Microsoft slip-up reveals Windows 7 date

A Thursday morning update to the company's TechNet section on Windows 7 appeared to carry a publish date of May 2009.

The page stated that the Release Candidate would be available until the end of June, without any download limits, and would expire on 1 June 2010.

The page was taken down by Microsoft, but not before news sites were able to obtain and repost screenshots of the page.

If true, the posting would appear to confirm earlier rumours that Microsoft is targeting a May release date.

The Release Candidate will be the final public build of Windows 7 before the operating system's final 'gold' release.

The company has refused to give a concrete date for the manufacturer or consumer retail releases of Windows 7.

However, speculation is that the software should hit shelves in late 2009 or early 2010.