The first thing that you may want to try is running the Windows Troubleshooter to resolve any problems that prevent Windows Update from working properly.

Windows 7 users find the troubleshooter when they click on the Start orb, select Control Panel > Troubleshooting and there the Fix problems with Windows Update link.

The Windows Update troubleshooter “resolves problems that prevent you from updating Windows”, which basically means that it tries to repair Windows Update if it is broken or not working properly.

A click on Next starts a scan that should take less than 30 seconds to complete. Problems and issues that have been found are automatically repaired by the troubleshooting process. The troubleshooting tool displays problems that have been found during the scan and if it was able to resolve the problems.

It is then suggested to try the Windows 7 Update again via Windows Update to see if the troubleshooter corrected the updating issue. If the update fails again it is time for the second option, the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows.

• System Update Readiness Tool for Windows 7 (KB947821) [download]
• System Update Readiness Tool for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB947821) [download]

Make sure you download the tool that is compatible with your operating system. This means that you need to select the 32-bit or 64-bit edition based on your operating system and the correct language the tool is offered in.

This tool is being offered because an inconsistency was found in the Windows servicing store which may prevent the successful installation of future updates, service packs, and software.

The software has a size of roughly 100 Megabytes for 32-bit systems and 300 Megabytes for 64-bit systems.

What does it do?

After you download the System Update Readiness Tool, it runs a onetime scan for inconsistencies that might prevent future servicing operations. This scan typically takes less than 15 minutes to run. However, the tool might take significantly longer on some computers. The Windows Update progress bar is not updated during the scan, and progress seems to stop at 60% complete for some time. This behavior is expected. The scan is still running and you should not cancel the update.

The tool verifies the integrity of several Windows Registry keys

Files that are located under the following directories:

• %SYSTEMROOT%\Servicing\Packages
• %SYSTEMROOT%\WinSxS\Manifests

Registry data that is located under the following registry subkeys:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Components
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Schema
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing

Which errors can it repair and fix?

• 0×80070002 ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND The system cannot find the file specified.
• 0x8007000D ERROR_INVALID_DATA The data is invalid.
• 0x800F081F CBS_E_SOURCE_MISSING The source for the package or file not found.
• 0×80073712 ERROR_SXS_COMPONENT_STORE_CORRUPT The component store is in an inconsistent state.
• 0x800736CC ERROR_SXS_FILE_HASH_MISMATCH A component’s file does not match the verification information present in the component manifest.
• 0x800705B9 ERROR_XML_PARSE_ERROR Unable to parse the requested XML data.
• 0×80070246 ERROR_ILLEGAL_CHARACTER An invalid character was encountered.
• 0x8007370D ERROR_SXS_IDENTITY_PARSE_ERROR An identity string is malformed.
• 0x8007370B ERROR_SXS_INVALID_IDENTITY_ATTRIBUTE_NAME The name of an attribute in an identity is not within the valid range.
• 0x8007370A ERROR_SXS_INVALID_IDENTITY_ATTRIBUTE_VALUE The value of an attribute in an identity is not within the valid range.
• 0×80070057 ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER The parameter is incorrect.
• 0x800B0100 TRUST_E_NOSIGNATURE No signature was present in the subject.
• 0×80092003 CRYPT_E_FILE_ERROR An error occurred while Windows Update reads or writes to a file.
• 0x800B0101 CERT_E_EXPIRED A required certificate is not within its validity period when verifying against the current system clock or the time stamp in the signed file.
• 0x8007371B ERROR_SXS_TRANSACTION_CLOSURE_INCOMPLETE One or more required members of the transaction are not present.
• 0×80070490 ERROR_NOT_FOUND Windows could not search for new updates.

Try to install the Windows 7 Service Pack or another Windows Update again after the System Readiness tool has finished its scan.

Did you have troubles installing the service pack for Windows 7? (via)

Those users need to uninstall the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 to restore the old state of the system prior to the update.

The Control Panel provides access to the easiest service pack uninstallation option.

Users need to click on the Start orb on the taskbar and select Control Panel from the options. The uninstallation applet is available under Programs > Uninstall a program, or if all apples are displayed at once under Programs and Features.

Locate the View installed updates link in the left sidebar and click it to open the list of updates that have been installed on the computer system.

