[SOLVED] Windows 7 Service packs

For the impatient, the SPs (64 and 32Bit)have been put up for download here:
http://www.ngohq.com/news/18086-wind...ck-1-beta.html

The BETA service packs...

Maybe only semantics, but the Emailreferred to it as a "pre-release" for testing. I can' t quite see the diiference- that's a Beta by other interpretation?
"
You are receiving this invitation based on the quality of feedback you have provided on previous Windows programs and the Microsoft Windows release team would like you to participate in the Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) release program, to be available shortly, as announced at the Microsoft’s TechEd conference.
Accepting this invitation will allow you to access pre-release versions of the Service Pack for the purposes of validating the release readiness. We highly value your past feedback and know we can count on you again to help us build a great new version of Windows!
The SP1 release version is not available quite yet but we need to assemble a great team of program peers early so you are ready to go when we are! If you accept this invitation you’ll be notified when the release version becomes available.
What you will get if you choose to participate
• Early access to downloadable Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 releases
• Access to private newsgroups to share information about the release with other program peers and with Microsoft staff
• The ability to report bugs and track their status
• An opportunity to help us build a better Windows by validating the release readiness
What we will ask of you if you choose to participate
• Download and install Windows 7 SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 on at least one PC each
• File bugs if you encounter them as well as respond to surveys as you can.
• Validation we are seeking
o Set-up and installation
o Application Experience/Compatibility
o Device Experience/Compatibility
• We ask that you actively participate in discussions on the newsgroups and share your opinions with us and others"

It's a big download, over 500 MB for x64 update.

Plus some of the comments left by the posters didn't seem too promising.

davehc - have you DL it yet and installed it? If so, how's it working?

Yes. I got ot through a Microsoft source and compared. Nothing dodgy there.It takes about an hour to install, according to the quality of your computer, I guess.
I have had it on for about two days now and so far can see no discernable changes or imptovements - that is for Windows 7.
Other than that, fear not. It does no apparent harm!

P.S. Word of caution. It requests that you uninstall any foreign language packs. It will not proceed before you do that.

Rats! That means I'll have to uninstall both my Lower Slobovian and Sumerian Language Packages! LOL!

Agreed. I had to uninstall the East London Cockney! Blimey, Wot a turn on

Here's a faster download link for the Windows 7 SP1 Beta from Softpedia. They've broken it down into 3 RAR files for the x64 and 2 RAR files for the x86 versions.

Much faster, probably because Softpedia has a lot more servers.

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 / Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 Build 6.1.7601.16562 Beta: Free Download

NOTE: Microsoft already confirmed officially that Windows 7 SP1 will deliver no new features, while Windows Server 2008 R2 will evolve with such additions as RemoteFX and Dynamic Memory.

Thanks for the info Dave / Nibs - I will uninstall mobile phone txt speak (I need that to understand what the hell the wife is texting me )

I just finished installing the SP1 Beta package.

Install took right at about 22 minutes with two restarts.

Using "winver" in the Start Orb search bar shows this:



Right-click on: Computer/Properties/ show the following:



So far everything is running okay. I'll defrag here in a little while.