Obviously Microsoft is already working away at the first Service Pack for Windows 7, but thats about all we know. Well now the Russian site wzor.net, which gave away lots of leaks leading up to the final release of Windows 7 has released time frame information about the release of the first Windows 7 service pack.

According to this rumor Windows 7 SP1 will have two betas and two release candidates. It’s also possible that developers will get the first beta as early as December 2009. The finally RTM version of SP1 is set to be released in summer 2010 and will be RTW ( Release To Web ) by autumn 2010. Now this is all according to Russian site wzor.net and nothing has been announced officially be Microsoft.

Arstechnica attempted to translate the original article by wzor using Google:

Since the end of September 2009, Microsoft has resumed intensive work on the first service pack for Windows 7, the assembly gathered, the work in full swing, we observe the processes taking place in a company and as soon as work on SP1 significantly advance to the “interesting stages, so we just try to give you know about this.

Now we will not “spook” the leadership and development team, leak test assemblies SP1 Beta 1.

To our knowledge the first Beta 1 version of SP1 for Windows 7 may appear at the end of December this year, just before the Christmas holidays, and after the new year, SP1 Beta 1 will be given to the TAP Testori.

The public phase of testing SP1 for Windows 7 will begin in early January 2010.

Total scheduled to launch two beta versions of SP1 for Windows 7 and two release candidates.

Output the final version of SP1 for Windows 7 is scheduled for the autumn of 2010, PC makers will get the updated distributions of Windows 7 with SP1 as always much earlier ie in the summer of 2010.

According to this rumor, Microsoft will be releasing a SP1 much quicker than they did with Vista. Windows Vista SP1 had a 5 month Beta Program. It included a Beta, a Release Candidate Preview, a Release Candidate, a Release Candidate Refresh, and a Release Candidate Refresh 2 ( Which went on to be the final RTM ) Whats more Vista was released in November 2006 and the SP1 wasn’t available until March 2008.

If this rumor appears to be true then Windows 7 SP1 could be released in autumn 2010 which would only be a year after the RTM release of Windows 7. And as Arstechica rightly pointed out, delays are bound to occur, although they didn’t with the Windows 7 release.

When do you think the SP1 will be released? What would you like to see in it?

Sources:

Arstechnica

Windows 7 SP1 Here By Summer 2010? was posted on Everything Microsoft - Latest Microsoft News, Guides, Reviews & Themes. If you are not reading this content in an email newsletter, it is being used without permission.

Microsoft had originally confirmed that Windows 7 wouldn’t be released till 2010. We then started hearing rumours that it could come along in time for the holiday season. And finally on the 2^nd June, Microsoft announced Windows 7 would be available from the 22^nd October. So why did they bring forward the release date?
I’ll be interested in hearing your opinions on this but I thought I’d let you know mine first.

Snow Leopard

We all know that Apple is Microsoft’s biggest competition. Apple were and still are taking some of Microsoft’s market share as people were favoring the more stable Leopard OS. Snow Leopard was then announced for the 28th August. Microsoft needed to get in as soon as possible to compete and prevent losing even more market share to Apple.

Beta Builds & RC1

Microsoft also received good feedback from its beta build which was released on 9^th January 2009 it was remarkably stable and finished for a first beta release. The 1^st Release Candidate on May 5^th was a step above that again. I’ve been using it as my main OS since it was released without any problems. Microsoft’s team of developers and all those who gave feedback must have played an important role in having such a finished and stable RC. I’m sure this gave Microsoft confidence in their new OS and all the positive feedback made them realise that people wanted this sooner than 2010. They didn’t feel the need for a RC2 either which possibly would have pushed back the release date. I don’t think they needed one either.

Make Up For Vista

Windows 7 is without doubt one of the best OS’s I have ever used. It is my favourite OS at the moment and I congratulate Microsoft for finally getting it right. Don’t get me wrong, Windows XP was one of the best OS’s of its time and was a great leap forward for Microsoft, but that was way back in 2001. Things change and advance rapidly in this market and Microsoft’s solution to this with Windows Vista wasn’t their best so I won’t go on about it. They were eager to make up for their mistakes, And as I said earlier they were losing market share to Apple fairly quickly as users were heading to the more stable OS at the time. They were under pressure to produce an excellent OS fast! It’s no easy task creating a new OS with a huge amount of code that can have bugs hidden left, right and center in it. Thousands of hours must have been put into developing and testing it. And all credit to Microsoft and its testers, they really put in a good effort to make it as stable and polished as possible.

