Windows 7 Serial Microsoft denies holding up Win 7

Microsoft is denying a DigiTimes report which statements the Redmond corporation has delayed delivery of key evaluation and testing instruments that Computer makers will need to get Windows seven preloaded on new machines.
According to the DigiTimes August three report, some Taiwan-based OEMs said they are “awaiting performance testing and system preparation tools from Microsoft.” And because they are lacking these equipment — and also because software vendors won;t get the final bits until August 6 — they can;t start “rolling out PCs with Windows seven off their production lines until September,Microsoft Office Pro Plus, instead of mid-August as projected previously.”
I asked the Windows client team about the report. The ISV/IHV (independent software vendor/hardware vendor) delivery date of the final bits of August 6 has been known for a few weeks now. I need to say, even though there were a few changes between the near-final Release Candidate test build of Windows 7 and the final RTM (release to manufacturing) bits, Microsoft has been pretty up-front about any compatibility gotchas ISVs and driver providers might encounter.
But what about the claim the Pc makers don;t have the needed tools? I asked Microsoft for more on that part of the DigiTimes story. A provider spokesperson sent back this statement via e-mail:
“Currently, Microsoft OEMs have all of the OPK (OEM Preinstallation Kit) equipment they need for manufacturing. There is not a single tool that has not been released to them.
“We actually release the full set of required software (OS + Language Packs) within a few days of RTM,Office 2010 Code, and not several weeks as we did for prior OS releases.
“The SDK (software developer kit) and WDK (Windows driver kit) is however not broadly available for IHVs and ISVs,microsoft Office 2010 Serial, yet but will be shortly as you brought up.”
Microsoft officials have been forthcoming for a month or so that they weren;t going to obtain the Windows 7 code to OEMs in time for them to possess back-to-school Windows seven machines available on the market. (That;s why Microsoft has been pushing the OEM Upgrade Option coupons so hard.) So I;m a little fuzzy as to what the unnamed Taiwanese Pc makers are complaining about.
Any Computer makers out there have more specifics to share as to what,Windows 7 Serial, if anything, you;re still awaiting from Microsoft?
Update: I;ve heard back from a system builder, a ka “white box” Computer maker. He mentioned system builders definitely do not have the OPK and other necessary tools yet. But they also don;t have the RTM Windows seven bits yet, either. They must wait until later this week or month (depending on which Microsoft licensing programs they are a part) to get the official final build of the operating system. The system builder said:
“I can tell you truthfully that there is ABSOLUTELY NO Windows 7 OPK released on the OEM System Builder website, which I have access to. Major (royalty) OEM;s may have the OPK, but System Builders don;t. There is a training module for preinstallation but it doesn;t dwell on anything new in WinSIM and only lightly touches on the process of capturing images. The training doesn;t provide any link to an OPK download, and there is NO step-by-step documentation posted yet either.”
I;ve asked Microsoft to respond towards the system builders; statements. I am betting company officials will say that they consider OEMs and system builders to be two different kettles of fish and that I only asked whether OEMs had the necessary Windows 7 instruments. If and when I get more from the Softies, I;ll update this post again.
It took a couple of days. But it sounds like the system builder was correct. Microsoft may have gotten all the necessary instruments to OEMs already, but system builders don;t have them yet. Bottom line: Microsoft;s original statement was about OEMs and not system builders (even though system builders are a subset of OEMs). The last and final statement, delivered via a Microsoft spokesperson via e-mail:
“Microsoft communicates regularly with our valued System Builder community,Microsoft Office 2007 Pro Plus, including providing regular updates via
“Our System Builders have been active participants throughout the Windows seven development effort. System Builders will receive Windows 7 and preinstall instruments from their OEM Distributors that will enable them to assemble PCs, preinstall and test in time to get their systems ready for October 22 GA (general availability).”