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Unlike Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Beta, for which Microsoft did not provide a slipstream version for download, early adopters testing the Release Candidate Escrow Build of the operating system’s first upgrade apparently received access to images of the OS with SP1 already integrated.
The first details of Build 6.1.7601.17104 were leaked in the wild at the start of October 2010, with third-party sources claiming that the Redmond company was very close to wrapping up the RC development milestone of Windows 7 SP1.
As it is usually the case, Microsoft did not offer any comment on Windows 7 SP1 pre-RC Build 6.1.7601.17104, neither to confirm nor to deny the validity of the release.
The actual bits for Windows 7 SP1 Build 6.1.7601.17104 were also leaked in the wild, offering eager testers a chance to get a taste of what is reported to be the RC Escrow Build of the Service Pack.
While in Escrow, the development process is focused on testing a Build in order to ensure that it is ready to go to a much wider testing audience.
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In this regard, Microsoft is hunting down for any blocker, regression issues or bugs which could prevent Windows 7 SP1 to graduate from Beta to RC.
Members of a forum focused on Beta software that played around with RC Escrow Build 7601.17104 claim that there is a slipstream version of Windows 7 SP1 that’s offered to select testers and members of the Technology Adoption Program through Microsoft Connect.
Of course, the software giant has yet to comment on any of the information on a potential RC Escrow Build for Windows 7 SP1.
Considering the info available in the wild, the full string for Windows 7 SP1 RC Escrow is 6.1.7601.17104.100921-1630, which means that the release was compiled on September 21st, 2010.
It appears that the release is time-bombed, and set to expire on 01.09.2011. Only the 32-bit (x86) Chinese version of Windows 7 SP1 RC Escrow Build 7601.17104 has so far been leaked.