Driver Support

One of the biggest problems with Windows Vista was its lack of driver support which really put people off migrating to it. Manufacturers just didn’t want to make drivers for Windows Vista. The first few years for Vista were a nightmare for drivers. Eventually manufacturers realised that they had to make drivers for Windows Vista as it was still one of the most popular OS’s. Luckily, most drivers for Windows Vista will work with Windows 7 as well. Also manufacturers are more excited about Windows 7 than Vista, and those that didn’t make drivers for Vista are now doing so for Windows 7. This again will give consumers and businesses the confidence to upgrade to Windows 7, and it means Microsoft doesn’t have to wait for everyone to catch up and make drivers for Windows 7.

Key Market Opportunity

And finally, during one of the worst economic downturns we have ever experienced, Microsoft still had the ambition to release a new product. Obviously the best time for any business to release a new product is in time for the Christmas holidays. Microsoft’s original release date for 2010 would have been too late. If Microsoft had missed this opportunity to get their new product out there on new laptops and computers bought for Christmas, they would have missed a key opportunity to get back some of its market share and make some revenue.

So what do you think Microsoft’s reasoning was for releasing Windows 7 on the 22^nd October 2009 instead of 2010? Let us know in the comments.

Why Microsoft Brought Forward The Windows 7 Release Date was posted on Everything Microsoft - Latest Microsoft News, Guides, Reviews & Themes. If you are not reading this content in an email newsletter, it is being used without permission.

First of all, I’d like to congratulate Microsoft for (finally) signing off the RTM. Since it will soon be available for download and many users running the RC (Release Candidate) plan to install it, the following question arises:

Is it possible to upgrade from the RC to the RTM (Release to Manufacturing)?

According to Microsoft, upgrading from the RC (or any previous build) is not supported as mentioned in the “Windows 7 Upgrade Paths” document:

Unsupported Upgrade Scenarios

…Pre-release in-place upgrades across milestones (for example, Windows 7 RC to Windows 7 RTM) are not supported.

This isn’t good news for everyone, particularly those who have been using the RC for a while, customized it and changed its settings. However, there’s a workaround in the Windows 7 RTM installation to upgrade from the RC.

Workaround to Upgrade from RC to RTM

The same method for upgrading from Windows 7 Beta to RC works here as well. I’ve tried it and the upgrade was successful. Here’s how (assuming you have already the downloaded the RTM):

• Extract the files in the ISO
• Browse to the “sources” directory
• Open “cversion.ini”
• Change the ‘MinClient’ number from “7233.0” to “7100.0”
• You should end up with something like this:


[HostBuild]
MinClient=7100.0
MinServer=7100.0

• Save the file
• Run “setup.exe” from the extrated files and upgrade!

Modifying "cversion.ini"

The upgrade should also work with Windows 7 builds less than 7100 if the ‘MinClient’ is set to number lower than build number installed. Although it works, performing a clean install of Windows 7 is still recommended. (Use at your own risk…)

Upgrading Windows 7 RC to RTM was posted on Everything Microsoft - Latest Microsoft News, Guides, Reviews & Themes. If you are not reading this content in an email newsletter, it is being used without permission.

Last week rumours had it that the RTM (Release to Manufacturing) had been signed off and was already leaked on various torrent sites. This was until Microsoft denied this claim and said that the RTM still isn’t ready until the second half of July. The RTM is basically the final stage of development of Windows 7 just before it hits the market. It seems that Microsoft doesn’t want to release it until they are confident that it is ”ready”.

Meanwhile, users can either download the RC (Release Candidates) or one of the leaked builds (that were/are expected to be the RTM). For information about the recent leaks and their checksums, check this post. If you still haven’t downloaded the RC, you still have time until 20 August. However, Microsoft has decided to start gradually ending the RC testing program and focus more on the RTM. Thus, it has sent a message a few days ago to those who had downloaded the RC through the Windows 7 website saying:

Notice: Downloads will end August 20

Thanks for all your help building Windows 7. We are on our way to the last big milestone: Release to Manufacturing. Starting on October 22, you’ll see it on PCs and store shelves. As we gear up for that, it’s time to wind down the Release Candidate testing program.

