Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Beta Leaked

It's been a long time coming. Thanks to a recently leaked build of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1), rumors circulating around the Internet suggest that the update's beta version could be available in the next month or two.

It appears a few different builds have made their way online. The first, reviewed by tech blog GeekSmack, features a compile date of March 27th, suggesting that the build is fairly new and intended to show off how SP1 is looking at the moment.

Windows 7 Service Pack 1: Highlights

Critics have thus far marveled at a number of things: for one, SP1's installation speed.

According to GeekSmack, "The install process is much of what you would expect from a service pack installer, but one thing I noticed is the installation is MUCH faster than the install process for service packs on Vista was, which is a very welcome change." (Source: geeksmack.net)

Some sources speculate that the quick install could be evidence that Microsoft is trying to limit the number and size of service packs in the near and distant future.

At the same time, Microsoft not long ago told the media that there were few major post-production concerns with Windows 7 at Redmond, sentiment that would make for a fairly slim service pack. (Source: techradar.com)

Windows 7 Service Pack 1: Straightforward

As for the update, the process is fairly straightforward: agree to licensing terms, pass the hardware tests, and then watch SP1 make its way onto your PC. Once the installation process is complete, users are requested to reboot their PCs twice. After that's finished, a screen announces the successful installation of the Service Pack, with the build upgrading to Build 7601.

Full details concerning the beta are not yet available. For instance, there's still no word on support for major updates to Windows 7, including USB 3.0 and Bluetooth.

The beta version of Windows 7 SP1 is expected to hit sometime in June, with the full release to be released sometime in the early fall, perhaps September.