Aero7 Beta 2 — approved website release handoff

Release approved 22 September 2026. Upload and verify the exact files before enabling either download button.

Updated 22 September 2026. Rebuilt online and offline test candidates have completed clean-install acceptance, and the exact final local image pair has now passed the same connected-online and disconnected-offline VM gate. The artifacts are not GitHub release assets: hosted-file verification and the website rollout remain to be completed. This document is the approved website copy, implementation requirements and release checklist. Public availability begins only after the uploaded files and download paths pass the checks below.

Current QA status and package identities are recorded in the QA status and evidence history. Its linked reports distinguish fresh-image results from later upgrades to the test guests. Historical results must not be presented as acceptance of the final package set or final ISOs.

Current release status

The current candidate selects Desktop 33, Gadgets 25, Control Panel 55, KWin 7.3 and optional Vault 7 alongside the other corrected packages. The release notes match all 19 selected archive identities and optional labels. The latest recorded integration run passes 160 tests, 19 online candidate-archive checks, 84 offline candidate/dependency-archive checks and 65 offline repository-entry checks.

The final-media acceptance report records both locally finalized artifacts. Each exact ISO completed a clean installation, OOBE, first-login audit, optional Programs Center install/removal, reboot and pinned File Explorer launch at 1920x1080. The offline image ran with no network adapter; the online image verified networking and synchronized time. Both prove that the PolicyKit agent is active before the first privileged feature request. Final website URLs and upload-back verification remain pending.

The selected-stack alignment report now verifies all 16 core versions after normal reboot/password login in both existing test guests. The actual running Gadgets, Action Center and mapped KWin library match their selected builds. Desktop services have zero restarts and no failed units at those checkpoints. Both optional caches match the selection; the disconnected guest's vault remains absent/disabled, while the online guest's installed vault and encrypted wallet files are preserved.

The 21 September rebuilt online and offline candidates now add fresh installation, OOBE and password-login evidence. Their exported collector manifests verify 144 of 144 listed files with zero failed units and no collected coredumps. SDDM accessibility/session selection, login/lock branding, File Explorer, Optional Features and Windows-style screenshot behavior passed on the installed systems. Earlier component results and their exact version boundaries remain in the QA history, including Explorer/common dialogs, Control Panel, screenshots, updates, gadgets, vault lock-state handling and recovery. All 18 retained build recipes match their archives' BUILDINFO hashes. The source-input follow-up also verifies the presence of all 95 declared inputs, the applicable file/Git hashes, the Gadgets install hook and Qt's supplemental commit. Snapshot comparisons classify later test-only and nested-companion changes. This is local traceability, not a reproducible-build or trusted-signing claim.

The rebuilt-candidate bug-test pass is complete. The closure checklist separates completed guest alignment, source-input reconciliation, native vault prompt replay, startup diagnostic triage, requirement review and build-space planning from two former presentation findings: the requested login Ease of Access dialog and the stock KDE Wallet password dialog. The later installed-VM vault replay passes the scoped Aero7 prompt, retry, cancel, overlap and retention behavior; the selected source manifest now includes it. The rebuilt candidates include and pass the SDDM Ease of Access dialog and desktop-session selector. These later results close the SDDM gate without erasing the historical evidence. The vault presentation source patch builds and passes isolated tests using the existing pack icon. Its accepted kwallet 6.29.0-1.1 package now belongs to the required local transaction. The 22 September refreshed-candidate acceptance verifies both new test images, exact installed selection, default-off Vault 7 state and the native Aero7-titled first-use/password presentation. This closes the engineering gate. Describe it as downloadable only after the exact final website-hosted images pass the release checks. The native vault follow-up verifies cancellation, retry, client closure and retained synthetic credentials through two read/lock cycles. The original ciphertext-hash failure is preserved and explained; no production package changed. Native prompt-parenting remains limited. The diagnostic follow-up identifies the SVG resources and verifies their consumed elements without changing the existing artwork. Logs still retain parser warnings, virtual graphics/CPU diagnostics, unavailable optional backends and auxiliary portal registration failures. The offline guest's later scheduled update check also correctly reports unknown availability and remains a failed unit while offline; the earlier clean reboot checkpoints do not mean permanent zero-error status. Do not claim warning-free logs or verified physical-hardware compatibility. No security checks were weakened or failed units cleared to suppress diagnostics.

