Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 RTM Released to Public, Download Now

Microsoft has made Service Pack 1 RTM publicly available to all Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 users. It was already announced earlier that the public downloads of SP1, Build 7601.17514.101119-1850 will go live on February 22nd, 2011.

This is the first service pack upgrade for both Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, but the changes that SP1 brings to both the platforms is quite different. SP1 is considered just a minor upgrade to the Windows 7 client, with no new features being added, and the focus being placed on introducing hotfixes, optimizations and patches. While, SP1 for Windows Server 2008 R2 is bringing in two new features: Dynamic Memory and RemoteFX, about which we have already discussed in our early posts.

MSDN and TechNet subscribers, as well as business customers with Volume License agreements have already received access to the SP1 build since last week. And the week before that, Microsoft announced the release to manufacturing (RTM) of the service pack as well as the fact that OEMs had started receiving it.

As always, Microsoft will make available Windows 7 SP1 RTM for download through the Download Center. From where, users can easily download SP1 and upgrade their copies of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 manually. SP1 will also be made available through the Windows Update, which is the best way for end users to upgrade to SP1. When users upgrade their copies of Windows through Windows Update, the service pack downloaded and deployed is tailored specifically for their machine and the existing copy of Windows. Also, when you are downloading the standalone installers (or Network Installation Packages), they are generally much larger in size when compared to the Windows Update packages.

Download Link Windows 7 SP1/Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 (via Microsoft Download Center)

Direct Download Links to Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RTM

Direct Download Link: 7601.17514.101119-1850_Update_Sp_Wave1-GRMSP1.1_DVD.iso (1.9 GB)

Direct Download Link: windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe (32-bit) (538 MB)

Direct Download Link: windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe (64-bit) (865 MB)

Do not click download if you are updating just one computer: A smaller, more appropriate download is now available on Windows Update. If Windows Update is not offering you the option to install the service pack, see KB 2498452. If you are encountering a problem when installing the service pack from Windows update, see Troubleshoot problems installing a service pack for Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2.

Steps to take before installing Windows 7 Service Pack 1 from the Microsoft Download Center
If you choose to install Windows 7 SP1 from the Microsoft Download Center Web site, there are steps that you can take to make sure that you have a good experience when you install the service pack. This article, KB 2505743, provides some suggestions to improve your experience when you install Windows 7 SP1 from the Microsoft Download Center Web site.

In order to download and install Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 you must currently have a Release to Manufacturing (RTM) version of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 already installed.

If you have previously installed a pre-release version of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 on your machine, you must uninstall that version before installing SP1.

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 is available for installation in the same languages made available at original launch of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

Windows 7 SP1 is now available through Windows Update:

Windows 7 SP1 WU

It is recommended that you install Service Pack 1 through Windows Update. The download size is less when compared to the executable or ISO files (linked above) and the service pack is tailored according to your PC. In our case, WU just downloaded 60 MB to install SP1.

Microsoft provides help on installing service pack using the different methods here.

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