Windows 7 RTM Updates Upgrade OS Kernel Build Version to 7600.16399 at win7_gdr Branch

If you think that Windows 7 RTM should be a stable release, and once Windows 7 been released to manufacturing at build 7600.16385, it’s ripe for prime time or product use, you may want to think again. Microsoft will release several update packages or hotfixes through Windows Update, which will upgrade and update Windows 7 RTM build string on BuildLab from 7600.win7_rtm.090713-1255 to 7600.win7_gdr.090722-1835 and BuildLabEx from 7600.16385.x86fre.win7_rtm.090713-1255 or 7600.16385.x64fre.win7_rtm.090713-1255 to 7600.16399.x86fre.win7_gdr.090722-1835 or 7600.16399.x64fre.win7_gdr.090722-1835

Microsoft has released 8 important update packages for Windows 7 RTM Build 7600.18365.090713-1255 in July that updates various components of Windows 7 RTM to even newer versions. These update packages, leaked to Internet by Russian who also leaked Windows 7 RTM retail x86 and x64 ISO and Windows 7 RTM OEM x86 and x64 ISO, have no official description by Microsoft yet. However, some ideas about what each update does can be retrieved by taking a peek into the content of CAB files.

• KB123334 (Windows6.1-KB123334-x86.msu or Windows6.1-KB123334-x64.msu)

  Microsoft-Windows-IEInstal assembly that updates IEInstal.exe in %ProgramFiles%\Internet Explorer\ folder to version 8.0.7600.16399 or 8.0.7600.20495.

• KB123456 (Windows6.1-KB123456-x86.msu or Windows6.1-KB123456-x64.msu)

  Microsoft-Windows-notepad revision distribution that updates Notepad.exe to 6.1.7600.16399 or 6.1.7600.20495.

• KB674103 (Windows6.1-KB674103-x86.msu or Windows6.1-KB674103-x64.msu)

  A update that upgrades Win32k, User32, TCP/IP Binaries (tcpip.sys), SxS, NDIS (ndis.sys), GDI32 and Common Controls components to version 6.1.7600.14000 or 6.1.7600.20496.

• KB675605 (Windows6.1-KB675605-x86.msu or Windows6.1-KB675605-x64.msu)

  A GDR update that upgrades Windows 7 OS Kernel, HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer), BootEnvironment Core BootManagerPCAT components to 6.1.7600.16399 or 6.1.7600.20495. This update package is responsible for changing the BuildLabEx string to 7600.16399.x86fre.win7_gdr.090722-1835 or 7600.16399.x64fre.win7_gdr.090722-1835 and changing win7_rtm in the BuildLab string to win7_gdr.

• KB972636 (Windows6.1-KB972636-x86.msu or Windows6.1-KB972636-x64.msu)

  IE compatibility update with new version of 6.1.7600.14000 or 6.1.7600.20497.

• KB973751 (Windows6.1-KB973751-x86.msu or Windows6.1-KB973751-x64.msu)

  Update to Windows 7 Image Based Setup-Media and Setup Navigation Wizard Framework to version 6.1.7600.20497.

• KB974039 (Windows6.1-KB974039-v2-x86.msu or Windows6.1-KB974039-v2-x64.msu)

  Update to Windows Search Engine to version 7.0.7600.16401 or 7.0.7600.20497.

• KB974138 (Windows6.1-KB974138-x86.msu or Windows6.1-KB974138-x64.msu)

  Update to Windows GI and Font Embedding components to version 6.1.7600.16402 or 6.1.7600.20498

Note that the system will a GDR or LDR minor revision number of 1xxxx is the update is installed as GDR (default), or 2xxxx if it’s installed as LDR or QFE hotfix, which should not applied to most users. GDR (General Distribution Release) and LDR (Limited Distribution Release), which also known as QFE (Quick Fix Engineering) are simply two different maintenance branches maintained at same patch level by Microsoft, although LDR branch is cumulative of all previous patches available. GDR is normally distributed via Windows Update and Microsoft Download Center to improve user experience, and contains software updates that address widespread critical issues, such as security vulnerabilities, and that are broadly released. The fact that Microsoft adds GDR into build string of OS kerner (ntoskrnl.exe) of Windows 7 RTM may signifies that the reliability and stability can still be improved considerably.

However, do note that Windows 7 RTM official build is still maintain as 7600.16385, as BuildLab and BuildLabEx is reflected change to OS kernel. Other components that are not been updated, such as IE8 and Windows 7 Software Licensing Manager (SLMgr) will still report itself as build 7600.16385.

It’s interesting to see that bug fixes, patches and updates are available so early after official RTM of Windows 7, and Windows 7 is not even been officially make available through any distribution channels yet. These updates may also been slipstreamed directly by OEM computer manufacturers into factory-installed PCs and branded OEM DVDs when computer with Windows 7 preinstalled are shipped. It looks like Windows 7 SP1 (Service Pack 1) should come soon rather than later.

Note: BuildLab and BuildLabEx can be checked at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion registry branch.

Users who interested to download and install these updates can download using the download links below.

Windows 7 Updates (32-bit x86 MSU packages): Win7Updates_x86.zip
Windows 7 Updates (64-bit x64 MSU packages): Win7Updates_x64.zip
Windows 7 Updates (All 32-bit and 64-bit MSU packages): Win7Updates.zip

Related Articles

• 7600.16384 May Not Be the Final Windows 7 RTM Build Version
• Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Officially RTM At Build Version 6.1.7600.16385
• Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 RTM Build 7600 (6.1.7600.16384.win7_rtm.090710-1945)
• Download Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM Build 7600.16385 Leaked Home Made DVD ISO
• Download Windows 7 Build 7264 Leaked x86 and x64 ISO (RTM Branch Escrow)
• Download Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM Build 7600 64bit (x64) VHD Image
• Download 32-bit (x86) Windows 7 win7_rtm Build 7600.16384 Simplified Chinese DVD ISO with English MUI Language Packs
• Windows 7 RTM Build 7600.16385 (x86 and x64) Leaked Extracted DVD ISO Download
• Windows 7 RTM Build 7600.16385 Official SHA-1 and MD5 Checksum Hash for Original MSDN/TechNet DVD ISO Images
• Windows Updates Downloader (WUD) 2.24 Build 875 for Download with No WGA Validation

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 1st, 2009 at 4:59 pm and is filed under Windows 7. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.