Microsoft released the final version of Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor today. This is a essential utility that can help you prepare for a smooth upgrade to Windows 7.

Brief Description

Download and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to see if your PC is ready for Windows 7. It scans your hardware, devices, and installed programs for known compatibility issues, gives you guidance on how to resolve potential issues found, and recommends what to do before you upgrade.

Overview

Before you begin: Be sure to plug in and turn on any USB devices or other devices, such as printers, external hard disks, and scanners, that you regularly use with the PC you're checking.
The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor scans your PC for potential compatibility issues and lets you know about your Windows 7 upgrade options. Within minutes, you'll get a report that tells you if your PC meets the system requirements, if any known compatibility issues with your hardware, devices, and installed programs are found, and gives guidance on what to do to before installing Windows 7 on your PC.

You can download it here

Related:

Upgrading to...ur Migrating to Windows 7 from Windows XP
Troubleshooting Hero's in Windows 7
Improved Recovery Options in Windows 7
Windows Easy Transfer: Starting the Move to Windows 7 Release Candidate
Windows Easy Transfer: Lessons Learned

On the cusp of releasing Security Updates for Windows 7 just a couple days ago, Microsoft today, provided a set of stability updates for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

Overview

The update resolves some reliability issues in Windows 7. By applying this update, you can achieve better reliability in various scenarios. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

Downloads:

Windows 7 32-bit (15.9MB), Windows 7 64-bit (20.8MB), and Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit (20.8MB)

Some addition information about the update provided by ArsTechnica:

• When you view a PDF file that was created by using an Office 2007 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 Internet Explorer to open the certificate enrollment webpage 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.

Related:

First set of Security Updates available for Windows 7

Resources:

1. Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB975467)
2. Cumulative Security Update for ActiveX Killbits for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB973525)
3. Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB974571)
4. Update for Windows 7 (KB974431)
5. Security Update for Windows 7 (KB975467)

Overview

Install this update to resolve issues with non-compatible applications for Windows 7. For complete details of this update, see Knowledge Base Article KB974332. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

System Requirements

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows 7

Download here

Overview

Windows Internet Explorer 8 improves browser interoperability and advances the Web by delivering a better implementation of Web standards. While this is a move in the right direction, users might encounter compatibility issues with some sites that still rely on the behavior of previous versions of Internet Explorer. Microsoft understands the shift towards standards compatibility with Internet Explorer 8 may take some time to complete for each organization or webmaster. To bridge this transition, we offer the Compatibility View list. The list helps make websites designed for older browsers look better in Internet Explorer 8.

Download here

Related

UPDATE: Windows Internet Explorer 8 RTM Review

Brief Description

The Windows® Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows® 7 helps you to install, customize, and deploy the Microsoft Windows® 7 and Windows Server® 2008 R2 family of operating systems.

Overview

The Windows® Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) is a set of tools and documentation that support the configuration and deployment of Windows® operating systems. By using Windows AIK, you can automate Windows installations, capture Windows images with ImageX, configure and modify images using Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management (DISM), create Windows PE images, and migrate user profiles and data with the User State Migration Tool (USMT). Windows AIK also includes the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT), which enables IT professionals to automate and centrally manage the volume activation process using a Multiple Activation Key (MAK).

System Requirements

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows 7; Windows Server 2008

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003 R2 SP3
• Windows Vista SP1
• Windows Server 2008 family
• Windows 7 family
• Windows Server 2008 R2 family

Download here

If you are curious about Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK), Clubhouse member Mike Blane, not too long ago, did a excellent tutorial of it here

If you are running the Windows 7® Release Candidate, the following information will help you select the correct Microsoft Hardware beta software.

Important: This table contains the Microsoft Hardware support information for Windows 7 RC. Please read the release notes before installing the software.

Learn more here