Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) is available for download since past few months now, the free SP1 update to Windows 7 was pushed as KB976932 via Windows Update publicly in February this year. Microsoft has now made available official direct download links to bootable Windows 7 SP1 integrated disc images in standard .iso format, these new SP1 slipstreamed images has the added advantage that users will have an up-to-date installation just after the initial setup.

These direct download links are from Microsoft's official mirror provided by Digital River and allows users with the usual 30 days of evaluation time after which they need to activate using a legitimate key. These .iso files can be burnt as bootable DVD discs or bootable usb sticks as demoed here - http://www.megaleecher.net/Installing_Windows_Using_USB_Flash_Drive .

Much awaited and anticipated RTM version of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is now available for download, the update is now being pushed to users via Windows Update and is also available as standalone offline installer for mass deployment - direct download links are posted at the end of this post.

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is an update that does the following:

• Helps keep PCs supported.
• Provides ongoing improvement to the operating system, by including previous updates delivered over Windows Update as well as continuing incremental updates to the Windows 7 platform based on customer and partner feedback.
• Makes it easy for organizations to deploy a single set of updates.

We are one more step closer to have an final Windows 7 SP1 release as Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Beta made it's way for public testing at Microsoft TechNet, Weighing 1.22 GB in size the build number is 7601.16562.100603-1800 and was complied on June 3rd, 2010.

As very much expected Beta Build 7601 of upcoming Windows 7 Service Pack 1 release is leaked on internet and is readily available for download via torrents, Rapidshare, Megaupload and HotFile links. Having a compile date of March 27th the leaked beta-build with string - "6.1.7601.16537.amd64fre.win7.100327-0053" is not intended for use on production computers and users are advised to download it from the official source only when this is pushed via Windows update.

Rumors of upcoming Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1 are now officially confirmed as the company posted details of Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, surprisingly Windows 7 SP1 will only include minor updates apart from an updated Remote Desktop client which now takes advantage of RemoteFX technology.

Microsoft however did not provided any release or beta timeline for SP1 and only said :

"Once SP1 for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 is released, the service pack will be delivered through Windows Update and be available on Microsoft Download Center for download as well."

Finally the cat is out of the bag with leak of first ever Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1 screenshots, the series of images posted at a non-english blog shows the SP1 installer suggesting that it sizes around 149.4 MB in its current build form.

According to the blogger the total number of updates in the current build of Service Pack 1 is around 150, these updates bring the Windows 7 compilation build number between: 7600.20500 and 20,700.

We have posted about indicative proofs of Microsoft doing internal Windows 7 SP1 testing and now to further support the unconfirmed news bloggers at ZDNet are now reporting that they have received several reports supporting claims of undergoing Windows 7 SP1 testing and have seen lists of post-RTM build numbers for Windows 7.

Microsoft routinely provides a single installable package with collection of updates, fixes and/or enhancements for their software as Service Packs addressing common annoyances and adding new features to their products, After quite successful launch of company's latest operating-system Windows 7 it now seems that Microsoft is all-set to start external beta-testing of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1), Blogger Rafael has found that as previously done a beta ‘candidacy check’ within Windows Update achieved via simple registry key and value pair needs to be done for getting authorized to download the new Windows 7 SP1 Update.