Windows displays a list of all updates that have been installed on the system. The service pack is basically nothing more than a larger update. Locate the Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB976932) entry under Microsoft Windows. This is the Windows 7 Service Pack 1. To uninstall it select it with a left-click and click the Uninstall link to uninstall it. you need to confirm your selection and restart the computer after the uninstallation process has finished.

The uninstallation removes the service pack from the operating system.

Some users may not be able to uninstall the program via the Control Panel applet. This is for instance the case if the service pack installation corrupted the system.

It is then possible to use the command prompt to try and uninstall the service pack. An elevated command prompt is required. To get there, users need to click on the start orb, then All Programs > Accessories, and right-click on the Command Prompt entry there and select Run as administrator.

They then need to use the following command to uninstall the service pack again:

wusa.exe /uninstall /kb:976932

A confirmation is again required before the service pack is uninstalled by Windows.

System restore, or previously created backups, are another alternative if they have been created before the service pack was installed on the Windows 7 system. (via)

Users have the option to download the Windows 7 Service Pack from Microsoft’s Download Center or use Microsoft’s Windows Update service to directly install it from within the operating system.

The latter option has several advantages for users who only need to update the operating system on a single computer. The biggest advantage is that it requires less disk space on the hard drive Windows 7 is installed on.

Check out our Windows 7 SP1, All You Need To Know, And Do guide for detailed information about the space requirements and other service pack related information.

Is there anything that you specifically need to take care of before installing the operating system update? Microsoft recommends several things, from scanning the computer for malicious software to updating the device driver and backing up important data before installing the update. Our guide has details on all recommendations so make sure you check it out if you have not already.

The service pack has already been posted on Microsoft’s Download Center. Windows users can download it in iso format right now. Remember that the download includes both the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack. It is necessary to burn the iso to DVD first before the update can be installed. Make sure you select the right language before you start the download. The process requires genuine validation.

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (KB976932) [download]

Windows® AIK for Windows® 7 SP1 [download]

The disk image has a size of nearly 2 Gigabytes.

Microsoft has not enabled the service pack yet under Windows Update. We keep you informed once that happens.

Update: Users can now install the service pack via Windows Update as well.

Windows 7 users need to click on Start > All Programs > Windows Update for that.

The service pack will be released on February 22 to the public. Microsoft will make it available via Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center. Microsoft employee Brandon LeBlanc recommends that single PC or home PC users should be “Windows Update instead of downloading the standalone installer (or Network Installation Package) from the Microsoft Download Center” because of the better “installation experience”. Check the disk space requirements chapter to find out why it is indeed better to use Windows Update to install the service pack.

Users who work with multiple computers may consider downloading the service pack update from Microsoft Download for distribution purposes.

Things that you should do before installing the operating system update:

• Scan the computer for malware and viruses. Make sure your antivirus software is up to date before doing so.
• Update device drivers if available to make sure the devices are compatible with the service pack
• Backup your important data and files prior to updating to service pack 1.
• Connect a mobile computer, laptop, netbook or notebook to a power outlet before you start the installation of the service pack.
• Make sure you have enough free disk space available for the service pack (see requirements for additional information).
• Microsoft recommends to disable antivirus software during installation as it can interfere with the installation.
• Possible file corruptions can be checked with the sfc /scannow command on an elevated command prompt. Users need to have the Windows installation files or DVD at hand in case corrupted files need to be replaced.

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 System Requirements

If Windows 7 is running on the computer then it is very likely that the service pack 1 will install and run on it as well without problems. The only issue that could arise is that you are running out of disk space.

Service Pack 1 has disk space requirements that differ highly depending on the installation method.

Windows users who update the operating system via Windows Update need an additional 750 Megabytes for 32-bit systems and 1050 Megabytes for 64-bit systems. A stand alone installation, for instance by downloading the service pack via Microsoft’s Download Center, requires 4.1 Gigabytes of date for 32-bit systems and a whooping 7.4 Gigabytes for a 64-bit system.

Language Packs

The best sequence is to install the service pack first, and then the available language pack updates.

How To Block the Installation of Windows 7 SP1

Microsoft has released the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Blocker Tool which can be used for that purpose. The toolkit blocks the deployment for a period of 12 months after release of the service pack.

Documentation, Release Notes

Check out our sister site Windows 7 News who have links to all documents that Microsoft has released so far: Microsoft Releases Windows 7 SP1 Documentation

The release candidates are provided for It professionals, tech enthusiasts and developers who need to test the “service pack in their organization or with the software they are developing”. The release candidate is offered in the languages English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish.

