Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) has reversed its stance and clarified that Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) will install on either Windows 7 RTM or Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1), a day after various news reports were published about how the final version of IE9 will require the presence of Windows 7 SP1. As pointed out by tech site Ars Technica, the full response can be found on Microsoft TechNet under the IE9 FAQ for IT professionals here.

The initial Windows 7 SP1 requirement might be due to Internet Explorer relying on newer versions of system files than any attempt to "force" businesses to upgrade to SP1. The elaboration posted on TechNet appears to confirm this, and reads: "When you install Internet Explorer 9 on a system that has Windows 7 RTM installed, additional operating system components are included as part of the installation of Internet Explorer 9." The same explanation noted that systems that already have Windows 7 SP1 installed will already have these additional components present.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at Ars Technica

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