Ready or Not – Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is Coming
If you’re a Windows 7 user and you’ve been dragging your heels when it comes to that Service Pack 1 upgrade, then prepare to get an extra dose of encouragement from Microsoft.
Starting today, March 19th, 2013, Microsoft will begin deploying SP1 via Windows Update to all neglected PCs, and just so you’re aware, the update won’t require your consent. The push will happen during a phased rollout over the next few weeks, and as for the consequence of not upgrading, Microsoft will no longer support Windows 7 RTM as of April 9th 2013. As usual, PCs that are managed by system administrators can be shielded from the deployment, but for everyone else, it seems that you’d best prepare for the inevitable.
Here’s a snippet from the Microsoft “Blogging Windows” blog post:
“The installation will be fully automatic with no user action required for those who already have Automatic Update enabled. SP1 will be released gradually over the coming weeks to all customers on the RTM version of Windows 7. The service pack will take slightly longer to install compared to other updates. To ensure Service Pack 1 is installed without issue, customers should check for sufficient free disk space and that AC power is present on a laptop. If additional space needs to be created, we recommend using the Disk Cleanup tool to delete some files so that the service pack will install. If the service pack installation is interrupted, it will reattempt to install automatically after the next restart.”
What’s included in Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)
Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) 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.
Installing SP1 helps keep Windows 7 up to date.
The recommended (and easiest) way to get SP1 is to turn on automatic updating in Windows Update in Control Panel, and wait for Windows 7 to notify you that SP1 is ready to install. It takes about 30 minutes to install, and you’ll need to restart your computer about halfway through the installation.
To find out if Windows 7 SP1 is already installed on your computer:
Click the Start button, right-click Computer, and then click Properties. If Service Pack 1 is listed under Windows edition, SP1 is already installed on your computer.
Microsoft recommends that customers use Windows Update to install the service pack as it will provide the best experience but if you just can’t wait to get SP1, see this link on how to install Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) manually.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/install-windows-7-service-pack-1