The final local images contain the selected fixes and passed fresh exact-media online/offline installation. Use sections 1–9 below as approved website copy. Keep downloads disabled until upload and hosted-file verification are complete.

1. What the website team should change

• Prepare the homepage Beta 2 announcement and a dedicated release-notes page.
• Prepare two download cards, with Offline ISO — recommended first.
• Host both ISO files and their checksum file on the Aero7 website/download

infrastructure, not GitHub Releases. GitHub hosts source, issues and wikis.

• Update the Desktop, File Explorer, Control Panel, Gadgets and installation

pages using the component descriptions below.

• Add an Optional Features section, with Programs Center Beta marked optional.
• Replace superseded promotional screenshots with verified 1920×1080 captures

from the accepted images. Keep old screenshots only in a labeled archive.

• Add installation choices, update instructions, known limitations and safe

diagnostic-log sharing guidance to the help pages.

• Do not enable either download button until its hosted bytes and link have

passed the verification checklist.

Do not redesign application icons or generate new ones. Use the established AeroThemePlasma icon pack and the project-owned Aero7 branding already in the applications. Use genuine screenshots, not Windows reference images or mockups.

2. Homepage copy

Headline

Aero7 Beta 2: a familiar desktop, with a Linux foundation

Introductory text

Aero7 Beta 2 brings together the dedicated Aero7 desktop, a Dolphin-based File Explorer, a Windows-inspired Control Panel and Desktop Gadgets. Choose the recommended offline image for an installation that does not need internet, or the smaller online image when you have a reliable connection.

Calls to action

• Primary: Download Offline ISO (recommended)
• Secondary: Download Online ISO
• Supporting: Read Beta 2 release notes · Installation guide ·

Report a problem

Show a visible beta notice next to the download choices: Beta software: back up important files and use a spare machine or virtual machine for testing. Aero7 is an independent Linux project, not Microsoft Windows. Familiar interface names do not imply Windows drivers, services or universal application compatibility.

3. Downloads page

Suggested recommendation copy:

We recommend the Offline ISO, especially for slow laptops or unreliable

connections. It avoids downloading the package set during installation and

can therefore make setup much faster. USB, CPU and disk speed still matter;

there is no guaranteed installation time.

Both variants target the same Aero7 desktop, not different product editions. Offline base installation does not mean every future app, update or optional feature is available without internet. Programs Center Beta's installation archive is included; its software catalog and new package downloads need a connection. Other feature dependencies may require downloads.

Artifact fields — fill only from the accepted build

Do not reuse the hashes from the failed 4/5 September candidates. Rebuilt files can have the same filename but different contents. After upload, verify the actual downloaded bytes against the final checksum file before enabling buttons. After the owner-approved pair is built, run scripts/finalize-release-artifacts.py with both exact ISO paths and a clean metadata directory. It runs the full release verifier on the recommended offline image and then the online image, requires matching release dates, and creates SHA256SUMS plus BETA2-ARTIFACTS.md only after both pass. These local files do not sign, upload, publish or approve the release.

Verification instructions for visitors

Download the ISO and the matching checksum file from the release page. On Linux, run sha256sum followed by the downloaded ISO filename. On Windows PowerShell, run Get-FileHash followed by the filename and -Algorithm SHA256. Compare the entire result with the value displayed for that exact image. A checksum detects corruption; it is not a substitute for a trusted download source or a signature.

4. Product-page updates

Aero7 Desktop

Describe the dedicated Aero7 Wayland session, Start menu, glass-style taskbar, window grouping/previews, desktop menus, tray and notifications. The factory taskbar starts with Start, Command Prompt, File Explorer and the familiar browser entry. Recycle Bin starts at the upper-left of the normal desktop. Diagnostic test images additionally create Aero7 Physical Install Logs.

Explain that KDE/KWin and Linux remain the underlying technologies. AeroThemePlasma/Plasma sessions remain explicit fallbacks; do not describe the project as removing every KDE library. Desktop edit mode is not part of the normal Aero7 shell interface. Safe Mode limits effects; it is not a separate OS.

File Explorer

Present Aero7 File Explorer as the maintained Dolphin-based implementation, not a brand-new file manager unrelated to Dolphin. Cover Libraries, Computer, Network, Recycle Bin, properties, familiar navigation and common file dialogs. Computer uses friendly drive presentation rather than exposing every internal Linux mount. Preserve accurate upstream attribution and license information.

