Uninstalling Windows 7 SP1 Beta

Since Microsoft will not provide a direct upgrade path from Beta to RTM, early adopters already testing Windows 7 Service Pack 1 will need to download the first public development milestone of the upgrade. At the same time, since Windows 7 SP1 is in Beta stage, the service pack could introduce various problems on a machine, specifically issues that weren’t there when users were running the RTM flavor of the operating system. In such cases, and in others, customers might need to uninstall Windows 7 SP1 Beta.

One thing to keep in mind is that when installing the service pack, backup files are created in order to ensure that removal will be possible. In this regard, customers should steer clear of the Disk Cleanup Wizard, which will erase the backup files, making the uninstall process impossible.

In the eventuality in which the Disk Cleanup Wizard was not used, the best way to uninstall Windows 7 SP1 Beta is to head over Start, Control Panel, Programs, and Programs and Features. On the left hand side pane choose View installed updates, and then locate Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB 976932), select it and hit uninstall.

There’s also an additional removal scenario in which Command Prompt is used. Early adopters will need to enter either “command prompt” or “cmd” in the search box under the Start menu, then right click the selected result and choose the Run as administrator option. Next they will need to execute the following command: wusa.exe /uninstall /kb:976932.

The last variant involves using System Restore. Microsoft informs that “System Restore will remove any programs and revert any system changes that have been made since you installed the service pack. System Restore will not affect any personal files.

1. Click the Start button. In the search box, type System Restore, and then, in the list of results, click System Restore.

2. Click Next.

3. Choose a restore point that matches the installation date for the service pack. The restore point will be labeled either Install: Windows Update or Install: Windows 7 Service Pack 1.

4. Verify the restore point, and then click Finish.”

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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