Appatic

One of the best things about Windows 7 compared to XP and Vista is how integrated and in a sense simple and almost unnoticeable to the common user Windows  Update is. So while many gigs of info have been blogged about it, the truth is that you don’t actually really need to be told much about it if you already have a PC running Windows 7. So, yes I am also part of that particular blogging problem.

So what is new in Windows 7 SP1 ?

As explained by Microsoft:

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.

Why it is important to install it now than just wait for it to be a mandatory update?

Because it makes your system a bit more secure if it is updated and thanks to all the updates up now being included and revised in it, it will also make your system slightly faster because of the improved software performance and stability it also gives to your system. And if we try to keep things straight here: Because you are gonna need to install it anyway, so why to delay something that is a good thing anyway?

Is there anything that should be done before installing it?

Yes, actually there is.  As with any Service Pack, no matter what anyone else tells you, the order of the updates DOES matter. In Windows 7 nothing will actually break (if your OS is correctly configured of course), it is just about having things right and as smooth as they can be. And installing things in order does make that small but important difference.

So, before you install Windows 7 SP1 in your system, please make sure to check all the updates for your system, including the optional ones and install them all BEFORE you get to install Windows 7 SP1. This is specially important for 64bit users. As a few bad installations reported are almost only from those using the 64bit version of Windows 7.

Is that it?

No, while you are at it updating your OS, maybe you should also take the time as a personal favor to yourself to update your drivers and installed apps if you can. Now, that is it. Go and launch Windows Update and get Windows 7 SP1. And if you don’t see it,  then you also can get it via this post.

Depending on your Windows version, it should weight 50-70mb and should occupy 150-250mb in your HDD/SDD.  Installation time depending on your PC specs should take anywhere from 15 minutes to 45 minutes if all goes well, requiring a reboot. 2 if you do as I recommend and install other updated before it.

Linkage

Windows 7 SP1

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