Explain that Local Disk (C:) is Aero7's display label for the Linux system filesystem, not a Windows partition or a promise that applications accept Windows-style paths. Drive letters shown for other mounted volumes are display labels, not persistent Windows drive mappings. Do not depict a fabricated CD drive simply to fill space in a promotional screenshot.

After final acceptance, include cancellable file-dialog search, file-type filtering, library-folder scope and the supported Organize controls. Do not describe the limited Organize menu as a complete Windows file-operation menu. Include keyboard-friendly Open and Save As: the filename field is ready for typing when the dialog opens. This correction has passed the component VM replay, but must be present in the accepted final images before it is announced as shipped; see the Explorer 53 evidence.

Paint

Describe the ribbon Paint application, drawing tools, colour selection and native Open/Save dialogs. Format-specific conversion, image-quality and preview controls remain available. New profiles open another image in the current document window, with Save/Discard/Cancel protection for unsaved work. An existing preference for separate windows is preserved. Remote URL browsing uses an explicit alternate file browser; do not advertise identical native behavior for every protocol or file format.

Control Panel

Explain the 45 familiar applet entry points, five-column All Control Panel Items view, search and Linux-backed settings. Highlight Screen Resolution, network, sound, power, accounts, programs, updates and administrative tools. 45 entry points does not mean 45 fully equivalent Windows services. Hardware-dependent, optional and unavailable features must explain their state rather than look like working features when they are not.

Desktop Gadgets

List Calendar, Clock, CPU Meter, Currency, Feed Headlines, Picture Puzzle, Slide Show, Weather and Media Center. Explain the gallery, adding/removing gadgets and their individual settings. Weather, feeds and currency data depend on network services and their availability; do not promise perpetual live data or offline weather. Use actual project captures and existing gadget artwork.

Screenshots

Once the final-image check passes, use this visitor-facing instruction:

Press Meta+Shift+S, drag a rectangle and release. The selector closes

without opening the editor. Aero7 saves a PNG in the Screenshots folder below

your configured Pictures directory, copies the image to the clipboard and

shows a saved notification. Click the notification to open the image, or use

Ctrl+V in an application that accepts pasted images. Esc cancels.

Do not call a copied filename equivalent to copied image pixels.

Privacy note for the released handoff correction: explicitly copied screenshots can appear in the desktop clipboard history and follow its retention settings. Clearing clipboard history does not delete the PNG in Pictures/Screenshots. The correction does not turn on history for other image copies globally.

Login and lock screen

Mention the corrected Aero7 Professional branding, lower-left login menu, available session choices and on-screen keyboard. Distinguish logging into a different desktop from unlocking the existing session. Do not claim the full Windows 7 pre-login accessibility checkbox dialog has been implemented; use the precise supported controls shown in the tested build.

5. Optional Features reference

Location: Start → Turn Aero7 features on or off, or Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features → Turn Aero7 features on or off.

Checked, unchecked, partially installed and unavailable states are meaningful. Changes require administrator authorization. Explain retained user data and any sign-out/restart requirement. Never tell visitors to bypass dependency, signature or checksum validation to make a failing transaction continue.

Vault-specific guidance: existing account wallet/portal overrides are preserved. The accepted images include the scoped Aero7 password-dialog presentation; unrelated KWallet/GPG surfaces can retain upstream branding. If locking cannot be verified, sign out before leaving the computer; a cleared list alone is not proof that the backend locked. Never ask users to share vault passwords or decrypted entries in bug reports. The vault protects its saved collection, not every file on the computer. See the native lock and two-client evidence.

6. Installation, updates and support pages

Keep disk-erasure warnings prominent. The images are x86-64 UEFI media; do not advertise legacy BIOS, Secure Boot, dual-boot partition resizing or particular physical hardware as tested without matching evidence. Backups are essential. Installer failures should be reported with the actual error and logs, not worked around by repeatedly wiping a real disk.

Installed systems retain the Arch/Aero7 repository configuration. For connected systems, document the normal full-system update (sudo pacman -Syu) and the graphical update route where supported. Do not recommend partial upgrades or pacman -Sy alone. Changes only present in local QA packages are not already available to users through the public package repository.

Update preferences — visitor-facing copy after acceptance

Maintainer evidence: r10 update preferences and approval checks and actual online recovery and approved full upgrade. This is bounded verification, not permission to publish the whole release.

