Microsoft has officially launched the public beta test for Windows 7 Service Pack 1, an update package for the Windows 7 operating system that includes an array of updates and fixes for issues that have been discovered since the software began shipping.
The download package for the Windows 7 SP1 Beta release has been bundled with Windows Server 2008 R2 for “a more streamlined and cost effective deployment.” The software is intended for testing by IT professionals rather than Windows home users.
As sites like Lilliputing point out, your system likely already has most of the service pack content installed if you’ve been installing recommended Windows Updates regularly. However, if you’re technically proficient and enjoy testing beta software, this is your chance to have some fun.
If you decide to download and install SP1 on your Windows 7 computer, it is highly recommended that you read the accompanying Microsoft Knowledgebase article first. Within the article is a link to download a Word document that includes a list of changes the service pack will make to your system. Also, be aware that the beta will expire on June 30, 2011 and must be removed before updating to the final release of the service pack.
Notable changes specific to Windows 7 include additional support for communication with 3rd-party federation services, improved HDMI audio performance, and improvements for printing mixed-orientation XPS documents. Other changes that affect both Windows 7 and Server 2008 are improvements to “Restore previous folders at logon” functionality, support for additional identities in RRAS and IPsec, and support for Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX).
The download link for the Windows 7 SP1 Beta can be found at Microsoft’s Technet Evaluation Center. Once you have registered for the evaluation you will have the option to download the x86 or x64 versions of the package using Windows Update, or a 1.2GB ISO file.
I tried downloading the x86 version using Windows Update last night, and had some issues getting connected to the Windows Update Service. After a few unsuccessful attempts, I opted to download the ISO instead and everything went smoothly from there.
This morning I used MagicDisk to install the ISO on my ASUS EeePC which is running Windows 7 Ultimate. Installation lasted about 40 minutes and required only one reboot upon completion.
Honestly, I haven’t noticed much of a difference in my system since the installation, with the possible exception of a very slight performance increase, but that could very well be my imagination and the power of wishful thinking at work.
If you’d rather wait for the final version of SP1 before updating your Windows 7 system, Microsoft has released new information stating that it will be scheduled for the first half of 2011.
