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Starting today, MSDN and TechNet Subscribers as well as Volume License customers will be able to download Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1). Next week on February 22nd, everybody else will be able to download SP1 from the Microsoft Download Center or Windows Update. As people begin downloading and installing SP1, I thought I’d take the opportunity to highlight some tips and recommendations for people before moving forward with their installation.
First off – for those of you simply looking to update a single PC or your home PCs, we recommend using Windows Update instead of downloading the standalone installer (or Network Installation Package) from the Microsoft Download Center. Windows Update will provide the best installation experience for you.
Before installing Windows 7 SP1, please backup your PC (and important files) to an external hard drive, DVD/CD or network location. It is best practice to regularly backup your PC and important files. Windows 7 has impressive built-in backup capabilities which you can learn about here.
You should also make sure your device drivers are up to date. You can do this through Windows Update or device manufacturer's websites.
You should also check your PC for any known malware and viruses before installing Windows 7 SP1. You can download our free Microsoft Security Essentials to check for known malware and viruses or use security software from any of our partners. This is super important if your PC is infected; it could impact your installation of SP1 as well as future updates to your machine.
A few other tidbits:
For those who may want to free up hard drive space, it is possible to remove the service pack installation specific files after installing Windows 7 SP1. After installing Windows 7 SP1, you can remove the service pack installation files by running Disk Cleanup and clicking on the "Clean up system files" button and checking “Service Pack Backup Files” to free up space. See below screenshot.
We recommend only doing this a few weeks after installing Windows 7 SP1. Please note that once you do this you will be unable to remove Windows 7 SP1 from your PC.
Well, backup capabilites are not so impressive... you still have to manage your backups manually, as Windows Complete Backup is not capable of doing something as simple and basic as deleting old copies when the disc is full.... that's a real pain in the... you know.
@Islander - I currently use Windows Backup for my PC at home and under the Backup and Restore Control Panel if you click on "Manage space" and then under System image choose "Change settings" you can choose the option to have Windows keep on the latest system image which would minimize disk space. I believe this accomplishes what you are asking.
When will the Windows 7 with SP1 ISO for other languages than English be ready for download? specifically the Danish ISO
@Cossie - I am looking into this.
@Brandon - THX!
How much space should I have free on my system drive before attempting installation? I use a 40gb SSD and although I try not to install anything there various user settings and Windows patches and more (looking at you, Visual Studio help files!) install themselves there anyway and so I have to regularly free up space to keep the drive from becoming full.
Has anyone else tried the AIK, it doesn't seem to be complete. There's just 3 CMD files and one DLL on the root.
Awesome. I'll grab it right when it is released lol
757 hotfixes and 39 security fixes in Windows 7 SP1...looking forward to getting it on 2/22/11. Thanks for the post!
I'm waiting now for 24 hours, but there are still no ISOs with integrated SP1 for foreign languages, what's wrong? I think SP1 came without surprise. Was microsoft unaware that they sell their software also in other languages? What's the point, I cannot understand such a behavior.
Is anyone on MSDN/Technet able to download sp1? Several of us are having problems with the Akami downloader. There's a discussion on technet here: social.technet.microsoft.com/.../4f6b0313-5d56-459d-b3a0-7911e30a8455
@mpswaim I got SP1 as soon as it came out yesterday and it was fine, in fact it was fast for me. I guess I got lucky.
Hi Brandon
Good post. Common sense information there. I believe that Windows 7 Restore and Backup utilities work very well and are a major improvement over their Windows predecessor's Vista & XP.
@Cossie - we do not yet have a specific release date for release of other languages for Windows 7 SP1 to MSDN and TechNet subscribers. But it's coming. When I find out more I'll reply here.
@The MAZZTer - To install Windows 7 SP1 on a PC via the standalone installer, folks will need at least 8GB of disk space available (less for32-bit PCs). If you are installing Windows 7 SP1 via Windows Update, you’ll need at least 1GB of disk space.
@MikeH - sorry for your frustration - other languages are coming.
@ Brandon
Well I know it is coming, but it's weekend now. So we could have a chance, to test our software for problems with SP1, maybe on monday . On tuesday it will be available via windows update. What if our customers detect problems on tuesday? How can we react?
OK, you could argue that we can test it with the RC, but the history shows RTM <> RC. Please compare the XLS file from the SP1 RC, there are 625 fixes and now the official SP1 XLS has 795 fixes!!
It is just a too short time frame. We already assigned two people on thursday and friday only for testing. So they spent the last two days playing kinect and waiting for SP1 to arrive.
Thank you microsoft! Your just not a garage company anymore you are a billion $ company!
@MikeH: I assume you're looking for German ISOs with SP1 integrated. They are now online available. I can see them in the MSDN Download section. I posted a screenshot here: blogs.technet.com/.../3386454.aspx
Have fun testing SP1 this weekend!
Daniel
I have made 6 attempts, thru automatic updates, to install SP1. It failed each time. I am running Win7 Pro 64-bit.
Is SP1 now rolled into the various Windows 7 .iso files I can download from the Volume Licensing Site? Or do my users still need to install Windows 7, and then install SP1 separately?
Thanks!
Windows 7 is good and many function. I use it well. Thanks for sharing! This is very useful post.
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I can't find any feedback on when SP1 will be available from WSUS. Usually the patches are available from Windows Update and WSUS around the same time, but that doesn't seem to be the case this time. If you could post an ETA, it would be much appreciated.
i bought windows 7 home premium (anytime upgrade - key card) from argos, to upgrade from vista.. on the inner card it says = 'click' Start - 'type & click' Windows Anytime Upgrade - then 'click' Enter an Upgrade Key. << at this point, there is ((NO OPTION)) to ('Enter an Upgrade Key'), i just get a page to compare vista.. ((sssso disapointed with windows)) seems the 'only' way to get a direct link to the download page is to purchase from WINDOWS directly, and now im £80 down and cant return it to argos, because the security seal has to be broken in order to reveal the upgrade instructions.. (('nice 1 windows')) :(