14 DAY TRIAL // The first upgrade to Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 will be made available for download to the public in less than two weeks on February 22nd, 2011.
Microsoft has yet to announce this officially, but multiple sources close to the Redmond company have confirmed this piece of information.
However, in the context in which the software giant has yet to announce officially the release to manufacturing of Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, let alone the general availability deadline for the service pack, the news must be taken with a grain of salt.
Earlier today news of Windows 7 SP1 RTM’s imminent launch was tweeted by Kevin Reeuwijk and blogged by Hans Vredevoort.
Of course, since Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 are joined at the hip, Service Pack 1 is designed to upgrade both platform.
In this regard, business customers should also expect Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 RTM to also be released on February 22, 2011, as end users get Windows 7 SP1 RTM.
And as it is usually the case with the Redmond company, specific groups of users will get access to the SP1 RTM bits early.
It is the case of those with MSDN and TechNet subscriptions. Windows 7 SP1 RTM and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 RTM will be offered to MSDN and TechNet subscribers as early as next week, on February 16.
As a reminder, Microsoft did confirm officially that Windows 7 SP1 would be released ahead of the end of March 2011, and it appears that mid-February brings with it the service pack’s general availability.
Leaked copies of Windows 7 SP1 RTM and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 RTM are already available for download in the wild.
According to information accompanying the leaks, Windows 7 SP1 RTM is Build 7601.17514.101119-1850.