…Tell us what you think. If you’re using the Windows 7 Release Candidate, we hope you like what you see. Let us know — go to http://input.microsoft.com and tell us what you think. You’ll be able to give feedback on various aspects of the operating system…

So I think we’re now close to saying goodbye to the RC and giving a warm welcome to the RTM once it’s signed off and available for download to MSDN and TechNet subscribers and Volume License Customers.

What to Expect in the RTM

We’re all witnessing the fuss over the RTM and are eager to install it, despite the fact that the RC is feature-complete and in my opinion, has the potential to be the final product. What I expect though is a more stable release with fewer problems and better support to non-English versions of Windows 7. Microsoft seems to be putting a lot of effort in the RTM and want it to be excellent, if not ‘perfect’. What do you think?

Goodbye RC? was posted on Everything Microsoft - Latest Microsoft News, Guides, Reviews & Themes. If you are not reading this content in an email newsletter, it is being used without permission.

Earlier, I made a post in which I described the upcoming Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) and explained what all of the hype was about. Now, the Redmond company has released the 1.0 Beta, and anyone can download MSE directly from Microsoft. On Microsoft’s page for MSE, a link to Microsoft Connect is provided from which users can fill out a quick survey (seven questions) about security, and upon completion, users can download the Beta for Windows 7 (x86 and x64), Windows Vista (x86 and x64), or Windows XP (x86 only).

Microsoft provides a quick explanation on their official page:

You’re too busy to spend a lot of time worrying about protecting your PC. With Microsoft Security Essentials Beta, you get high-quality protection against viruses and spyware, including Trojans, worms and other malicious software. And best of all, there are no costs or annoying subscriptions to keep track of.

Security Essentials is easy to install and easy to use. Updates and upgrades are automatic, so there’s no need to worry about having the latest protection. It’s easy to tell if you’re protected – when the Security Essentials icon is green, your status is good. It’s as simple as that.

When you’re busy using your PC, you don’t want to be bothered by needless alerts. Security Essentials runs quietly in the background, only alerting you if there’s something you need to do. And it doesn’t use a lot of system resources, so it won’t get in the way of your work or fun.

Remember that you will need to meet the minimum requirements:

• For Windows XP, a PC with a CPU with clock speed of at least 500MHz and at least 256MB of RAM
• For Windows Vista and Windows 7, a PC with a CPU with clock speed of at least 1.0GHz and at least 1GB of RAM
• VGA (display): 800×600 or higher
• Storage: 140MB of available hard-disk space
• An Internet connection is required for installation and to download the latest virus and spyware definitions.
• Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher, or Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or higher.

A second build will be released to the public later this summer, which will be either a Beta Refresh or a Release Candidate, and then the final build in the fall (either before or around the release of Windows 7). However, interestingly enough, the Beta build (1.0.1407.00) is lower than that of the leaked build (1.0.2140.0), so users of the leak could be advised to keep their current version and those who do not have MSE already may wish to obtain the leaked copy.

Download

Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0 Beta Released was posted on Everything Microsoft - Latest Microsoft News, Guides, Reviews & Themes. If you are not reading this content in an email newsletter, it is being used without permission.

The following is a step by step guide on how to download the Windows 7 Release Candidate efficiently without slowdowns or page errors. The normal process is currently under heavy load and it is not a real pleasure to try to log complete the procedure over and over again. Here is what you need to know to speed up this process:

1. Open the Microsoft Windows 7 website.
2. Instead of scrolling down to pick the Windows 7 Release Candidate you click on the IT pros: Get the RC plus expert advice link in the right sidebar. (direct links: MSDN, Technet)

3. Click on Sign In in the upper right corner, this should be very fast. The sign in opens in a new window. You need a Windows Live account to sign in.

4. Scroll down and pick your edition of the Windows 7 RC that you want to download.

5. The process will be much faster since you are already logged in. Microsoft will display a small form. Fill out the information and continue. The next page should display the Windows 7 Release Candidate product key plus the download link.

