What caused your last PC crash?
 

iphone2
Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is out today

Overnight Microsoft released Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1) at theMicrosoft Download Center and just hours later made it available via Windows Update. The standalone SP1 package weighs in at 537MB (x86) or 903MB (x64), but most users won't need all of this code. Indeed, highlighting how much of SP1 has already been rolled out to users via Windows Update's incremental ongoing updates, the Windows Update SP1 delivery itself only measures 44MB for x86 or 74MB for x64 (with Windows Server 2008 R2 requiring 96MB).


The key features included in SP1 for Windows 7 as cited by Microsoft will not exactly be game changers for the regular PC user: additional support for communication with third-party federation services; improved HDMI audio device performance; corrected behaviour when printing mixed-orientation XPS documents; change to behaviour of “Restore previous folders at logon” functionality; enhanced support for additional identities in RRAS and IPsec; support for Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX); improved support for Advanced Format (512e) Storage Devices. Of more interest perhaps are the changes specific to Server 2008 R2, which gets Dynamic Memory (to boost performance for virtualised machines) and Microsoft RemoteFX (an enhanced UI environment for virtual desktops).

Indeed, compared to the performance-oriented focus of the eagerly awaited Vista SP1, it seems Windows 7 SP1 is a bit of a non-event all things considered, but - if anything - this is something we should be grateful for. It says an awful lot about a Microsoft operating system when the first Service Pack is released 16 months later and people don't even notice; weren't waiting for it; didn't realise they needed it (or don't). That Win 7 needs less ongoing structural TLC (or that it gets it more effectively from Windows Update) is a good thing as far as the average user is concerned.


Windows 7 Ultimate: now even more ultimate (not that you'll notice).


In any case, for a full set of Microsoft documentation outlining your various deployment options, see here but bear in mind that most people will receive the update simply through Windows Update (in fact, Microsoft recommends this for most users). For some general tips from Microsoft on what to do before installing SP1,see here, for how to install it see here and for a complete list of all the hotfixes and security updates included in the Service Pack (best pack your reading glasses for this one) see here.

 

Source: apcmag.com 

23 FEB 2011