14 DAY TRIAL // New Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta downloads are available now for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Launched in the first half of July 2010, Windows 7 SP1 Beta and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Beta have suffered a small refresh at the start of this week. The changes made by Microsoft in no way affect the actual Service Pack 1 bits, with the Redmond company focusing on the packaging of the first upgrade for the two operating systems. Following the modifications introduced, early adopters will enjoy streamlined downloads of SP1, which is essentially the same upgrade for both Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
According to the Redmond company, customers have been complaining about the size of the downloads associated with Windows 7 SP1. Initially, Microsoft had offered three downloads for Service Pack 1 Beta, but now their number has grown to five.
“We've been getting some feedback that the current version of the Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 download package was too large -- 1.5GB for both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions in one package. So we've split them down out into their individual packages for easier downloading. Head on over to the Windows Server SP1 Resource page to start your evaluation. If you're still on the fence about evaluating...don't be. SP1 is a big value-add for Windows Server users -- and it's free,” noted a member of the Windows Server division.
It is important to note that there are more ways than one in which customers currently running the RTM Build of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 can download SP1. “There are two ways you can obtain the service pack beta. You can download a special key to enable Windows Update to offer you the service pack beta, or you can download the service pack directly. For each download method, you should choose the correct download for your platform (x86, IA64 or x64),” Microsoft stated.
First off there are the 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) versions of the WUSignUpTool, weighing in at 401 KB and 396 KB respectively. The WUSignUpTool was designed to tweak Windows 7 RTM and Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM in order to detect, download and install SP1 Beta via Windows Update.
In addition, there are now three downloads of Windows 7 SP1 Beta, namely the standalone ISO packages. Windows6.1-KB976932-X86-INTL.exe contains the 32-bit (x86) flavor of SP1 Beta for the Widnows 7 client, a 286.67 MB download. Similarly, Windows6.1-KB976932-X64-INTL.exe (536.9 MB) brings to the table both the 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) of SP1 Beta for both the Windows 7 client and Windows Server 2008 R2. And Windows6.1-KB976932-IA64-INTL.exe (429.87 MB) offers SP1 Beta for Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems.
Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta are available for download here.
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