Windows 7 Service Pack 1
The first Service Pack for Windows 7 since that operating system’s release is due to any day now. In fact, beta copies of Windows 7 SP1 have already leaked to reviewers and into peer-to-peer file sharing networks like Bittorrent. Here's what you need to know... |
What's in Windows 7 SP1?
You may be wondering whether or not you need to concern yourself with Windows 7 SP1. The short answer is, probably not. Microsoft says that Windows 7 SP1 will contain only “minor updates,” most of which you already will have if you’ve been using Windows Update regularly to keep your Windows 7 installation current with patches and improvements. However, there will be one new feature added.
“Windows 7 SP1 will deliver an updated Remote Desktop client that takes advantage of RemoteFX introduced in the server side with SP1 for Windows Server 2008 R2,” said Brandon LeBlanc, communications manager on the Windows Client Communications team. If you don’t know what that complicated statement means, you probably don’t use Remote Desktop to control someone else’s computer over the Internet. Don’t worry about it. But here are the geeky details for the curious:
Microsoft RemoteFX is a technology that makes using a remote computer that’s running Windows 7 more like the experience of running it on your local computer. The Windows Aero interface will work properly; there is support for all media types; audio will be “highly synchronized”; Silverlight and 3D graphics will work.
This is all part of Microsoft’s “desktop virtualization” strategy, by which the company hopes to sell more server-based computing systems in addition to desktop operating systems. The idea is to make running Windows 7 and shared applications over a network as much like running local copies on a single-user computer. How well desktop virtualization works depends on how big the user population is in relation to the available hardware and network bandwidth resources.
Nervous and Jerky?
If you went through the massive upheavals of Windows XP SP2, which seemed for some users to cause more problems than it solved, you may be a bit nervous about the coming of the first Windows 7 service pack. Relax -- this time it should all go very smoothly. Microsoft seems to have learned how to make Service Packs better and faster to install, according to preview reviewers of Windows 7 SP1.
Oh, and don’t go looking for a pre-release or bootleg copy of Windows 7 SP1. You don’t need it urgently and it’s not fully cooked yet; there are still bugs to be worked out. Also, any copy you obtain from a source other than Microsoft Update could well be infected with viruses or other malware. Just be patient and check Windows Update on your regular schedule, if you don’t have Automatic Update activated.
Do you have something to say about the Windows 7 service pack? Post your comment or question below...
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This article was posted by Bob Rankin on 15 Apr 2010
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Article information: AskBobRankin -- Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (Posted: 15 Apr 2010)
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Most recent comments on "Windows 7 Service Pack 1"
Posted by:
poch
16 Apr 2010
Hi sir,
Could you give your opinion and tips about
Windows 7 Starter please? It seems to me it's just another scam bait of Microsoft.
Posted by:
Mary
16 Apr 2010
It's my understanding that service packs include all previous updates, hotfixes, etc put out by Microsoft. Hypothetical: A person elected to update his system manually. The person decided NOT to install certain updates, or removed certain updates due to incompatibilities with the system (that's why uninstall files are provided with updates.) Will the service pack provide any way to once again remove the updates that were previously not wanted or that caused problems? If not, how would one go about correcting those incompatibilities or getting rid of the unwanted updates contained in the service pack?
Additional question: Microsoft usually provides service packs through the Windows Update site as a download or on a separate CD for a small shipping and handling fee. Does one method over the other provide any benefits other than using the CD if one has a slow internet connection? Would a CD offer different or better controls over what gets installed?
EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm pretty sure that the service pack installer would add the "missing" updates. Are there really certain Win7 updates that you've purposely avoided due to incompatibilities?? Also, the CD would provide no additional benefit.
Posted by:
Mary
19 Apr 2010
Bob, thanks for your note. This was a hypothetical situation but could very well be an issue for some people. Microsoft provides an "uninstaller" for individual updates, hotfixes, etc. Therefore it stands to reason that some machines may experience problems and need to have something uninstalled. Service packs seem to be an all or nothing situation with no way to uninstall previously discovered incompatibilities. I'm the first to admit I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed. That's why I was wondering if a previously discovered incompatibility could be uninstalled from a service pack.
Posted by:
Rory
25 Mar 2011
every time I try to install service pack 1 update I get to 99% and it fails. Cant seam to find a solution. Any sugestions
Posted by:
Roni
05 May 2011
Hi Bob, I've tried unsuccessfully to install Windows 7 SP1 since 4/21 - all other updates install successfully. I made sure that I turned off Avast and Firewall, exited all programs, ran the Microsoft fixes, made sure that there was enough space, etc. Have Windows to install updates automatically; Network Access Protection is Off; UAC using administrator priviledges; ran "fix problems with Windows Update" - troubleshooter could not find any problems; ran system readiness update tool - stated ready to install (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/troubleshoot-problems-installing-service-pack) - failure after failure. Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks for your help. Roni B
Posted by:
Dan S.
26 Oct 2011
I have also tried to install SP1. What I have found out is that if the SP cannot see a Windows 7 boot sector, it will not load.
I have dual boot setup running Linux on one partition and Win7 on the other. I am using GRUB as the boot loader. So every time I tried to run SP1 it errors at around 99%.
If it wasn't for the work related apps that I have to run, I would remove Win7 and strictly run Linux. Much faster, fewer issues...downside, fewer apps.