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Showing posts with label Windows 8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Windows 8. Show all posts
Windows 7 activator
Written By Unknown on Friday, 8 February 2013 | 08:52
Hack Windows RT to Run any Desktop App
Written By Unknown on Tuesday, 8 January 2013 | 02:36
The Redmond giant wanted only cryptographically signed executables, ideally those obtained from the official Windows application store, to run on its hardware. But, we're told, by twiddling a byte of memory in the Windows kernel, it is possible to disable the protection system and allow any code to run on the system.
Taking full control of the device, effectively jail-breaking the computer to run any desktop or touch-driven ARM-compatible software, is an exercise left to the user.
A security researcher calling him or herself C. L. Rokr claims to have found an oversight in the Windows kernel to allow this to happen. According to Rokr, all you have to do is fire up the Windows Debugger software with Administrator-level permissions, connect it to the tablet and manipulate the device's kernel memory.
Specifically, one needs to inject a blob of ARM code into a safe spot of RAM and have the Windows RT kernel divert the processor momentarily to run these instructions. This code locates and alters a moderately hidden variable in the kernel to disable the executable signature check. On PCs the variable contains '0' allowing any program to run, whereas it is '8' on Windows RT devices to enforce the signature check.
Trivially overwriting this byte can therefore change the level of protection on the system and circumvent Microsoft's cryptographic keys.
You can read more about the hack along with a how-to guide here.
Windows RT, which is a straight-up ARM port of Windows 8 for portable computers, was built to only run apps that are signed using a Microsoft-issued certificate.
The hack is unlikely to be something most non-techie users could pull off as it requires knowledge of WinDbg. And modifying the operating system could fall foul of the device's secure boot protection, which refuses to start the OS if it has been altered.
It's also not clear which apps can be run, although as pointed out in this programming forum the software must be compiled for, or otherwise be compatible with, ARM-powered systems. Programs already built for Intel and AMD processors need not apply, therefore.
Windows RT can be found on Microsoft's Surface tablet and fondleslabs from companies including Asus and Samsung. So far it appears sales of Windows RT devices are low and below Microsoft's expectations. Redmond has quickly turned from only selling Surface itself online and in its stores to recruiting retail partners.
One reason for the lack of interest could be lack of apps. Windows RT has been deliberately locked down because, we're told, Microsoft wants to maintain a standard of performance and security, and to ensure apps conform to the design of the interface and input via touch. This means the number of Windows RT apps is far behind the number of apps that exists for Intel machines running the exact same operating system.
Devices using Windows RT come with some built-in apps including Office Home and Student 2013 RT Preview Edition and Mail, Messaging and SkyDrive, but the official way to obtain more is via Microsoft's Windows Store, which supplies suitably signed executables.
StartW8: Free Start Button for Windows 8
Written By Unknown on Saturday, 29 December 2012 | 03:16
Ever since Microsoft released the new Windows, we’ve seen a few solutions to bring the Start Button back into the lower left hand side corner of the desktop. StartW8 is yet another alternative that could take over the sweet spot in Windows 8.
Like most apps taking over the responsibility of the orb in Windows 7, StartW8 is free of charge and does not attempt to push additional software on your system. Installation went smooth in our case and no restart was required in order to complete the operation.
Although StartW8 looks very much like the original menu, a regular user accustomed to Windows 7 should be able to spot this is a replacement fairly easy.
On the other hand, users are interested in its functionality rather than its looks, and StartW8 is slightly different than what we’ve seen until now.
As soon as installed, StartW8 places its custom button in the lower left corner of the desktop. Clicking on it reveals a familiar view, with search bar, program list, power button and the side menu.
You can switch the list of frequently used programs to show all the applications installed on the system, although the change does not occur automatically just by hovering the mouse over.
Given the position of the button, one would expect it to completely eliminate the original functionality of that corner in Windows 8; but StartW8 preserves its purpose so users can easily switch to the modern UI Start Screen with the mouse instead of keyboard shortcuts, as possible in other programs sharing the same purpose.
The context menu for StartW8 does not resume to giving access to the configuration panel of the application and includes a few useful shortcuts as well (Run, Windows Explorer, Command Prompt (with admin elevation, too) and power options: Hibernate, Sleep, Shutdown, Restart, Sign Out, Switch User and Lock.
