Microsoft Releases Public Beta for Windows 7 SP1, Extends XP Downgrade Rights

Software giant Microsoft announced during its Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) the availability of the public beta for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1), which the company noted does not contain any new features specific to Windows 7. However, the features in SP1 for Windows Server 2008 R2 benefit Windows 7 […]

Written By: Nathan Eddy
Jul 14, 2010
Channel Insider content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More

Software giant Microsoft announced during its Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC)
the availability of the public beta for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2
Service Pack 1 (SP1), which the company noted does not contain any new features
specific to Windows 7. However, the features in SP1 for Windows Server 2008 R2
benefit Windows 7 by providing a “richer” virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)
experience, wrote Windows communication manager Brandon LeBlanc.

“For Windows 7, SP1 is simply a combination of updates already available
through Windows Update and additional hotfixes based on feedback by our
customers and partners,” he explained through a blog post. “Along with today’s
announcement of public beta availability of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2
SP1, we also wanted to provide customers and partners with more predictability
around the lifecycle of Windows.”

This includes the extension of downgrade rights to Windows XP Professional
beyond the previously planned end date at Windows 7 SP1. LeBlanc said this will
help maintain consistency for downgrade rights throughout the Windows 7
lifecycle. Downgrade rights give businesses the opportunity to install an older
version of an operating system (OS), in this case Windows XP, without having to
buy a new license for it. While Microsoft has extended downgrade rights before,
it has never announced a decade-long extension before.

The company also announced it will allow retailers to sell the boxed version of
the previous OS for up to one year after release of a new OS, and that original
equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can sell PCs with the previous OS preloaded for
up to two years after the launch date of the new OS. This means that since
Windows 7 launched in October 2009, retailers will be able to sell the boxed
version of Windows Vista until October 2010, and OEMs will be able to sell PCs
with Windows Vista preinstalled until October 2011.

“This lifecycle policy has been in effect since before the launch of Windows 7,
and it has very little impact on most customers, as many retailers and OEMs
have already discontinued sales of Windows Vista in favor of Windows 7,”
LeBlanc said. “But it does ensure that our OEM and retail partners can
discontinue sales of earlier versions of Windows within a predictable timeline.” 

 

Recommended for you...

Leadership Roundup: July Adjustments to Executive Benches

July saw major leadership shakeups across the channel, with key C-suite hires at Pipefy, Coro, Snowflake, Chainguard, and more.

Jordan Smith
Aug 1, 2025
July Roundup: AI, Cyber Key to Several M&A Developments

July’s M&A wave spotlighted AI security, with major players like Palo Alto Networks, Darktrace, and TD SYNNEX leading transformative deals.

Jordan Smith
Aug 1, 2025
Lemongrass Debuts Tool to Streamline SAP Clean Core Work

Lemongrass debuts Clean Core AI Accelerator to help SAP users cut complexity, reduce technical debt, and prepare ERP systems for cloud and AI upgrades.

Franklin Okeke
Jul 31, 2025
Trend Micro and Google Cloud Double Down on AI Security

The expanded alliance emphasizes AI-driven defenses, sovereign cloud capabilities, and new anti-scam protections for businesses worldwide.

Allison Francis
Jul 30, 2025
Channel Insider Logo

Channel Insider combines news and technology recommendations to keep channel partners, value-added resellers, IT solution providers, MSPs, and SaaS providers informed on the changing IT landscape. These resources provide product comparisons, in-depth analysis of vendors, and interviews with subject matter experts to provide vendors with critical information for their operations.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.