Aug 16, 2010 07:37 GMT  ·  By

With the first upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Microsoft introduced key changes server and client, and also offered the necessary guidance for early adopter to understand and test the evolution in Service Pack 1. It is the case of the “Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Test Focus Guide,” which is available for download along with the rest of the “Documentation for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 Beta (KB976932).”

Testers only have to head over to the Microsoft Download Center, and access the resources free of charge, provided that they are running a genuine version of Windows.

“This document focuses on key changes introduced with SP1 for both Windows Server 2008 R2 (“Server”) and Windows 7 (“Client”). These changes, spanning several key areas, fall into three categories:

• Changes to simplify administrative and management tasks

• Ongoing improvements to overall quality: security, reliability, and performance

• Support for emerging technologies and standards,” Microsoft stated.

“Each change and its associated test scenarios are provided along with known issues and KB articles wherever appropriate".

“This document highlights the changes and some common and interesting scenarios for each change. Some of the scenarios might require special hardware. Such prerequisites are also mentioned for each scenario,” the company added.

Of course, Microsoft recently made a move designed to open up access to Windows 7 SP1 Beta and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Beta to even more testers worldwide.

The Redmond company is now offering the first Beta development milestone of Windows 7 via the Download Center, in addition to TechNet.

Customers interested in test driving Windows 7 SP1 can still download the Beta of the upgrade from Microsoft.

Obviously, in the context, the “Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Beta Test Guidance” is a must have resource when it comes down to taking the upgrade out for a spin.

“SP1 is an update to both Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 that, along with improvements delivered to users via other channels, addresses feedback from our customers,” the software giant said.

“As with previously released updates, SP1 contains changes that are focused on supporting new types of hardware, adding support for several emerging standards, and addressing specific reliability, performance, and compatibility issues".

“SP1 also continues to improve upon the IT administration experience. While SP1 is not intended to be a vehicle for releasing new features, some existing features do gain slightly enhanced functionality in SP1,” the Redmond company added.

Microsoft will release Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 in the first half of next year. Third-party sources claim that the company will in fact offer Windows 7 customers SP1 as early as Q1 2011.

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta are available for download here.