Worth mentioning is that not all these power options are present in programs of the same category. In some cases, the hibernate button is missing.
The configuration panel is extremely simple and it comes already set up to suit most users’ needs. It is split into two sections that allow you to define the behavior of the OS after signing in, the default action triggered by the power button and to customize the side menu.
Out of the box configuration makes the application switch to the classic desktop environment instead of the modern Start Screen. This can be easily changed under the “Basic Settings” panel. Here’s also the place to enable hotkeys (Win or Ctrl+Esc) for launching StartW8’s menu.
Furthermore, you can disable the bottom left hot corner button. This feature has been freshly added in this version of the program.
In the case of the side menu, the options include links to personal folders (Documents, Music, Images, Music, Videos, etc.) as well as system areas, such as Control Panel, Devices and Printers or the list of default programs.
There is also the possibility to add the Run command to the menu, though advanced users can easily call it through the traditional Win+R hotkey.
StartW8 is pretty far from mimicking the functionality of the original orb in Windows 7 and further proof is the fact that new entries are not highlighted. On the same note, the list of frequently used programs is not dynamic, so it will not change as you launch the same entry over and over again; not even after a computer restart.
Once that space fills up, you can start deleting old entries in order to make room for new ones. The application does not offer the possibility to pin items to the start menu.
During our tests, StartW8 seemed to respond to our commands slower than applications of the same kind.
Also on the downside, there is no automatic update mechanism available or the possibility to receive alerts about a new version being available. As such, users have to check for new updates manually from the “Settings” panel.
The computer requires a restart after installing a fresh update for all the changes to take effect.
The Good
It can boot the system into the familiar desktop environment instead of the modern Start Screen. It offers easy access to power actions such as hibernate and sleep as well as to personal folders (documents, music, videos, images).
The Bad
You cannot add your own shortcuts to the start menu. New applications are not highlighted in the menu. We noticed it moved a bit slow compared to applications in the same category.
The Truth
StartW8 makes for a valid alternative as a start button for Windows 8. It is easy to work with and to configure. However, there are choices on the market that provide a wider range of features.
Download StartW8 1.1.34.0
WinReducer: Customized Windows 8 Installation Disk
Written By Unknown on Friday, 21 December 2012 | 03:27
Windows 8 installs faster and uses less disk space than Windows 7 operating system . But if you want to build a custom installation of Windows 8 , it is necessary to take the help of third party tools.
Many Advanced users of Windows 8 are in search of quality software to customize and modify the installation of Windows 8 by removing some features and applications, they will be pleased to know about the availability of a free software called WinReducer 8 to customize the installation of Windows 8.
WinReducer 8 is a portable application, and its downloadable ZIP archive contains both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the tool. After extracting the files, simply execute the appropriate version for your computer.
The application is currently in alpha, though everything it offers works as advertised. The main interface is minimal, and pffers ‘Open’ and ‘Change Mount Folder’ buttons. Note that if you are using an ISO file of Windows 8 setup, you’ll need to extract all the files from the ISO package into a separate folder before proceeding. You can use your favorite comressed files utility for the purpose; we recommend the free and excellent 7-zip.
Open to select the said directory, point to the disk drive with your Windows 8 installation disc or choose the folder where you extracted the ISO’s contents, select your Windows 8 edition and click Mount.
Sit back and let the application fetch all the information contained within the ISO or physical disc, after which it will let you customize the setup.
The tool will let you select any unwanted features that you want to exclude. Simply mark the the components that are not required such as Accessories, Drivers, Fonts, Languages, Themes, Services etc., under the Components Reducer tab.
The Customization tab helps you make further optimization and tweaking, for instance you can remove the Charms bar, hide desktop icons, remove files and settings from Windows Explorer, clean unneeded files and so on. Likewise, it allows you to select a default Lockscreen, Wallpaper, and custom theme.
The Unattended feature of the tool is a big time saver. It lets you specify your Windows 8 serial number, so you don’t have to enter it each time you performing the installation. In addition, you can select a custom background image for the setup program, provided the image dimensions don’t exceed 1024 x 786 pixels.
Once everything is in place, apply your changes and let the tool work its magic based on your selection.
