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Windows 7 SP1 public beta available for download

By | July 12, 2010, 8:16am PDT

For those of you who want to be on the bleeding edge, or just want a chance to take it for a spin, Microsoft has released the first public beta of Service Pack 1 (SP1).

Also available is the beta of SP1 for Windows Server 2008 R2.

It’s worth noting that the service pack consists of all updates released so far but that no new features will be a part of this release.

Here are the system requirements:

  • 1 GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
  • 1 GB of RAM (32-bit) / 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
  • 16 GB available disk space (32-bit) / 20 GB (64-bit)
  • DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
  • DVD-compatible drive
  • Internet access (fees may apply)

Here’s where you can find the download.

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Topics

Public Beta, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

Disclosure

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

Talkback Most Recent of 33 Talkback(s)

  • So in other words
    Those who are up to date on Windows Updates already have SP1 Beta wink, they just don't have the tag in the System Properties box.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Cylon Centurion
    12th Jul 2010
  • RE: Windows 7 SP1 public beta available for download
    @NStalnecker - Not quite. There are a few key enhanced features coming in SP1, not least of which are RemoteFX and Dynamic Memory (for Hyper-V).
    ZDNet Gravatar
    de-void-21165590650301806002836337787023
    12th Jul 2010
  • True
    @de-void

    But From what I understand, they're not in the beta.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Cylon Centurion
    12th Jul 2010
  • What is this then?
    From the site
    Please Note: This early release of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Beta is not available for home users. The SP1 Beta does not provide new end-user features, and installation is not supported by Microsoft.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    MoeFugger
    12th Jul 2010
  • But will it fix the Explorer.exe crashes on 64 bit version?
    There are 100's of reports of Explorer (not IE) crashing randomly and for no apparent reason on 64 bit versions of Windows 7 (just google windows 7 64 bit explorer...and you will know what i mean).

    What I want to know is if Microsoft is going to fix this in SP1? They cannot keep blaming other software vendors for ever for this issue.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    k_chahal@...
    12th Jul 2010
  • RE: Windows 7 SP1 public beta available for download
    @k_chahal@... what crashes? I been using Win 7 ultimate 64 bit from day 1 with no issues. This is news to me.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Randalllind
    12th Jul 2010
  • RE: Windows 7 SP1 public beta available for download
    @Randalllind
    Same here and I know of no others that have had problems regardless of what a few on Google say.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    MoeFugger
    12th Jul 2010
  • RE: Windows 7 SP1 public beta available for download
    @Randalllind
    I installed WIN7 Home Premium 64bit and had nothing but trouble using WinEXplorer. Frequent hangs mostly. Also lots of problems trying to run xp programs in WIN7. I cleared the HD and installed the 32-bit version and guess what? I haven't had a problem since. Finally I upgraded to WIN7 Pro
    and it is working very well also. Only one program so far that hasn't played well with WIN 7Pro.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    jeroldo
    12th Jul 2010
  • RE: Windows 7 SP1 public beta available for download
    @k_chahal@... I've not had a single explorer.exe crash with win7 64 (pro), and I've been using it since Beta 1. now I have to admit that there've been crash issues with ie8 on a somewhat regular (read as 1x per every 2 weeks, or so) basis.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    gavin142
    12th Jul 2010
  • RE: Windows 7 SP1 public beta available for download
    @k_chahal@...

    I've been running it since the first availability and never seen one. We are little but I figure we have close to 10 machine years running Win7
    ZDNet Gravatar
    mswift@...
    12th Jul 2010
  • RE: Windows 7 SP1 public beta available for download
    @mswift@... & gavin142
    I find that I don't have trouble with Explorer IF--and only if--I reboot after about 2 days or less of actual up time (not counting sleep). But if I go much beyond 2-2.5 days of up time, then I begin having problems until I reboot.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Flyer22
    12th Jul 2010
  • RE: Windows 7 SP1 public beta available for download
    @k_chahal@... No Explorer crashes from me either.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    MSFTWorshipper
    12th Jul 2010
  • RE: Windows 7 SP1 public beta available for download
    @k_chahal@...

    I know what you mean, I found Norton Security was the cause of crashes on my system, Norton also caused issues with idle-time scans when Windows would try to go to sleep, leaving a black screen and a hard-boot needed. After removing Norton and using MSE instead I have had no issues.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    ryanstrassburg
    13th Jul 2010
  • RE: Windows 7 SP1 public beta available for download
    You must be a lucky one. Try Googling it and you will know what I mean.

    I contacted Windows 7 tech groups sponsored by Microsoft and they could not figure it out. I tried every ?fix? that was suggested by the Techies and the Internet but no dice.....In desperation I uninstalled 64 bit and installed 32 bit and viola....no more crashes.....running smoothly for months now.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    k_chahal@...
    12th Jul 2010
  • Then I must be a lucky one too
    @k_chahal@...

    No crashes here either.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Cylon Centurion
    12th Jul 2010
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