If you update W7 regularly you don't need SP1

[jimbo45]

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

 

[yowanvista]

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...

 

[jimbo45]

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

 

[yowanvista]

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

 

[pparks1]

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

Installed it on 3 PCs with no issues

What are the new features that it includes for Windows 7?

The only features I am aware of that are new include RemoteFX and Dynamic Memory for Hyper-V...but these are only applicable to Server 2008 R2.

 

[ccya965041]

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 rb: 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

 

[jimbo45]

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]

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.

 

[jimbo45]

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

 

[seekermeister]

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?

 

[NoN]

Why bother?...

If you look at the security update fixes and hotfixes patches provided since one year...i would bother:

http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-updates-activation/83589-list-available-hotfixes-windows-7-a.html

 

[Pirx]

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.

As pointed out above, SP1 contains hundreds of bug fixes that were never distributed via WU. Plus, there's no reason to be scared of a Service Pack. If your computer wasn't half-broken to begin with, you will have no issues. So, on the contrary, there is no reason not to install SP1 once it's available, but plenty of reasons to do so.

 

[Fayla]

That was my thought too. I have all the updates available for my system installed and a bunch of optional ones too. My system works A-OK (I have everything I need ft. wise) and I want to keep it that way. A what... 300MB!? rehash of all the updates I have installed just now would be completely pointless if not problem inducing.

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

 

[marsmimar]

Suppose a computer already has all available updates installed. What happens if SP1 is installed? Will it overwrite duplicate updates? Will it just ignore them? Will it delete duplicates and then reinstall them?

 

[Airbot]

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.

That's nonsense. As pointed out above, SP1 contains hundreds of bug fixes that were never distributed via WU. Plus, there's no reason to be scared of a Service Pack. If your computer wasn't half-broken to begin with, you will have no issues. So, on the contrary, there is no reason not to install SP1 once it's available, but plenty of reasons to do so.

+1

All the naysayers and pessimists telling you "Why bother, and there's no need to install it, It's not necessary, I'm not missing anything, I've already got most of the updates, The OS just works fine without it" just miss the points entirely, and no one will ever be able to convince them otherwise. It's like talking to a brick wall.
Users just take and use your own common sense and install it when it's finalized and ignore the bad advice of the pessimists telling you not to.

 

[pparks1]

I wouldn't tell somebody to "not" install a service pack once it's out and had a week or so of installs to make sure there isn't a problem.

But I won't recommend that people hunt down leaked copies of the service packs or turn to p2p sites to get a leaked copy of the service pack when it's such a non-event compared to so many other service packs for previous releases of Windows.

Now I realize that for the die-hards, nothing will convince them to not load a leak. But for everybody else, there isn't anything dramatic to be had with this service pack, so I simply don't think it's worth the risk they will take by not knowing what's safe and where to get things.

 

[Airbot]

Who said anything about telling users to install a leak? I surely didn't. "When it's finalized" doesn't mean you're saying go and install a leak.

Telling them to skip it and wait until SP2 or because you "think" you have all the updates through WU already and it's nothing great so don't bother is bad advice.

 

[pparks1]

Who said anything about telling users to install a leak? I surely didn't. "When it's finalized" doesn't mean you're saying go and install a leak.

Telling them to skip it and wait until SP2 or because you "think" you have all the updates through WU already and it's nothing great so don't bother is bad advice.

My bad, I thought people were talking about installing it right now. I would not skip actually installing a released service pack after a period of time. Sorry, didn't want to give any impression that I was against a service pack. Without a doubt, I will load it to each and every machine that I use and support.

 

[spyknee]

Gentlemen,
Seems to me that once again someone puts up a thought, right or wrong, and the post is inundated with noise. The best arguement is one with facts. I do not see any stated.
So, I see no one actually pointing out what SP1 is doing, fixing, helping, specifically, just yea or nay opinions.
I myself would like to see answers that are adding to my knowledge, not personal opinions that offer no defineable information.
Is this not what the forum is for?

 

[Airbot]

Facts are in the documentation.
http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-updates-activation/139146-windows-7-service-pack-1-faqs.html