Lastly, select ‘Save in WIM file and create a new ISO’. You may also change the destination folder, ISO name, and ISO label before hitting Save to create the ISO.
This test was carried out on windows 8, 64-bit edition
Many Advanced users of Windows 8 are in search of quality software to customize and modify the installation of Windows 8 by removing some features and applications, they will be pleased to know about the availability of a free software called WinReducer 8 to customize the installation of Windows 8.
WinReducer 8 is a portable application, and its downloadable ZIP archive contains both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the tool. After extracting the files, simply execute the appropriate version for your computer.
The application is currently in alpha, though everything it offers works as advertised. The main interface is minimal, and pffers ‘Open’ and ‘Change Mount Folder’ buttons. Note that if you are using an ISO file of Windows 8 setup, you’ll need to extract all the files from the ISO package into a separate folder before proceeding. You can use your favorite comressed files utility for the purpose; we recommend the free and excellent 7-zip.
Open to select the said directory, point to the disk drive with your Windows 8 installation disc or choose the folder where you extracted the ISO’s contents, select your Windows 8 edition and click Mount.
Sit back and let the application fetch all the information contained within the ISO or physical disc, after which it will let you customize the setup.
The tool will let you select any unwanted features that you want to exclude. Simply mark the the components that are not required such as Accessories, Drivers, Fonts, Languages, Themes, Services etc., under the Components Reducer tab.
The Customization tab helps you make further optimization and tweaking, for instance you can remove the Charms bar, hide desktop icons, remove files and settings from Windows Explorer, clean unneeded files and so on. Likewise, it allows you to select a default Lockscreen, Wallpaper, and custom theme.
The Unattended feature of the tool is a big time saver. It lets you specify your Windows 8 serial number, so you don’t have to enter it each time you performing the installation. In addition, you can select a custom background image for the setup program, provided the image dimensions don’t exceed 1024 x 786 pixels.
Once everything is in place, apply your changes and let the tool work its magic based on your selection.
Lastly, select ‘Save in WIM file and create a new ISO’. You may also change the destination folder, ISO name, and ISO label before hitting Save to create the ISO.
This test was carried out on windows 8, 64-bit edition
How to Download and Install the Microsoft Windows 8 Release Preview
Written By Unknown on Friday, 1 June 2012 | 09:02
Get ready, beta testers. Microsoft debuted Windows 8 Release Preview, which is one of the last steps before a final release of Windows 8 this fall. Versions of the operating system are available for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems.
Here's what Microsoft says is new or enhanced over previous beta releases:
As with past betas of Windows 8, Microsoft advises users to not install the operating system on a computer used for day-to-day work. There's also no going back without wiping your hard drive.
You can't downgrade from Windows 8 since it cannot access the recovery partition of your hard drive. If you need to downgrade, ensure you have recovery disks readily available.
f you are already running Windows 8 Consumer Preview or Developer Preview, Microsoft says you can upgrade to Release Preview. There's a downside to upgrading, though: you cannot keep any of your files.
To run Windows 8 Release Preview, your test computer will need a processor with a clock speed of 1GHz or greater, 1GB (32-bit version), or 2GB (64-bit version) of RAM, at least 16GB (32-bit) or 20GB (64-bit) of available hard drive space, and a graphics card that supports DirectX 9 with a WDDM driver.
For select features, you will also need multitouch support, Internet access, and a screen resolution of at least 1024 pixels by 768 pixels.
Where to Download Windows 8 Release Preview
If you meet these requirements, head over to the download page on Microsoft's site and enter your email and country. Since the free Release Preview is available in 14 languages, chances are you'll find a version of the software available for your region.
Clicking 'Download' will start the download of the "Windows 8 Release Preview Setup." Running this application automates most of the set-up process, and selects the appropriate version of the preview for your machine. If you're a bit more daring and technologically savvy, Microsoft has provided direct links to ISO files.
These must be turned into installation media that are burned to a DVD drive or copied to a USB flash drive in order to complete the install. That's the installation process in a nutshell, but again--be wary. This is preview software, so keep mission critical work off your test PC.
Have you installed Windows 8 Release Preview? Did you previously install the Consumer Preview? Let us know your thoughts on this latest release and anything you notice that needs a little work.
