System resources, such as file data, registry data, and even in-memory data, can develop inconsistencies during the lifetime of the operating system. These inconsistencies might be caused by various hardware failures or might be caused by software issues.

In some cases, these inconsistencies can affect the Windows servicing store, and they can cause software updates not to work. The System Update Readiness Tool tries to resolve these inconsistencies.

Although this tool is available via Windows Update, you can also download it manually by following the links given below.

Download System Update Readiness Tool for Windows 7 (32-bit)

Download System Update Readiness Tool for Windows 7 (64-bit)

Download System Update Readiness Tool for Vista (32-bit)

Download System Update Readiness Tool for Vista (64-bit)

via

This book covers every aspect of Windows Server 2008 R2 in nine chapters and approximately 200 pages.

Contents of Book:

• Introduction
• Chapter 1: What’s New in Windows Server R2
• Chapter 2: Installation and Configuration: Adding R2 to Your World
• Chapter 3: Hyper-V: Scaling and Migrating Virtual Machines
• Chapter 4: Remote Desktop Services and VDI: Centralizing Desktop and Application Management
• Chapter 5: Active Directory: Improving and Automating Identity and Access
• Chapter 6: The File Services Role
• Chapter 7: IIS 7.5: Improving the Web Application Platform
• Chapter 8: Direct Access and Network Policy Server
• Chapter 9: Other Features and Enhancements

Download Introducing Windows Server 2008 R2 (XPS)

Download Introducing Windows Server 2008 R2 (PDF)

This download is available via Windows Update and from the Microsoft Download Center.

• Windows 7, 32-bit versions
• Windows 7, 64-bit versions
• Windows Server 2008 R2, 64 bit versions

These updates resolves following issues:

• When you view a PDF file that was created by using a 2007 Microsoft Office system document, the PDF file is displayed on the screen correctly. However, when the document is printed, some characters are missing. This problem occurs in fonts such as Calibri, Cambria, Courier New or Gabriola, in which characters such as “fi”, “ti”, “fl”, and other combinations are frequently presented as ligatures.
• In certain scenarios, an Emergency Alert System (EAS) message does not automatically tune to the appropriate channel in Windows Media Center.
• You connect a secondary monitor to a computer that is running Windows 7. When the computer resumes from hibernation, a black screen is displayed.
• In certain scenarios, the Windows 7 Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP) diagnostic information settings are configured incorrectly for Windows Explorer. Only those users who are enrolled in the Windows 7 CEIP will be affected by this part of the update. This update limits the diagnostic information that can be collected by the CEIP.
• You put an x86-based computer that does not have Physical Address Extension (PAE) enabled into hibernation. However, it does not enter hibernation correctly. When you try to resume the computer from hibernation, a black screen is displayed. This issue does not affect x64-based or Itanium-based computers, or computers that have the Data Execution Prevention (DEP) feature enabled.
• A problem in Windows 7 affects the playback of certain media files in Windows Media Player, when Windows Media Player is started from Internet Explorer. Only those users whose media associations were changed incorrectly will be affected by this part of the update.
• On a computer that is running Windows 7, you use Windows Internet Explorer to open the certificate enrollment Web page and to install an end entity certificate. However, the installation fails. This issue occurs if the certificate chain for the new certificate cannot be built, or if the root certification authority (CA) has not first been installed in the Trusted Roots on the computer.

As per the information available, the latest build of Windows Server 2008 R2 is leaked on various torrent sites. The build is 7268 and is belongs to the Pre RTM branch. This build was compiled on 1^st July, 2009. It is available in the form of VHD file.

Details of Windows Server 2008 R2 Build 7268:

Windows Server 2008 build 7268 X64 (the original VHD in packed RAR archive, size RAR file: 2,170,486,109 byte CRC: F7E90180, SHA1: DA5D121FFDCBCB02A127048944516AE685C41B09, MD5: 6A5A563A1622EDD5F9CF42247FABED9F).
FILE: 7268.0.amd64fre.win7_rtm.090701-1900.server_en-us.serverenterprise.vhd

SIZE: 6,851,044,864 byte

CRC: 77301FAE

SHA1: 3AE56246B66B8EE28A65184D47E2326BDEE089E2

MD5: 29487313263A61B0DD2CBAB3DC4237DE

Two days ago, I wrote about Service Pack 2 for Vista and Server 2008 Released. Many users are using customized Windows Vista and they are facing "Service Pack Installation Cannot Continue, one or more system components that the service pack requires are missing" error while installing the SP2 of Vista. This error is due to the system components that are required to install SP2 are not present. If you are facing the same error then refers the following procedure for installing SP2 (It requires Windows Vista DVD).

1. Insert the Vista DVD, the autorun program opens the Install Windows screen. If it does not open, go to the root folder of the DVD and double click on setup.exe file.
2. When the Install now screen appears, click Install now. When you receive the Get important updates for installation message, do not click on Go Online.
3. Click on Upgrade when the “which type of installation do you want” screen appears.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the setup process.
5. Once the upgrade process is finished, you have to activate your copy of Windows Vista.
6. You can then download and install Windows Vista SP2 on your machine (You must have a genuine copy of Windows Vista with SP1 installed on the computer prior to installing SP2).

You can also find more information about this error at Microsoft Help.

Microsoft has released the Service Pack 2 (SP2) for both the Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. You can download Service Pack 2 as an executable file from Microsoft website, which works for both Windows Vista and Server 2008.

Service Pack 2 for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista is an update to Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 that supports new kinds of hardware and emerging hardware standards, and includes all updates delivered since SP1. SP2 simplifies administration by enabling IT administrators to deploy and support a single service pack for clients and servers.

SP2 is an update to Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista that incorporates improvements discovered through automated feedback, as well as updates that have been delivered since SP1. By providing these fixes integrated into a single service pack for both client and server, Microsoft provides a single high-quality update that minimizes deployment and testing complexity for customers.
Service Pack 1 is a prerequisite for installing Service Pack 2. Please make sure that your system is running Service Pack 1 before you install Service Pack 2.

Download Service Pack 2 (32-bit or x86)

Download Service Pack 2 (64-bit or x64)