14 DAY TRIAL // Concomitantly with the availability of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Release Candidate (RC), Microsoft also released an update designed to streamline certain scenarios such as the deployment and removal of the upgrade. Just ahead of the 2010 Professional Developers Conference 2010 (PDC 2010), the Redmond company offered early adopters the next milestone of Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, namely the RC Build.
At the same time, the software giant released the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 installation software feature update.
KB 976902 will be a requirement for the integration of upgrades into both the last Windows client and server platforms.
In addition, the refresh is also designed to increase the stability of the two operating systems in scenarios in which customers uninstall a service pack.
“This software update will be a prerequisite to install service packs. Additionally, this update improves reliability when you install or remove Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 updates and service packs,” Microsoft explained.
In order to be able to deploy SP1 RC, testers first need to uninstall SP1 Beta, if it was already installed.
Provided that users are running Windows 7 RTM, SP1 RC can be installed right on top of the operating system.
At the same time, SP1 RC will need to be removed ahead of November 30, 2011 when the release will expire.
“Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 RC helps keep your PCs and servers on the latest support level, provides ongoing improvements to the Windows Operating System (OS), includes previous updates delivered over Windows Update as well as continuing incremental updates to the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 platforms based on customer and partner feedback, and is easy for organizations to deploy a single set of updates,” Microsoft explained.
Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Release Candidate (RC) Build 7601.17105.100929-1730 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Release Candidate (RC) Build 7601.17105.100929-1730 are available for download here.