Here is another leaked screenshot which shows quite a few improvements in Windows 8 taskbar [upcoming]:

Upcoming Features :-

Windows 8 setup installs from scratch and the number is just 8 minutes for a complete OS install (Windows 7 took 23-25 minutes to install on same PC configuration), and if that was not impressive enough you can also restore (or “Push Button Reset”) the complete OS to default in flat 2 minutes saving your existing settings.

Microsoft has released Documentation for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 and it’s now available for download at the Microsoft Download Centre.
The documentation for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 includes:

- Deployment Guide for Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 and Windows 7 with SP1
- Hotfixes and Security Updates included in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1
- Installing Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 (“readme”)
- Release Notes for Windows 7 with SP1
- Release Notes for Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1
- Coming Soon: Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 Notable Changes

* Deployment Guide for Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 and Windows 7 with SP1.doc (213KB)
* Hotfixes and Security Updates included in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1.xls (465KB)
* Installing Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1.doc (94KB)
* Notable Changes in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1.doc (102KB)
* Release Notes for Windows 7 with Service Pack 1.doc (87KB)
* Release Notes for Windows Server 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1.doc (87KB)

Download Link For SP1 (64 Bit)

The Windows 7 SP1 will be released on February 24th to the public. The service pack will be available via Windows Update or as a standalone download. As suggested, users of single PC or home users should use Windows Update instead of standalone installer whereas customers with multiple PCs should download the update from Microsoft download.

Microsoft released Service Pack 1 final for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 operating systems. As the download size of SP1 x86 installer is over 500 MB and x64 is over 900 MB, many users are asking about the free disk space required to install SP1 for Windows 7.

For those concerned about disk space, check out the below chart to know Windows 7 SP1 disk space requirements.

Here are the things you should consider before installing the Windows 7 Service Pack 1:

• Scan the computer for malware and viruses. Make sure your antivirus software is up to date before doing so.
• Backup your important data and files prior to updating to service pack 1.
• Connect a mobile computer, laptop, netbook or notebook to a power outlet before you start the installation of the service pack.
• Make sure you have enough free disk space available for the service pack .
• Microsoft recommends to disable antivirus software during installation as it can interfere with the installation. If one of your system files are corrupted, you can check and fix them with the stf /scannow command on an elevated command prompt. Keep your Windows 7 DVD at hand in case corrupted files need to be replaced.

If your computer is set to automatically install updates, you’ll be prompted by Windows Update to install SP1. Follow the instructions on the screen. If you aren’t prompted to install SP1, follow these steps:

1. Make sure your computer is connected to the Internet.
2. Click the Start button , click All Programs, and then click Windows Update.
3. In the left pane, click Check for updates.
4. If any important updates are found, click the link to view available updates. In the list of updates, select Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB976932), and then click OK.
5. Click Install updates. If you’re prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
6. Follow the instructions on your screen.
7. After the installation is complete, log on to your computer at the Windows logon prompt. You might see a notification indicating whether the update was successful.
8. If you disabled your antivirus software, enable it again.

Follow recover lost disk space after installing SP1 guide to free up lost space. Please note that you need to uninstall Service Pack 1 Beta or Release Candidate before installing the final build.

Here are the steps to regain lost disk space after installing SP1 for Windows 7:

1. Open Command Prompt with elevated rights. To do this, type CMD in Start menu search area and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter. Click Yes for the UAC prompt.

You can also launch the Command Prompt with admin privilege by navigating to Start menu, All Programs, and then Accessories. Here, right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

2. In the Command Prompt, type in the following command and hit Enter key. Wait for a few seconds to see “The operation completed successfully” message.
dism /online /cleanup-image /spsuperseded

3. You are done!

Microsoft released Windows 7 SP1 blocker tool kit which allows to block Windows 7 SP1 update installation without disabling Windows Automatic Updates. Microsoft will automatically upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 7 SP1 through windows automatic updates once SP1 hits RTM milestone.

Microsoft has released a Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit, for organizations that would like to temporarily prevent installation of Service Pack updates through Windows Update. This tool can be used with: Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1. It is valid for 12 months following general availability of the service pack.

The tool kit consists of three components: a Microsoft-signed executable, a script, and an ADM template. All of them set or clear a specific registry key that is used to detect and block the Service Pack download from WU. Companies can choose the one that works best with their computer management infrastructure.

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The Mac, and OS X has gained 8% of the market share already in its various iterations. Most of the Mac users are running 10.6.3, not surprising, given that those most likely to have the latest operating system are probably also the most likely to know that a Steam client is out and ready for them to download. Of course, the Mac faction still pales in comparison to the amount of Windows gamers on the network, but for a client that came out on the 12th day of the month for the survey data, 8% ain’t bad at all.
Also of note: Intel processors in the survey jumped up by almost 3%, probably due to a lot of the new Mac users. And the 1280×800 primary desktop resolution also jumped as MacBook users installed and ran the new Mac Steam client. Average free hard drive space actually dropped a little bit (Mac users are busy people, after all…) and average network speed rose (…with fast Internet connections). The Steam Hardware Survey is always an interesting cross-section of what kind of PCs gamers are using, and a big injection of Macs into the numbers made for a fascinating set of data.

Windows 7 passed Windows Vista on Steam, the leader of the digital game distribution market, and we predicted that XP was in its crosshairs. Last month, Windows 7 passed Windows XP, making it the most popular operating system on Steam. Windows 7 is also the first version of Windows where gamers are adopting 64-bit faster than 32-bit. That said, there are still more 32-bit XP users than those on Windows 7 64-bit.

Despite Windows 7′s success, Windows share overall plummeted 8.43 percent from April 2010 due to all of the Mac OS users trying out Steam. XP dipped 4.81 percent, Vista use dropped 2.07 percent, and Windows 7 was down 1.55 percent.

Steam Hardware Survey

The 90-day Trial is offered for a limited time and in limited quantity. The download will be available through March 31, 2010, while supplies last.After the 90-day Trial expires, if you wish to continue to use Windows 7 Enterprise, please note that you will be required to purchase and perform a clean installation of Windows 7, including drivers and applications. Please keep this in mind; Windows 7 Enterprise is not available through retail channels.

Minimum 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)

Download Windows 7 Enterprise edition(90 days trial)What you need to know before you begin.

Before you get started with installation, we want to share some important points about this release:
-If you’ve installed the Windows 7 Beta or Windows 7 Release Candidate on your PC, you’ll need to back up your data and perform a clean installation of the 90-day Trial.
-The 90-day Trial is the full working version of the Windows 7 Enterprise, the version most of you will be working with in your corporate environment.
-The 90-day Trial will not require a product key (it is embedded with the download), but the product will time out after 90 days of activation.
-You have 10 days to activate the product. If not activated within 10 days, the system will shut down once every hour until activated.
-The 90-day Trial will shut down once every hour when you have reached the end of the 90-day evaluation period.
-The 90-day Trial is offered for a limited time and in limited quantity. The download will be available through March 31, 2010, while supplies last.
-After the 90-day Trial expires, if you wish to continue to use Windows 7 Enterprise, please note that you will be required to purchase and perform a clean installation of Windows 7, including drivers and applications. Please keep this in mind; Windows 7 Enterprise is not available through retail channels.

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