Ezine 189 - Windows 7 SP1
Each service pack has its own personality. Just as the children,
and grandchildren in any family show different traits, so Microsoft's
service packs vary in their characteristics.
Any program's SP1 will be the most docile and easiest to install simply because
you don't have to worry about accumulating all the previous SPs as you
do with SP2s and SP3s.
First born children are often the favorites, and the birth of any SP1 is
traditionally the trigger for businesses to order that particular
operating from their system supplier. However, don't be premature installing
a beta version of Windows SP1, my advice is to wait for delivery of the final
RTM version.
Windows 7 SP1 Contents
We expect
Windows service packs to contain hot-fixes and security updates, but what's almost unprecedented about Windows 7's SP1 is that it brings so
few new features, thus there is no reward for risking introducing beta software
to your computer.
Actually, the fact that SP1 is so boring is a compliment to the original
Windows 7 RTM
version being so well tested. My cynical friend Barking Eddie
turns this observation on its head and says that Windows 7 should have
been called Vista SP4, and thus would have been free, which would have
saved him a bundle of money.
Talking of the cost of Windows 7, all those original discounted offers seem to be
drying-up, now I don't want to act like a pressure salesman, but if you
can still see a good deal on Windows 7 then now maybe a good time to
buy.
For me a
service pack also provides peace of mind.
I don't often check my Windows Update History, but when I did I was shocked
to see that some updates failed. To be fair, it seemed that the
Automatic Update Service tried again and invariably succeed in the next update
cycle. My abiding thought is that SP1 will 'roll-up' these updates,
and thus
ensure that I have not missed any.
When Windows 7 SP1 arrives, probably in July, one 32-bit (X86) service pack will cover all
desktop / laptop editions of Windows 7, but not embedded operating systems.
Naturally, there is a separate SP1 file for 64-bit operating systems.
Summary of Windows 7 SP1
Wait for the final version of SP1, there is nothing urgent that you
need from this service pack, thus why risk installing beta software? Actually, your Windows 7
will probably already have 95% of these fixes and updates. Nevertheless, when you
are rebuilding a machine it's handy to have
them all in one file.
Although there is every indication that Windows 7 SP1 will be
trouble-free, best practice recommends that you test on one machine before
applying to a whole network. In addition, take the opportunity to check both
Windows Update settings and your Restore points.
Service Pack Urban Myths
One of the most enduring myths is that applying SP1 to an evaluation copy will break the time-lock and thus give
you a
fully functioning version of Windows 7. Not true. This myth started in
the days of Windows NT4, and even back then I did not believe that a service pack could transform an
evaluation copy into a fully functioning version.
There is also the reverse of the above myth, the theory that SP1 will make pirate
versions of Windows 7 unusable. There has long been a threat that Microsoft would add code to service packs that detect pirate
product keys, and then cause those systems to lock until that machine gets a
genuine licence.
Back with XP
Microsoft flirted with such ideas to tackle software piracy, for example they
introduced the Reduced Functionality Mode (RFM) and Non-Genuine State (NGS).
The problem is that this also irritated people with genuine licences when
things went wrong, for example internet connection problems when
authenticating genuine product keys could lead to NGS. However, there
is no indication of any such anti-piracy tricks in Windows 7 SP1.
Encouraging computers to sleep when not in use is a great idea -
until you are away from your desk and need a file on that remote sleeping machine!
Wake-On-LAN really will save you that long walk to awaken a hibernating
machine; however my reason for encouraging you to download this utility is
just because it's so much fun sending those 'Magic Packets'. As Wake-On-LAN (WOL) is free, see
if I am right, and you get a kick from arousing those sleeping machines.
WOL also has business uses for example, wakening machines so that they can have
their patches applied.
Download your free copy of Wake-On-LAN
Guy Recommends: Tools4ever's UMRA
Tired of writing scripts? The User Management Resource Administrator solution
by Tools4ever offers an alternative to time-consuming manual processes.
It
features 100% auto provisioning, Helpdesk Delegation, Connectors to more than
130 systems/applications, Workflow Management, Self Service and many other
benefits. Click on the link for more information on
UMRA.
See more information about Microsoft Windows service packs
• Windows 8 Tips •
E 189 Windows 7 SP1 • E 157 Vista SP2 •
Windows 8 Task Manager
•
E 135 Vista SP1 •
E 129 Vista SP1 •
E 130 Vista SP1 •
E 50 W2K3 SP1
•
E 34 XP SP3
•
E 23 SUS •
Free Network Device
Manager •
Real-time Network
Traffic Monitor • Ezines
|
