• Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Unveiled

    Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Unveiled

    Jayesh Limaye, Feb 23, 2011 1131 hrs IST

    Includes all the cumulative updates to date

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Microsoft released the first official service pack for Windows 7 today. This is an important update that includes previously released security, performance, and stability updates for Windows 7. SP1 also includes new improvements to features and services in Windows 7, such as improved reliability when connecting to HDMI audio devices, printing using the XPS Viewer, and restoring previous folders in Windows Explorer after restarting.

There are different ways to install Windows 7 SP1. But before you start downloading, please note that you may need to keep from 750MB to 7400MB of free space (depending on the version of Windows) on your Windows partition to be able to install it. Also check if your Windows 7 is already updated to SP1. You can find this by looking under System in Control Panel, next to System type.

The easiest and safest way to install SP1 is using Windows Update service. If you use this, then your total download size will be 750MB for 32-bit Windows 7, and 1050MB for the 64-bit version. For this, you need to click Start, click All Programs and click Windows Update. In the window that opens, click "Check for updates" on the left. In the list of updates, you will see Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB976932), select it and click OK. Click Install updates to start downloading and installing the update. Enter your administrator password if prompted for the same. This method requires your computer to remain connected to the internet while the update downloads and installs.

The second way is to download the from the Microsoft Download Center. Choose the version of SP1 according to your Windows version and click Download. Run this downloaded file to install SP1.

There is also a provision to order a DVD from Microsoft containing SP1 from here, but it is valid only for users living in U.S. or Canada.

Please note that Geniune Windows validation is required to be able to download Windows 7 SP1.


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Related Links
Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)
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Discussion Board
(18) Comments
wqrabaty
,awrtbaw, on May 27, 2011 07:33 AM
rynir 36qamqnwmhywz
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shouli
,juneau, on Feb 27, 2011 11:10 PM
I have a Dell Studio XPS 1645 that is about a year old. About 60-90 minutes into the download of Windows 7 SP1 the process froze. I powered down after 3 hrs to make sure ad was able to restart in safe mode. The system reported the failure and reconfigured itself. This took about 45 minutes. I think I'll wait and see if others have similar problems before trying again.
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sammunity
,wanganui, on Feb 25, 2011 04:37 PM
just a side note use FIREFOX it shows explorer what a browser should be to the tenth degree
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Juan
,Florida, on Feb 23, 2011 06:49 PM
Updated it last night no issues what so ever. People that have issues normally have problems to begin with before the update. You don't run a marathon knowing you have a heart condition and the same applies to major updates.
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MAD
,Portland, on Feb 25, 2011 06:10 AM
It crashed my computer the first time I updated so I reformated and did a clean install. Updated, same crash. There is something wrong with the update. I talked to the IT manager at work and they said that there are some issues with the service pack crashing systems. So yeah, there is an issue here.
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Amit
,New Delhi, on Feb 24, 2011 12:52 PM
Anyone knows what it is? any new features, extra security, more drivers.. what does the SP1 have? I have installed it, took some time on a super slow High Speed connection, but no problems during or after the installation. Had IE9 from beta on, so no problems there, although I must admit: I never ever use IE.
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Prithvi
,Pune, on Feb 23, 2011 12:26 PM
I installed the SP1 (KB976932) today thru' a Windows Update Notification. It shows up as optional. The limits showed 44.0 - 533.1 MB but the size automatically earmarked & thereby downloaded for my W7HPSP1 was 61.3MB since I upated regularly. Took 1:35 hours on a wireless slow broadband speed. Restarted with a breeze - no problem whatsoever.
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Shambu rock aka
,Mumbai, 1.5 galli, on Feb 23, 2011 01:09 PM
Do u smell what the rock is cookin
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The.Watcher
,Vancouver, on Feb 24, 2011 05:56 AM
@Shambu Are you on crack? Drugs are bad, dude.
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Mike
,Brooklyn, on Feb 23, 2011 01:58 PM
Crashed my system!!! Don't download this crap!
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Prithvi
,Pune, on Feb 23, 2011 05:10 PM
Did you d/l it via Windows Update (WU) or from Download Center & then install it from this? I chose WU and it went smooth.
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Sean Boehm
,Prefer not to answer , on Feb 23, 2011 07:04 PM
That doesn't make any sense how could Microsoft release an update that could crash your computer. I'm guessing its something you did.
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Rick
,Cola, on Feb 24, 2011 09:38 AM
I wouldn't be so fast to say it was something he did. I installed the Service Pack this afternoon, then within a matter of hours I start having random crashes and kernel failures. It's a brand new laptop that has had no issues whatsoever in the three weeks I've had it. No new software installed in over a week, so it wasn't some other piece of software causing it. Started right after installing the Service Pack. So yeah, it could be the problem for him.
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Clay LeBeouf
,Tbilisi, on Feb 23, 2011 02:51 PM
Blue screened my laptop. A programming staff from hell and Microcrap can't release a reliable service pack? Don't install this pos.
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Terry Wirtz
,Trenton, on Feb 23, 2011 11:16 PM
My SP1 for windows 7 went smooth as glass.No worries at all.I would have to agree what the other person said where you must have probably already had problems to start with. And acually since my 1st pc which was Xp I can honestly say I have never had problems with microsoft updates.( knock on wood !! )Alot of people out there say they had a lot of problems w/ Vista which I never dis as well..Hope you get it squared away. samuri7
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dikku
,manama, on Feb 23, 2011 03:38 PM
WHAT WINDOWS 7 SP1 contain no major update i was expecting something like IE 9 in it whats with microsoft IE9 full version is gonna come by next month or so they should HAVE really waited for IE9 and include it in SP1 so i guess this update not gonna make reallyy that much difference except for improved security and peformance and bug fixes
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Sanity
,Logic, on Feb 23, 2011 06:23 PM
Actually, and I hate defending Microsoft, what they did was the right thing. IE9 is a separate product and should be updated separately. Service Packs are a place for fixes, not new OS features. This is basic. Oh and you don't seem to know how to use punctuation... this may indicate something about how much people should listen to your "opinion"
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Anonymous
,Seattle, on Feb 23, 2011 03:22 PM
Mine downloaded and installed seamlessly. Not sure what happened to the other posters (and my laptop is about 4 years old - Dell Inspiron 6400).
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