Open the Control Panel update page and choose Change settings. Turn Check for updates automatically and notify me on or off, then choose Save. This preference applies to your account. Turning automatic checks off leaves Check for updates available for manual use.

Automatic checks notify you; they do not install packages. You must approve installation, and system changes require administrator authorization. Keep the computer powered on while updates run. Aero7 prevents ordinary page navigation or window closing from interrupting an active graphical update, but this cannot protect against power loss, forced process termination or ending the session. An unsuccessful check is not evidence that the computer is up to date. Successful installation confirms the selected transaction; check again for newly available updates. If AUR checking is unavailable, the status says so. Update history does not assume every package absent from the repository catalog came from the AUR; unknown sources are labeled explicitly.

Clock and Internet Time — visitor-facing copy after acceptance

First-run setup previews the date and clock in the time zone you select, using your selected regional clock format and calendar week start. Daylight saving follows that zone's rules. Fresh systems start automatic time synchronization without waiting for an internet connection; an offline computer cannot synchronize until it can reach a time server.

In Control Panel → Date and Time → Internet Time → Change settings, turn synchronization on/off or select a time-server hostname or IP address. Changes require administrator approval. Update now applies the selected server and asks the time service to synchronize. Cancelling approval does not apply the change. Your chosen server stays selected when synchronization is turned off and back on. Starting the service is not proof that a server has been reached.

Firewall and network locations — visitor-facing copy after acceptance

Fresh installations use firewalld. Existing installations configured with UFW keep their existing backend and rules; this release does not silently migrate them. Firewall information can be viewed without granting permission to change the configuration. Changes still require administrator approval.

On fresh firewalld installations, Change network location… in the Firewall page lets you select an active wired or wireless connection and choose Public, Home or Work. Public is the default and blocks unsolicited incoming traffic. Home additionally permits local mDNS discovery; it does not automatically enable file sharing or remote login. Work also starts with unsolicited incoming traffic blocked; add only services approved for that network. Choosing a trusted profile for one connection does not make every later network trusted. With no active wired/wireless connection, connect first before changing its location. Existing UFW systems do not gain these firewalld-only controls.

The diagnostic desktop folder contains installer, boot, hardware, package, service and session evidence plus a checksum manifest and privacy notice. Ask users to review it before sharing: logs can contain usernames, hostnames, hardware identifiers, device paths and network information. Do not request passwords or publish raw archives as website downloads. Screenshots should also be checked for personal information.

FAQ copy

Which ISO should I use? The Offline ISO is recommended. Choose Online if the smaller download matters more and you have reliable internet during setup.

Does Offline mean I never need internet? No. It covers the base installation. New updates, additional software and live-data gadgets can need internet.

Is Programs Center required? No. It is optional and can be enabled through Turn Aero7 features on or off. Removing it does not remove the desktop.

Is the encrypted vault enabled automatically? No. Enable Encrypted Credential Vault in Turn Aero7 features on or off and sign out and back in. It stores generic credentials, not all your personal files. Keep its password safe: there is no password-recovery feature. Removing the optional feature does not erase the vault.

Is this Windows 7? No. Aero7 is Linux with a familiar Windows-inspired UI. Windows programs and drivers are not universally compatible.

Will my laptop install as quickly as the VM? Not necessarily. Disk, USB, CPU and network performance differ. We do not promise a fixed installation time.

7. Screenshot handoff

Replace every previous Aero7 website screenshot with the new final set in docs/website-assets/beta2-final-1080p/. These assets were captured on 22 September 2026 from a fresh installation of the exact final Offline ISO. They are native 1920×1080 PNGs at 100% scale, not stretched, retouched or composited. Verify them with the adjacent SHA256SUMS.txt before upload.

Do not keep older Beta 1, upgraded-test-VM or layout-preview screenshots on a page that describes Beta 2. Do not use private QA logs, deliberate failure screens or password-entry shots as promotional assets. Where the diagnostic folder is visible, label it as physical-install diagnostic media rather than silently removing it and implying a different build.

Retain original PNG downloads; responsive web copies may be optimized without changing the depicted UI. Add real alt text and do not put essential instructions only inside screenshots. Do not publish a missing asset link as if it exists.

Final image acceptance, 22 September: all 16 website assets and all 16 wiki gallery assets are exactly 1920×1080 and have fresh SHA-256 manifests. The installer, OOBE, desktop-shell and application screenshot sets were also replaced with final-ISO captures at the same native resolution. Preview images are no longer substitutes for the release gallery.

