The final version of Microsoft’s first update pack for its Windows 7 operating system should be arriving soon for end users, as the company has indicated that the final build of SP1 is already in the hands of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). OEMs had their hands on Windows Server 2008 R2 too.
A posting to Microsoft’s Russian Technet website confirmed this fact which stated that SP1 would be released publicly on Friday, but it was unclear at the time whether Microsoft was referring to a batch of partners or a full Web release of the update pack. Since Microsoft usually releases its major updates on “Patch Tuesday,” as it’s called, consumers will have to wait until January 18, at the earliest, to see the arrival of Windows 7 SP1.
As spotted by WinRumours, the company’s Rusky Windows virtualisation bods confirmed that version 7601.17514.win7sp1_rtm.101119-1850 is the final build and it will be in the laps of OEMs soon. Several Torrent sites are already allegedly hosting the final build of SP1: 7601.17514.win7sp1_rtm.101119-1850. We recommend you wait until the final version comes through Microsoft itself, as to confirm that you’re getting the correct batch of modifications to your operating system versus, say, a Trojan-infected mess.
The size of the pack is still not confirmed. The SP1 RC which was released three months ago sized about 800MB. There’s been no word out of Microsoft as to how the various tweaks to the operating system made since then will affect the final size of the update package—the Torrent version, so far, clocks in at 1.40 gigabytes.
However, the contents of which is expected to remain unchanged from Microsoft’s initial position: Unlike SP1 packs for previous operating systems, Windows 7 SP1 isn’t going to come bundled with a host of new features. For most consumers, it’s updates-only on this one, folks: security fixes, bug squashing, and general tweaks to the operating system.