Acer's UK managing director has revealed the day that Windows 7 systems are expected to begin shipping.

Bobby Watkins said that Acer will start offering systems sporting the new Microsoft operating system on 23 October, confirming earlier reports that Windows 7 would ship ahead of Microsoft's original target of early 2010.

Watkins said in an interview with gadget site Pocket Lint about an upcoming PC model that "23 October is the date the Windows 7 will be available", when explaining the company's update policy.

News of the actual date comes shortly after Microsoft made available the first release candidate builds of Windows 7.

The builds are believed to be the final versions of the operating system to be released before the company officially makes Windows 7 available to system vendors and, later, the general public.

Microsoft reveled earlier this week that it would be including a new security fix for the release candidate build which would help guard against 'AutoRun' malware attacks in removable drives.