Those of you who use a Windows-based computer, and who upgraded to or use Windows 7, will want to know this news: the first major service pack for Windows 7 has just been released. If you have your Windows set to Automatic Updates, you will get notification of this, but you will also have to specifically choose the update from any recent available updates.
So what's a Service Pack?
A Service Pack is basically a collection of known bug fixes, and sometimes improvements or new functionality. For instance, I'm creating this post on our desktop computer, which is running Windows XP. Because XP has been around so long–can it really be nine years now?–there have been several Service Packs. I have installed all service packs on this machine, up to and including Service Pack 3.
Should you install a Service Pack?
My short answer is this: yes. My longer answer is a little more involved...
As most service packs contain bug fixes (which can themselves include security fixes), I think they're an important consideration. Even if a service pack includes very little new functionality (as in the first one for Windows 7), the bug fixes and/or security enhancements alone should be considered. The other reasons you should install a service pack have to do with compatibility. Eventually, as with Windows XP, other programs (or possibly other hardware) will require the new service pack, though they might not right away.
What does Windows 7 Service Pack 1 mean to me?
About a half-hour to an hour, and anywhere from approximately 30 megabytes of disk space to several hundred megabytes of disk space (depending on what's already been updated). If you've kept your Windows 7 updated, the process shouldn't take too long, or consume too much disk space.
OK, how do I install Windows 7 Service Pack 1?
If Automatic Updates is "on", go to the Start button and search for "Windows Update" (just type it in). Are there new updates? If yes, look for a link that tells you a number of "important updates are available". Click that link, and check the check box for Windows 7 Service Pack 1. Click the OK button, install the Service Pack (it will download, and that's the most lengthy process). Reboot your computer when asked to. When you log-in again, you should get a message telling you it's done!
For more information on Windows 7 Service Pack 1, have a look at Microsoft's information pages. There are several different Web pages available, but the following one sums things up nicely, and provides you with a link on how to install and where to get the Service Pack (if it's not available to you yet): http://bit.ly/Windows7_SP1.
I just installed SP1 this morning on one of the laptops. Things seem OK so far (a good sign).
Happy computing!