8. Approved announcement copy — publish after download verification

Long announcement

Aero7 Beta 2 is ready for testing

Aero7 Beta 2 brings our dedicated desktop, Dolphin-based File Explorer, Windows-inspired Control Panel and Desktop Gadgets together in a new test release. The familiar taskbar, Start menu, login branding and screenshot workflow are joined by clearer optional-feature controls.

There are two installation images. We recommend the Offline ISO: it carries the base installation package set, works without internet during setup and avoids package-download delays. The smaller Online ISO remains available for people with a reliable connection. Both use the normal repositories for later updates.

Programs Center Beta is optional rather than part of every fresh installation. Find it through Turn Aero7 features on or off in Start or Control Panel. The release also includes diagnostic collection to help us investigate install and desktop problems; review logs for personal information before sharing.

This is beta software. Back up your files, read the known limitations and test on a spare machine or VM. Aero7 is an independent Linux project, not Microsoft Windows. Thank you to everyone testing and reporting reproducible problems.

Downloads: [INSERT WEBSITE RELEASE URL] Release notes and known limitations: [INSERT WEBSITE NOTES URL] Installation/help: [INSERT VERIFIED GUIDE URL]

Short announcement

Aero7 Beta 2 is ready for testing: dedicated Aero7 Desktop, Dolphin-based File Explorer, Control Panel, Gadgets and optional Programs Center Beta. Two ISOs are available; Offline is recommended and installs the base system without internet. Back up first—this is beta software. Downloads and notes: [WEBSITE URL]

9. Release gate and website launch checklist

Source and documentation destinations

These destinations follow the configured project repositories. Check that each published wiki page exists and contains the approved revision before launch; local documentation edits are not automatically public.

Read-only checks on 8 September confirmed all six repository destinations below and the three wiki Git repositories exist. File Explorer is registered on GitHub as a fork of KDE/dolphin. This verifies the links and relationship only; final published wiki revisions and screenshots still need review after approval.

• Aero7 source and issues
• Desktop wiki
• File Explorer wiki
• Control Panel wiki
• Programs Center source
• Package repository

Use project website download URLs for ISO buttons, not repository archive links.

Launch checks

• [x] Both exact final local images pass embedded-package/checksum verification.
• [x] The exact final online image passes fresh installation, OOBE and normal

reboot/login.

• [x] The exact final offline image passes fresh installation with no network

adapter attached.

• [x] First-login collector manifests pass with zero failed units/coredumps.
• [x] Optional Programs Center installs and removes through the feature manager.
• [x] Login/lock branding, SDDM accessibility and session selection pass.
• [x] Shutdown and logout complete without the delayed Plasma-close warning.

Native KWin evidence covers normal completion, cancellation, explicit override, power-off and cold start; the selected 7.3 source also passes the 11-result notification and six-result no-notification control-flow suites.

• [x] Taskbar, Start, Explorer, Control Panel and screenshot checks pass.
• [x] Multi-output and recovery/failure-path coverage is recorded accurately.

Three virtual outputs, output disable/re-enable, automatic layout repair, shell crash recovery and disconnected transaction recovery are documented; physical multi-monitor hardware is explicitly outside the VM claim.

• [x] Physical-hardware limitations and untested backends are explicitly listed.

The release copy excludes legacy BIOS, Secure Boot, physical GPU/hotplug, physical multi-monitor, unsupported voice control and unavailable optional backends from the tested claim.

• [ ] Release package provenance/signing and repository promotion are verified.
• [x] Final artifact table and local checksum file are complete. Exact local

bytes and hashes are recorded in the final-media acceptance report; hosted URLs and download-back verification remain separate checks.

• [x] Release owner explicitly approved Beta 2 publication on 22 September 2026.
• [ ] Website owner provides the final download URLs.
• [ ] Uploaded ISO downloads match the published byte sizes and SHA-256 values.
• [ ] Download cards, checksum links, mobile layout and help links are tested.
• [ ] Announcement placeholders are replaced and claims match the evidence.

For the current run see r10 current-stack acceptance. Earlier baselines are recorded in r9 exact-media acceptance and checklist, earlier r8 media acceptance and the earlier corrected-candidate evidence. Do not describe unit tests, screenshots or older-image success as proof of a complete final-image acceptance pass. Never claim every possible bug is fixed.