6. Keep the download window open until it finishes downloading

How To Download The Windows 7 RC Right Now Without Slowdowns was posted on Everything Microsoft - Latest Microsoft News, Guides, Reviews & Themes. If you are not reading this content in an email newsletter, it is being used without permission.

Microsoft started sending out emails to Windows 7 Beta users that contains information about the public release of the Windows 7 Release Candidate. It will as expected be made publicly available on May 5 and be available at least through June 30. There will also be no limits on the number of downloads or product keys available.

Windows 7 Release Candidate Announcement

Thank you very much for your help in testing the Windows 7 Beta. Your feedback is invaluable in helping make Windows 7 a high quality operating system. With your help, we have reached the next major milestone on the journey to Windows 7: the Release Candidate (RC).

Today (April 30) the RC is available to MSDN subscribers and TechNet Plus subscribers.

On Tuesday, May 5 (PST), the RC will be available to everyone via our Customer Preview Program. As with the Beta, the Windows 7 RC Customer Preview Program is a broad public program that offers the RC free to anyone who wants to download it. It will be available at least through June 30, 2009, with no limits on the number of downloads or product keys available.

So you don’t need rush to make sure you get your copy. When you’re ready to download the RC, it’ll be waiting for you.

To get the RC please use one of the following links:

Developers

IT Pros/Microsoft Partners

Tech Enthusiasts/Consumers

Official Windows 7 RC Announcement was posted on Everything Microsoft - Latest Microsoft News, Guides, Reviews & Themes. If you are not reading this content in an email newsletter, it is being used without permission.

May 5 is the designated day where Microsoft will offer the Windows 7 Release Candidate to the general public. There are a few indicators that users will most likely experience server errors,slow download speeds and interruptions on that day. The reason for this assumption is simple. First there have been the problems when Microsoft released the Beta candidate of Windows 7. Users were not able to connect to the download servers at all for some time after the public announcement which made Microsoft extend the availability of Windows 7 Beta.

The second indicator was the release of Windows 7 RC for MSDN and Technet subscribers. They did experience server errors and slow downloads as well and it is very likely that the first 24 hours after the public release will show a similar picture. What can be done to avoid this issue? Other than being among the first users to start the download not much. A good idea would be to wait a day or two if server errors should occur during launch. The release candidate will be offered throughout May at least which should give everyone plenty of time to finish the download.

Users might consider downloading the release candidate from P2P networks instead. That’s however not a good idea because this way is not officially sanctioned by Microsoft and some releases contain malicious software.

Our suggestion: Be the first or wait. There is not really anything else that you can do.

Expect Server Errors And Slow Downloads On May 5 was posted on Everything Microsoft - Latest Microsoft News, Guides, Reviews & Themes. If you are not reading this content in an email newsletter, it is being used without permission.

It’s been confirmed that Windows 7 Build 7100 is the official RC release. Complied on 21 April 2009 it is tagged as 7100.0.winmain_win7rc .090421-1700. More recent internal builds have been released, but 7100 is the official RC build.

The Windows 7 Release Candidate will be available for download on May 5th, although expect it to be leaked before then particualarly as MSDN and Technet subscribers will get it beforehand. Already fake torrents have been seen in the wild.

Builds 71XX will be based on RC1, and RC2 builds expected around August 2009 will be Builds 72XX. Given the pace of Windows 7′s development, if I were a betting man, I would put money in on the Windows 7 Release Date being before Christmas 2009.

Windows 7 Official Release Candidate Is Build 7100 was posted on Everything Microsoft - Latest Microsoft News, Guides, Reviews & Themes. If you are not reading this content in an email newsletter, it is being used without permission.

Windows 7 Build 7077 which leaked yesterday (read Windows 7 Build 7077 leaks) is probably the release candidate that everyone interested in the next Microsoft operating system is waiting for.

A batch of screenshots of this release were posted on various sites on the Internet including the blog newsTechnica. You can find a collection of Windows 7 Build 7077 screenshots below and in our Windows 7 screenshots gallery.

[Show as slideshow]

Windows 7 Build 7077 Screenshots was posted on Everything Microsoft - Latest Microsoft News, Guides, Reviews & Themes. If you are not reading this content in an email newsletter, it is being used without permission.