Here's what Microsoft says is new or enhanced over previous beta releases:
- New Bing-powered apps, including ones for travel, news, and sports
- Improvements to Mail, Photos, and People apps
- Increased Start personalization
- Better multiple-monitor support
- Better Windows Store navigation
- New family safety and security functionality
- Enhanced touch support for Internet Explorer 10
As with past betas of Windows 8, Microsoft advises users to not install the operating system on a computer used for day-to-day work. There's also no going back without wiping your hard drive.
You can't downgrade from Windows 8 since it cannot access the recovery partition of your hard drive. If you need to downgrade, ensure you have recovery disks readily available.
f you are already running Windows 8 Consumer Preview or Developer Preview, Microsoft says you can upgrade to Release Preview. There's a downside to upgrading, though: you cannot keep any of your files.
To run Windows 8 Release Preview, your test computer will need a processor with a clock speed of 1GHz or greater, 1GB (32-bit version), or 2GB (64-bit version) of RAM, at least 16GB (32-bit) or 20GB (64-bit) of available hard drive space, and a graphics card that supports DirectX 9 with a WDDM driver.
For select features, you will also need multitouch support, Internet access, and a screen resolution of at least 1024 pixels by 768 pixels.
Where to Download Windows 8 Release Preview
If you meet these requirements, head over to the download page on Microsoft's site and enter your email and country. Since the free Release Preview is available in 14 languages, chances are you'll find a version of the software available for your region.
Clicking 'Download' will start the download of the "Windows 8 Release Preview Setup." Running this application automates most of the set-up process, and selects the appropriate version of the preview for your machine. If you're a bit more daring and technologically savvy, Microsoft has provided direct links to ISO files.
These must be turned into installation media that are burned to a DVD drive or copied to a USB flash drive in order to complete the install. That's the installation process in a nutshell, but again--be wary. This is preview software, so keep mission critical work off your test PC.
Have you installed Windows 8 Release Preview? Did you previously install the Consumer Preview? Let us know your thoughts on this latest release and anything you notice that needs a little work.
Free Windows 8 Beta Download (Consumer Preview)
Written By Unknown on Sunday, 1 January 2012 | 08:38
Windows 8 is the official name for the next version of Microsoft Windows, a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, netbooks, tablet PCs, and media center PCs. According to unofficial sources, the release date for Windows 8 has been set for October 2012, three years after the release of its predecessor, Windows 7. Windows 8's server counterpart, Windows Server 2012, is in development concurrently with Windows 8. The most recent officially released pre-release version is the Consumer Preview, which was released on February 29, 2012. An almost-complete Release Preview is scheduled for June 5, 2012.
Unlike Windows 7, which was intended to be a more focused, incremental upgrade to the Windows line, Windows 8 has been “reimagined from the chipset to the user experience” to connect more with the user. It features the Metro interface that is designed for touchscreen input similar to that in Windows Phone and on the Xbox 360. A version of Windows 8, called Windows RT, also adds support for the ARM processor architecture in addition to the previously supported microprocessors from Intel and AMD.
Downloading Windows 8 Beta
Windows setup (with tools to create an ISO or thumb drive)
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/download
ISO image (use Disk Image burner or USB tool)
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/iso
Unlike Windows 7, which was intended to be a more focused, incremental upgrade to the Windows line, Windows 8 has been “reimagined from the chipset to the user experience” to connect more with the user. It features the Metro interface that is designed for touchscreen input similar to that in Windows Phone and on the Xbox 360. A version of Windows 8, called Windows RT, also adds support for the ARM processor architecture in addition to the previously supported microprocessors from Intel and AMD.
Downloading Windows 8 Beta
Windows setup (with tools to create an ISO or thumb drive)
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/download
ISO image (use Disk Image burner or USB tool)
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/iso
Microsoft Secure Boot Firmware may Block Linux Booting
Written By Unknown on Wednesday, 21 September 2011 | 08:14
Proposed changes to the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) firmware specifications would mean PCs would only boot from a digitally signed image derived from a keychain rooted in keys built into the PC. Microsoft is pushing to make this mandatory in a move that could not be overridden by users and would effectively exclude alternative operating systems, according to Professor Ross Anderson of Cambridge University and other observers.
UEFI is a successor to the BIOS ROM firmware designed to shorten boot times and improve security. The framework, a key part of Windows 8, is designed to work on a variety of CPU architectures.
