14 DAY TRIAL // Just days after Microsoft opened up the Beta testing program to early adopters outside of Redmond, the first upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 has been leaked into the wild and is available for download via various third party sources. Users that wish to jump the gun and grab Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Beta Build 7601.16562.100603-1800 (the release also covers Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1), can do so, provided that they know how to navigate BitTorrent trackers and certain warez websites.
Of course, such a move is not recommended in the least. Attackers have used infected copies of Windows 7 before, in order to spread malware, and in this regard, the risk of users compromising their own machines and turning themselves into victims might not be worth the unearned “privilege” of being among the first in the world to test drive the service pack. Windows 7 SP1 Beta is just as the label implies, pre-release software, designed exclusively for deployment in testing environments by early adopters that understand the risks associated with running a product while still in development.
Earlier this week, Microsoft gave green light to Windows 7 SP1 Beta and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Beta downloads through the Technical testing program on Microsoft Connect. At that point it was just a matter of time before one of the Beta testers for Windows 7 was going to leak the bits into the wild.
As previously announced, Windows 7 SP1 Beta is available only in English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. The full Build string, 7601.16562.100603-1800 reveals that the release was compiled on June 3rd, 2010, at the start of this month. The limited number of testers that have access to the Windows 7 SP1 Beta bits on Connect are permitted to download 7601.16562.100603-1800_Update_Sp_Wave0-B1SP1.0_DVD.iso. The ISO contains no less than three files: windows6.1-KB976932-x86-INTL.exe for 32-bit (x86) Windows 7 SP1, windows6.1-KB976932-X64-INTL.exe for 64-bit (x64) Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 and windows6.1-KB976932-ia64-INTL.exe for Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 IA64.
Microsoft already confirmed officially that Windows 7 SP1 will deliver no new features, while Windows Server 2008 R2 will evolve with such additions as RemoteFX and Dynamic Memory.
