If you update W7 regularly you don't need SP1

Hi all
Why bother to install SP1 if you've been regularly updating your system via Windows update.

It doesn't contain any new functionality unlike SP2 / SP3 for XP and who knows - you could even get some Regression as some fixes via W7 Update might actually be NEWER than those contained in SP1.

Where I WOULD install SP1 is after a brand new W7 install -- installing SP1 at this point would make sense since you wouldn't have to download loads and loads of updates.

Incidentally if you are unfortunate enough NOT to have an initial W7 install disk -- as seems to be the case more and more with store bought computers coming pre-installed with W7 -- BACK UP YOUR SYSTEM / IMAGE YOUR SYSTEM before applying SP1. (Actually even if you DO have W7 retail disks you should still regularly back up anyway).

Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

Hi all
Why bother to install SP1 if you've been regularly updating your system via Windows update.

It doesn't contain any new functionality unlike SP2 / SP3 for XP and who knows - you could even get some Regression as some fixes via W7 Update might actually be NEWER than those contained in SP1.

Where I WOULD install SP1 is after a brand new W7 install -- installing SP1 at this point would make sense since you wouldn't have to download loads and loads of updates.

Incidentally if you are unfortunate enough NOT to have an initial W7 install disk -- as seems to be the case more and more with store bought computers coming pre-installed with W7 -- BACK UP YOUR SYSTEM / IMAGE YOUR SYSTEM before applying SP1. (Actually even if you DO have W7 retail disks you should still regularly back up anyway).

Cheers
jimbo

SP1 contains few new features and some updates not released on WU

Installed it on 3 PCs with no issues

Incidentally if you are unfortunate enough NOT to have an initial Windows 7 install disk -- as seems to be the case more and more with store bought computers coming pre-installed with Windows 7 -- BACK UP YOUR SYSTEM / IMAGE YOUR SYSTEM before applying SP1. (Actually even if you DO have Windows 7 retail disks you should still regularly back up anyway).

The SP installer automatically creates a restore point just in case...

yowanvista said:

jimbo45 said:

Hi all
Why bother to install SP1 if you've been regularly updating your system via Windows update.

It doesn't contain any new functionality unlike SP2 / SP3 for XP and who knows - you could even get some Regression as some fixes via W7 Update might actually be NEWER than those contained in SP1.

Where I WOULD install SP1 is after a brand new W7 install -- installing SP1 at this point would make sense since you wouldn't have to download loads and loads of updates.

Incidentally if you are unfortunate enough NOT to have an initial W7 install disk -- as seems to be the case more and more with store bought computers coming pre-installed with W7 -- BACK UP YOUR SYSTEM / IMAGE YOUR SYSTEM before applying SP1. (Actually even if you DO have W7 retail disks you should still regularly back up anyway).

Cheers
jimbo

SP1 contains few new features and some updates not released on WU

Installed it on 3 PCs with no issues

If you Want to install that's fine -- but my take on a lot of this is "When it's not broke don't fix it". I don't think there is anything significantly new in SP1.

Sometimes installing this type of stuff causes havoc with systems so its your call of course.

If you've skipped a load of updates then its probably a good idea as well. My post was referring to people who keep their systems reasonably up to date.

I WOULD install SP1 however after a brand new W7 install as explained in my OP.

Incidentally --the restore point is not a fool proof method for recovering a system since you might not be able to re-boot in the first place.

Cheers
jimbo

If you Want to install that's fine -- but my take on a lot of this is "When it's not broke don't fix it". I don't think there is anything significantly new in SP1

Then you probably mean you will forever stay with an un-updated OS, SP1 is just a whole bunch of security and stability fixes

Why install SP1?I think the important point is,some software might take this as a reference,
and your O/S need to be installed the service to install the program and run it.

In the past,like XP SP2,lots of softwares need your O/S installed SP2 to run it properly.
Other then this,service might offer some new features compare to the initial build.
But this time the Service Pack seems like no surprises at all,
because most of the new function are related to Server's users,not home users

Hi all
As I said if your system is reasonably up to date then you can probably skip this --at least until SP2 arrives.

If you BUY a computer with W7 pre installed or re install W7 then of course installing SP1 will make sense -- much better to do this than download zillions of updates from the web. Remember the W7 installation on these machines might be nearly ONE YEAR OLD.

My machines update automatically as soon as they connect to the internet so I'm sure that they are as up to date as I need for latest security fixes etc etc.

Slightly OT though has anybody devised a mechanism for SLIPSTREAMING SP1 on to a standard W7 disk yet.

Cheers
jimbo

pparks1 said:

jimbo45 said:

Slightly OT though has anybody devised a mechanism for SLIPSTREAMING SP1 on to a standard W7 disk yet.

Cheers
jimbo

Yes, Rt7Lite can do it. I went through the procedure and it took a long time, but worked just fine. Make sure you are on the 2.6 beta release.

Hi there
Thanks for that info -- I slipped whilst iceskating recently so I'm more or less confined to Home for a few days so this looks like a good project to "keep me out of mischief".

I'll try it on a VM and see what happens.

Thanks for the link.

Cheers
jimbo

I slipped whilst iceskating recently so I'm more or less confined to Home for a few days

Be thankful that you weren't on thin ice. But then I suppose that there isn't any thin ice in Iceland, is there?