Beginning next month Microsoft will start an upgrade to the Windows Update and Microsoft Update services. Microsoft plans to start the infrastructure update in late August, claiming "it will take a couple of months to complete the rollout." The update is required to "maintain and improve service quality, reliability, and...   more > http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/07/16/m...-windows-update

here's a Video explaining the changes in 7 relating to activation and it goes into some details about   * Your KMS host * KMS keys * MAK keys   In summary:   Windows 7 volume licensing customers have two options of licensing, KMS and MAK, by default, all customers will get a KMS key.   * you can activate Windows 7 using KMS as long as you have 25 machines (same as Vista requirements) however now that total can be made up of virtual machines as well as real machines * you can activate

We are close, but have not yet signed off on Windows 7. When we RTM you will most certainly hear it here. As we’ve said all along, we will RTM Windows 7 when it’s ready. As previously stated, we expect Windows 7 to RTM in the 2nd half of July.   Windows 7 will be available in many languages from around the world. For us to consider RTM “done”, it requires that all languages be completely finished. So there is a lot of work that needs to take place for us to finalize all languages of Windows 7.

"One Microsoft Way is reporting that Microsoft has significantly incremented the build number of both Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: 'Reports across the Web are pointing to a build 7600 for both Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. This is significant because the bump in the build number would suggest that Microsoft has christened this build as the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) build. The RTM is expected to be given out to Microsoft partners sometime later this month and launched on Oct

Service Pack 2 for Configuration Manager 2007 delivers new platform support for Windows 7 client, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2. In addition, Service Pack 2 delivers continued innovation with Intel vPro technology, support for Branch Cache enabled environments, and continued development for 64 bit architectures.   You can access more information and the beta download on MS Connect by logging in and choosing Downloads in the left side navigation.   g

Despite the generally positive reception of Windows 7 so far, there will still be many people who will want to stick to Windows XP. For these people, downgrade rights are particularly important, and Microsoft has confirmed the rules of the game to El Reg.   via http://www.osnews.com/story/21698/Microsof...owngrade_Rights

"Microsoft today officially announced Microsoft Security Essentials, its free, real-time consumer antimalware solution for fighting viruses, spyware, rootkits, and trojans. Currently being tested by Microsoft employees and a select few testers, MSE is Microsoft's latest offering intended to help users fight the threats that plague Windows PCs. Microsoft notes that the threat ecosystem has expanded to include rogue security software, auto-run malware, fake or pirated software and content, as well

Earlier today Neowin reported that Windows 7 build 7232 had leaked. What a difference a few more hours makes, now 7260 has leaked and the Russian site Wzor claims that Microsoft will build the RTM (release to manufacturing) build between June 15-19.   If Wzor is correct, and that's a big if and rumour, then we may see the final Windows 7 RTM build ready this weekend. Internal sources indicate that 7260 is still the latest build under the win7_rtm branch. Build 7260 carries the tag 7260.win7_rt