The date may only be months away, but for Microsoft engineers, the work is far from finished. Here's a look at what'll happen behind-the-scenes between now and the release date, and what could still change within the Windows 7 software.

Windows 7 is currently as a public . Its next step is transitioning into release-to-manufacturing () mode. That's the final phase before the software will become generally available for customer purchase.

So, what's that really mean? Basically, the Microsoft team will now spend its time looking for serious flaws or compatibility issues. The look and feel of the software itself, though, isn't likely to shift any further.

"We will not be changing the functionality or features of the product at this point," explains Steven Sinofsky, senior vice president of Microsoft's Windows Engineering Group. "That's the sort of thing we'll save for a future release."