Reinstalling to SP1 with pre-SP1 disc?

I want to reinstall Windows 7 (Pro, 64-bit) but I'd rather not have to load every update, plus SP1 as part of the process. I bought my Windows 7 disk (retail not OEM) before SP1 was released and that's all I have.

But according to this month's Maximum PC you can reinstall Windows to SP1 using a pre-SP1 disc - with all the updates including SP1 - by using a program called RT Seven Lite.

Has anyone ever done this? Either using RT Seven Lite or another method? RT Seven Lite looks a little complicated to me, just looking at the screen shots.

Here's a link to the RT Seven Lite program:RT Seven Lite - Features and Information

Thanks for any thoughts you care to share!
-RC

Thanks - but I asked about a particular situation. I hope I was clear and specific but if not let me know and I'll try to rephrase my question.

rcanino said:

I want to reinstall Windows 7 (Pro, 64-bit) but I'd rather not have to load every update, plus SP1 as part of the process. I bought my Windows 7 disk (retail not OEM) before SP1 was released and that's all I have.

But according to this month's Maximum PC you can reinstall Windows to SP1 using a pre-SP1 disc - with all the updates including SP1 - by using a program called RT Seven Lite.

Has anyone ever done this? Either using RT Seven Lite or another method? RT Seven Lite looks a little complicated to me, just looking at the screen shots.

Here's a link to the RT Seven Lite program:RT Seven Lite - Features and Information

Thanks for any thoughts you care to share!
-RC

I haven't looked at the article, but I assume that it's a method of integrating updates with a pre-SP1 copy.

Unfortunately, the result isn't an SP1 copy, exactly. It can't be used for a repair installation (upgrade in place to the same version).

It's better to acquire a real installation disk that includes SP1. I haven't verified all the stuff on the link provided by richc46, but it looks like the way to go.

Okay thanks. I had a feeling it wasn't as simple as Max PC made it sound.

RT Seven Lite - from what I can tell you load your Win disk, start RT Seven Lite, add the updates and SP1, do whatever other tweaks you want - then create an ISO image of that. If the program works as advertised I don't know why it wouldn't be useful as a repair disk - theoretically it (the ISO created by RT Seven Lite) would have everything the original Win7 disk had plus SP1.

karlsnooks said:

rcanino,
as long as you have a legal win 7 license, you will have no problems.

Follow the advice that you have received and skip that illegal rlite or whatever it is called.

What makes you think it's "illegal?" Maximum PC is a mainstream magazine, I kinda doubt they're recommending illegal apps on their pages. Maybe, but I doubt it.

I can't be the first person who wanted to combine all the updates + SP1 with their original, pre-SP1 disk and then reinstall. Somebody must've figured out how to cull everything together without crossing any legal boundaries.