Hits Windows Update; other options, including install DVD, also available
As promised, Microsoft today started offering Windows 7 Service Pack 1 on Windows Update.
Earlier this month, Microsoft set Feb. 22 as the Windows Update launch date for SP1.
"Starting today, Windows 7 Service Pack 1 will be available to everyone via the Microsoft Download Center and [will] start rolling out via Windows Update," said Microsoft spokesman Brandon LeBlanc in a Tuesday post to the Windows blog.
When delivered via Windows Update, Windows 7 SP1 weighs in at approximately 750MB for the 32-bit version, just over 1GB for the 64-bit edition.
A much larger version is available on
Microsoft's download site for users needing to upgrade multiple machines.
Customers in the U.S. and Canada can also order a Windows 7 SP1 installation DVD from Microsoft; the DVD is free, but shipping costs $5.99.
Microsoft announced Windows 7 SP1 almost a year ago, delivered a public beta of it in July 2010 and then followed that with a "release candidate" build last October.
Microsoft has said several times -- and repeated today -- that Windows 7 SP1 does not include new features but instead is a collection of security patches and nonsecurity fixes that have already been issued via Windows Update.
The only additions to SP1 include an updated Remote Desktop client designed to work with RemoteFX, a new technology that debuted with Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, which has also shipped. RemoteFX is designed to improve the graphics performance of Windows 7 virtual machines hosted on Server 2008 R2 SP1 systems. Windows 7 SP1 also supports "Dynamic Memory," a feature in Server 2008 R2 SP1 that lets IT staffers adjust guest virtual machines' memory on the fly.
Windows 7 SP1 can be
uninstalled by selecting the "Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB 976932)" item using the operating system's control panel and uninstall tool.
Additional usefull Information Concerning Service Pack 1 Installation
For Windows 7, SP1 will help keep PCs well supported by delivering ongoing updates, many of which have been made previously available through Windows Update.
It does, however, include client-side support for RemoteFX and Dynamic Memory which are two new virtualization features enabled in Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.
For those looking to update a single PC, Microsoft recommends using Windows Update instead of downloading the standalone installer.
A few other tidbits on installation:
♦ When installing Windows 7 SP1 on a laptop PC, make sure it’s plugged in to an electrical outlet (AC).
♣ Your PC will need to reboot after installing Windows 7 SP1 so make sure you save all your work and close your applications before you begin your installation.
♥ Installing Windows 7 SP1 will require a bit more hard drive space so if you don’t have enough, I recommend running Windows 7’s built-in Disk Cleanup tool to assist in freeing up hard drive space.
♠ 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.
