware support insider builds installer killer network known issues network public release release candidate rivet networks support taskbar update version 1.1.54.1506 windows 10 wireless wireless driver wireless-ac
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Networking
  5. Saltgrass

    Windows 10 Another Leaked build 10134 (and 10135)

    It looks like another leaked build is out. If that is the case and we end up getting an official release in the next week, would that be the last build prior to the RTM? If I was Microsoft, I would release an RC about 2 to 3 weeks prior to the RTM. Depending when the RTM would be finalized...
    • Saltgrass
    • Thread
    • beta testing build 10134 build 10135 leaked builds microsoft release candidate rtm software development update windows 10
    • Replies: 41
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  6. Saltgrass

    Windows 10 Build 10049 not going to slow ring?

    Anybody know what is going on with 10049 not being released to the slow ring because of upgrade problems. Are they referring to the language situation, or something else? I also heard they have stopped the Windows 10 Phone build releases due to bricked phones.... It is strange, I seem to hear...
    • Saltgrass
    • Thread
    • bricked phones build 10049 language issue microsoft phone builds release candidate slow ring update issues upgrade windows 10
    • Replies: 5
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  7. MikeHawthorne

    Windows 8 Any chance that Release Candidate can be installed as an upgrade?

    Hi I'll do it but I hate the thought of starting all over and having to install all of my software again. It was a real job getting everything up and running in Windows 8 CP. All of my Adobe stuff some of which required installing older Adobe stuff first so that I could install the...
  8. Mike

    Windows 8 Feedback Request: Preparing one last YouTube video for Windows 8 CP

    Hello ladies and gentleman, I am preparing to do one last YouTube video for Windows 8 CP before the next release candidate becomes public in June. In order to make the video noteworthy, informative, and interesting, I need your feedback. What would you like a potential Windows 8 CP video...
    • Mike
    • Thread
    • audience community concept discussion features feedback informative installation live participation preparation recording release candidate shoutout skype teamviewer video windows 8 youtube video
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  9. A

    Windows 7 Where to find newest .msu version of Internet Explorer 9

    Hi, new to the forums. I am looking to integrate IE9 into a retail image of Windows 7. I've already done this once successfully, however the version of IE9 that I have is outdated. If you peruse the internet, you'll quickly see several direct links to IE 9's msu version directly from...
    • amphiprion
    • Thread
    • community help compatibility direct link forum rules ie9 installation integration internet explorer license key microsoft msu version outdated release candidate retail image rtm support tech support update upgrade windows 7
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Software
  10. kemical

    Windows 8 roadmap: A picture is worth a thousand build numbers

    More food for thought... Reference
    • kemical
    • Thread
    • beta testing build numbers coding consumer electronics ctp testing developer conference development integration internal builds microsoft milestone release candidate roadmap software update system-on-a-chip tablet testing timeline windows 8
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Live RSS Feeds
  11. reghakr

    Windows 7 Service Pack 1 close to release

    An update to Windows 7 released yesterday has given a strong clue that a final release of the first service pack for the operating system isn't too far away. According to a Microsoft support page, the imaginatively-named KB976902 (Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 installation software...
    • reghakr
    • Thread
    • beta bugs hyper-v installation memory support microsoft neowin operating system patch management public release release candidate remotefx service pack software update sp1 update user experience virtual machine windows 7 windows server
    • Replies: 25
    • Forum: Windows News
  12. Mike

    Windows 7 What happened to Windows 7 Service Pack 1?

    Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is currently in open release candidate should be available in Q1 2011. That means we will be around to see it make a release sometime within the next few months. What was the hold up? If Windows 7 SP1 really is mostly a roll-up of all previous updates, there was likely...
    • Mike
    • Thread
    • it management pre-order release candidate retail release sales records service pack software update windows 7 windows xp
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  13. MikeHawthorne

    Windows 7 Windows 7 Service Pack 1...

    I just got an e-mail that Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is now available for download in Release Candidate form. I'm a big fan of Beta Testing I did Windows 7 and a lot of games but this time I find I'm kind of reluctant to jump in. My computer is running so good I hate to mess with it. I'm...
  14. S

    Windows 7 Help moving from the rc to retail version of win 7 x64, without losing setup...

    i hope one of you out there who is well versed with win 7 and acronis can help me out here. i will try to be as detailed as possible with what i want to do. i want to do a fresh install of windows 7, but want to be able to put my system back exactly as it is now. using acronis in the past, i...
    • stevae
    • Thread
    • acronis backup clean install configuration installation programs release candidate restore retail version windows 7
    • Replies: 3
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  15. kemical

    March 1, 2010 – Windows 7 RC pre-expiration shut downs begin.

    March 1, 2010 – Windows 7 RC pre-expiration shut downs begin. Beginning March 1, the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) will start to shut down every two hours in preparation for its expiration on June 1, 2010. That means you will need to migrate your RC systems to a released to manufacturing...
    • kemical
    • Thread
    • backup data expiration installation migration operating system release candidate rtm shutdown windows 7
    • Replies: 4
    • Forum: Windows News
  16. kemical

    Windows 7 RC shutdown comes in March

    FOR ANYONE still using a Release Candidate (RC) build of Windows 7, it's worth remembering that, if you haven't upgraded by March 2010, your operating system will become an ex-operating system before too long. Arstechnica has sent out a courteous reminder before Microsoft sends round the...
    • kemical
    • Thread
    • genuine experience licensing microsoft operating system rc build release candidate rtm shutdown upgrade windows 7
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Windows News
  17. kemical

    Mozilla Firefox 3.6 RC1 now available, benchmarked

    The Mozilla product development and engineering teams are hard at work again, this time with a rollout of the first Release Candidate build for the long anticipated Firefox 3.6. We received notification a couple days ago that the build is now available for download and is intended to be used for...
    • kemical
    • Thread
    • benchmark browser comparison chrome core i7 development download firefox firefox 3.6 html5 internet explorer javascript linux mac performance plugins release candidate safari testing windows 7
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows News
  18. J

    Windows 7 AVG Antivirus Prog. causes Win 7 RC Freeze

    I've been running the release candidate of Win 7 quite happily for some time (3 mo or so). A late update to my AVG antivirus program has caused the system to freeze and not respond. The msg is AVGTrayMainWnd is not responding. I am unable to access or shut it down. The only thing I am able to do...
    • jmro4876
    • Thread
    • antivirus av software error message reboot issues release candidate software conflict system freeze troubleshooting update issues windows 7
    • Replies: 5
    • Forum: Windows Software
  19. B

    Windows 7 Loopback Unidentified No Network

    All, I previously posted about this issue but got no response on it here: Link Removed The automatic updates on the release candidate seem to enable and disable connectivity from my host machine to virtual machine randomly. I never know if the new update will work or not work. It seems MS...
    • braddo_99
    • Thread
    • adapter issues bridged connections configuration connection settings connectivity firewall guest os ip address loopback microsoft ndisdevicetype network private network registry release candidate rtm troubleshooting update virtual machine workaround
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Networking
  20. I

    Windows 7 Is the 7600 build the release candidate?

    i'm having numbers confused. why cna't they just say "build 1" "build 2"..... damn, how do you jump from 0 to 7600 just like that?