If the draft for UEFI is adopted without modification, then any system that ships with only OEM and Microsoft keys will not boot a generic copy of Linux. A signed version of Linux would work, but this poses problems, as tech blogger Matthew Garrett explains.
Garrett writes:
Firstly, we'd need a non-GPL bootloader. Grub 2 is released under the GPLv3, which explicitly requires that we provide the signing keys. Grub is under GPLv2 which lacks the explicit requirement for keys, but it could be argued that the requirement for the scripts used to control compilation includes that. It's a grey area, and exploiting it would be a pretty good show of bad faith.
Secondly, in the near future the design of the kernel will mean that the kernel itself is part of the bootloader. This means that kernels will also have to be signed. Making it impossible for users or developers to build their own kernels is not practical. Finally, if we self-sign, it's still necessary to get our keys included by ever OEM.
There's no indication that Microsoft will prevent vendors from providing firmware support for disabling this feature and running unsigned code. However, experience indicates that many firmware vendors and OEMs are interested in providing only the minimum of firmware functionality required for their market.
Garrett concluded that there is no need to panic just yet.
The upshot of the changes is that considerable roadblocks might be placed in the way of running alternative operating systems on PCs. Anderson describes this as a return to the rejected Trusted Computing architecture – which at that point involved force-feeding DRM copy-protection restrictions – which may be far worse than its predecessor.
The professor said:
These issues last arose in 2003, when we fought back with the Trusted Computing FAQ and economic analysis. That initiative petered out after widespread opposition. This time round the effects could be even worse, as 'unauthorised' operating systems like Linux and FreeBSD just won’t run at all. On an old-fashioned Trusted Computing platform you could at least run Linux – it just couldn’t get at the keys for Windows Media Player.
The extension of Microsoft’s OS monopoly to hardware would be a disaster, with increased lock-in, decreased consumer choice and lack of space to innovate.
Anderson concludes that the technology might violate EU competition law in a rallying call on Cambridge University's Light Blue Touchpaper blog here.
Windows 8 to come with built-in Malware Protection
Written By Unknown on Thursday, 15 September 2011 | 04:50
At the company's BUILD conference in Anaheim, California on Tuesday, Corporate Vice President of Windows Planning and Ecosystem Michael Angiulo demonstrated an early version of Windows 8 that automatically scanned an infected USB drive used to boot the next generation operating system. Before the OS was able to load, the computer stopped the process and displayed a warning that the boot volume contained an "invalid signature" indicating it had been compromised.
He was able to get the valid version of Windows to load by turning off the system and turning it back on. The presentation starts around the 1:08 mark in the following video:
The technology making this possible is known as UEFI, short for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface. A successor to the BIOS ROM firmware that Microsoft operating systems have relied on since their beginning, UEFI was designed to shorten the time it takes a PC to start up. It was built by Intel, but is designed to work with a variety of CPU architectures.
"It's not just about speed and having a boot that looks better," Angiulo said during Tuesday's keynote, referring to UEFI. "It's about security, too."Steven Sinofsky, president of Microsoft's Windows and Windows Live division, went on to say that Windows 8 developers "have taken Defender and we've actually built a whole new range of protection, all the way up though antimalware, antivirus." Users are free to run Defender or security software supplied by another company. In all, the new OS will offer "tons of security features," he added.
The company issued a statement Wednesday saying Windows 8 would include "low-level security features such as Secured Boot to help defeat classes of threats, and user facing features including Windows Defender and SmartScreen" spam-filtering. The statement didn't elaborate.
Windows 8 will also offer a new way to log on to PCs equipped with a touchscreen. Sam Bowne, a security instructor at San Francisco City College, provided a screenshot here that describes the feature this way: "You choose the picture – and the gestures you use with it – to create a password that's uniquely yours."
Bowne and his students have been testing the security features in the new Windows beta, according to a source.
"There is built in antivirus, and it works!" he wrote "It stopped not only thr EICAR test file, but more than a dozen malware items in Metasploit. So it might be time to sell your Symantec stock."
How to Install Windows 8 via USB Drive
Microsoft has just released a developer preview of its new operating system Windows 8. Users can now download the preview and install on their system to see how its works. But there is just one problem and that is you can't update an existing version of windows, it requires a clean installation.
