Released: Win SDK for Win 7 and .NET 3.5 SP1: RC

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The Windows SDK for Win 7 & .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, RC version is available on the Microsoft Download Center in both ISO and Web Setup formats. 

You have two options when installing the SDK: the Web Setup or the ISO install. Running the Web setup allows you to install a smaller package on your computer, because you can deselect the components you don't want. The ISO image file can be used to burn your own DVD. The ISO files are big - around 1.3 GB. 

The contents of image files can be used as virtual discs using utilities such as ISObuster, Daemon Tools or Virtual CloneDrive for Vista. You can extract the files from an image file to a temporary folder on your hard drive, then run setup.

We've changed the ISO packaging with this release of the SDK. (You can learn more about ISO images and how to work with them in this blog post.)  There are three ISOs to choose from, based on the CPU (x86, x64, or Itanium) platform you are installing on.  Each ISO will allow you to build applications that target all the other CPU platforms.  If you install the x86 ISO on an x86 computer, you will be able to create applications targeting x86, x64, and Itanium.

Which ISO download is right for you?

  • If your computer is X86, download GRC1SDK_EN_DVD.iso
  • If your computer is X64, download GRC1SDKX_EN_DVD.iso
  • If your computer is IA64, download GRC1SDKIAI_EN_DVD.iso

Read the Release Notes for a description of known issues before you install the SDK.  New steps are required when using the SDK build environment or the Visual Studio build environment. 

Platform Compatibility:

The RC release is compatible with Windows 7 Release Candidate,  Windows Server 2008 R2 Candidate,  Windows Server 2008, .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 , Windows Vista, and Windows XP.

Visual Studio Compatibility:

The RC release is compatible with Visual Studio 2008; including Visual Studio Express Editions.

What’s New:

  • Documentation – Approximately 80% of the SDK documentation set has been refreshed
  • Headers/Libraries – numerous new and updated (see What’s New in the Windows API under the top-level Getting Started section in the documentation)
  • Samples – Over 200 new and/or updated samples
  • Tools – Several new tools added
  • Visual Studio 2008 SP1 C++ command line compiler toolset and matching CRT

Watch the the Windows SDK blog and the Windows SDK MSDN Developer Center  for more information about the Windows SDK.  Send your thoughts to the Windows SDK Feedback alias.  Tell us how you use the SDK and what we can do to improve your development experience.