The initial reports that Windows 7 Build 7048 is to be the Release Candidate of the Microsoft developed operating system turned out to be false. Steven Sinofsky at the time came out to say that the Windows 7 development team did not even get to put together such an advanced build, let alone dub it Windows 7 RC (Release Candidate). Things have moved on since then: first there were some leaked screenshots of Windows 7 Enterprise Build 7048 and now the 64-bit processor version of Win 7 Build 7048 has hit torrent sites.

This latest version of the Windows-based operating system has been made available courtesy of DiamondNRG (torrent link), the user that also seeded Windows 7 Build 7022 x64 – and that turned out to be the genuine deal. Once the torrent download is complete, you will not end up with an ISO image of the next iteration of the Windows OS. What you will have is a complete copy of an ISO image that you will have to mount to a bootable flash drive. Once that task is complete you should be able to install Windows 7 Build 7048 x64 with no problems whatsoever.

Microsoft has already announced that the next official release will be Windows 7 Release Candidate and will boast a rather long list of changes. People are excited about this torrent leak mainly because Build 7048 has implemented some of these improvements. Here are the extra bits you can expect to get from Build 7048, on top of what you have grown accustomed to in the official Windows 7 Beta, Build 700:
- Choose between different language packs and SKU versions.
- The Start icon is even brighter and shinier.
- Updated icons in the Control Panel, HomeGroup Paint, Sticky Notes and Calculator.
- Alt + Tab switch with Aero Peek effects.
- Fit more icons in the taskbar without having the scrollbar make an unwanted appearance.
- Internet Explorer 8 (not IE8 RC1)
- No more annoying “Send Feedback” links.