It is a straight forward process when installing it with a CD/DVD Drive but if you're like me that has a 10inch notebook which doesn't come with a DVD drive then the only solution is to install via a USB stick or drive.
Installing Windows 8 from a USB drive is not that friendly because it requires more preparation that just burning an ISO image to disk and putting that ISO into the DVD drive of the computer.
You will need at least four Gigabytes free space of USB drive, which you have to first format with the FAT32 file system. This is done by connecting the USB drive to the company, right click its drive letter and select Format from the options. The Format windows pops up where you need to make sure that FAT32 is the selected file system. Everything else can be left as they are.
After the formatting is finished, you will need access to the Windows 8 ISO or DVD. The developer preview is only provided as an ISO image. Check out Windows 8 Download for instructions or download the developer preview right here.
The easiest way to copy Windows 8 to an USB drive and make that drive bootable at the same time is to use Microsoft’s Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool. While designed specifically for Windows 7, it appears to work just fine to create a bootable Windows 8 USB key as well.
Just select the Windows 8 ISO when asked to pick an ISO image from the computer. Then select to copy the contents to an USB drive. The program will copy all files to the drive and make that drive bootable at the same time. You can download the Microsoft tool from here.
Install Windows 8
You plug in your USB key into the computer you want to install Windows 8 on. You need to tell the computer on first start to boot from USB and not from hard drive or another location. This is done in the Bios. You usually enter the Bios with F1, F1, Delete, Esc or another key that is highlighted on the screen on Post. Press that key and look for an entry that says Boot or Boot order and make sure that USB has the highest priority on the system. You can easily repeat the steps if the computer is not booting from USB.
The computer should pick up the installation files on the USB drive automatically and installation should commence.
Windows 8 has the following system requirements:
- 1 Gigahertz or faster 32-bit or 64-bit processor
- 1 Gigabyte of RAM for 32-bit, 2 Gigabytes of RAM for 64-bit minimum
- 16 Gigabyte hard drive for 32-bit systems, 20 Gigabyte for 64-bit systems
- Direct X 9 graphics card
If you want to install the Windows Developer Preview, but have no blank DVDs or usable thumb drives, fear not. It’s fairly simple. This assumes you are installing the preview on a computer already running Windows, of course.
- Download the ISO file from Microsoft.
- Mount the ISO using Daemon Tools, Clone Drive, or similar.
- This is important. Do not use the autorun installer. The autorun installer only allows you to upgrade your existing Windows installation and will not allow you to install to a separate hard drive or partition.
- Navigate to the virtual install disc and go to the folder called “sources”.
- Run setup.exe and proceed as if installing Windows Vista or 7.
Windows 8 Developer Preview
Being demoed at Microsoft's Build conference, the Developer Preview is a prebeta version showing off the operating system at its current stage. Though technically designed for developers, no registration is required, so anyone can download and install it.
The Windows 8 Preview is being offered in three different packages--a 64-bit version with various developer tools, a 64-bit version of just the operating system, and a 32-bit version of the OS.
All three come as ISO files--image files of the contents of a CD or DVD. Since each of the packages is several gigabytes in size, you'll need a DVD if you want to burn the files to a disc.
In Windows 7, you can burn the ISO file to a DVD by double-clicking it to open the Windows Disc Image Burner. For older operating systems, you can use a tool such as ISO Recorder to burn the file. Alternatively, you can use such utilities as Virtual CloneDrive or Daemon Tools to "mount" the ISO file as a drive, eliminating the need to burn it onto a disc.
Since this is a prebeta version, you'll want to install the OS on a spare PC or in a virtual environment so that it doesn't interfere with your production or work machine.
Those of you who want to know what you're getting into before you attempt to install the Developer Preview can check out a hands-on early look at Windows 8.
What's next after the Developer Preview?
Speaking at the Build conference yesterday, Steven Sinofsky, senior vice president of Microsoft's Windows division, said that Windows 8 will next segue into one beta version, followed by one Release Candidate. Assuming all goes well, we can then expect the final RTM (release to manufacturing) edition sometime after that.
Sinofsky didn't reveal a specific timeframe for the beta or Release Candidate. However, the company has been expected to launch the beta at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in January, according to WinRumors.