Users who plan to install the release candidate need to know a few things about it. First, it will not be possible to upgrade directly from the service pack release candidate build to the final version of Windows 7 SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1. The release candidate needs to be uninstalled before this can be done.

Second, the release candidate expires on November 30, 2011, with notifications starting to appear on August 30, 2011.

Interested users need a Windows Live ID to proceed to the downloads. The following files are offered on the download page:

• WUSignUpTool_x86.exe – This tool enables your 32-bit Windows 7 machine to participate in the public beta via Windows Update. Run this tool and then check for updates in Windows Update.
• WUSignUpTool_x64.exe – This tool enables your 64-bit Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 machine to participate in the public beta via Windows Update. Run this tool and then check for updates in Windows Update.
• windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe – This application installs the public beta to a 32-bit machine running Windows 7.
• windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe – This application installs the public beta to a 64-bit machine running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2.
• 7601.17105.100929-1730_Update_Sp_Wave1-B1SP1.0_DVD.iso – This DVD ISO disk image contains the standalone update packages for the public release candidate.

There is also documentation available that are included in the release candidates.

Changes specific to Windows 7

• Additional support for communication with third-party federation services – Additional support has been added to allow Windows 7 clients to effectively communicate with third-party identity federation services (those supporting the WS-Federation passive profile protocol). This change enhances platform interoperability, and improves the ability to communicate identity and authentication information between organizations.
• Improved HDMI audio device performance – A small percentage of users have reported issues in which the connection between computers running Windows 7 and HDMI audio devices can be lost after system reboots. Updates have been incorporated into SP1 to ensure that connections between Windows 7 computers and HDMI audio devices are consistently maintained.
• Corrected behavior when printing mixed-orientation XPS documents – Prior to the release of SP1, some customers have reported difficulty when printing mixed-orientation XPS documents (documents containing pages in both portrait and landscape orientation) using the XPS Viewer, resulting in all pages being printed entirely in either portrait or landscape mode. This issue has been addressed in SP1, allowing users to correctly print mixed-orientation documents using the XPS Viewer.

Changes common to both client and server platforms

• Change to behavior of “Restore previous folders at logon” functionality – SP1 changes the behavior of the “Restore previous folders at logon” function available in the Folder Options Explorer dialog. Prior to SP1, previous folders would be restored in a cascaded position based on the location of the most recently active folder. That behavior changes in SP1 so that all folders are restored to their previous positions.
• Enhanced support for additional identities in RRAS and IPsec – Support for additional identification types has been added to the Identification field in the IKEv2 authentication protocol. This allows for a variety of additional forms of identification (such as E-mail ID or Certificate Subject) to be used when performing authentication using the IKEv2 protocol.
• Support for Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX) – There has always been a growing need for ever more computing power and as usage models change, processors instruction set architectures evolve to support these growing demands. Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX) is a 256 bit instruction set extension for processors. AVX is designed to allow for improved performance for applications that are floating point intensive. Support for AVX is a part of SP1 to allow applications to fully utilize the new instruction set and register extensions.

Changes specific to Windows Server 2008 R2

The release candidate marks a major step in the development of both service packs, which are said to be released in the first half of 2011 if development goes forward as planned by Microsoft.

The service pack, which is also applicable to Windows Server 2008 R2, is usually the milestone after the implementation of which businesses move their systems over to a new operating system from Microsoft.

The file details are…

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 RC x86
BUILD: 7601.17105.100929-1730
FILE:Windows6.1-KB976932-x86-INTL.exe
SIZE: 353,458,408 byte
SHA-1: 8752FC227921995170E1AA6556C476EFDCD8A7D6
MD5: 5BF2AA8D339A036659ABF530932D9F52
CRC: 7808E98B

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 RC x64
BUILD: 7601.17105.100929-1730
FILE: Windows6.1-KB976932-X64-INTL.exe
SIZE: 644,616,752 byte
SHA-1: B8E8935D782599B977D3D0FF15D8B3B539CA39C8
MD5: 59BA49FE307B89C20EBBE8D4C95622B0
CRC: 5329BB53

There’s no major new functionality in Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 so there should be no need to rush to download it.  Besides adding support for a couple of technologies including USB3 it’s simply a roll-up of existing patches that have been available from Windows Update for some time.

We would also not recommend installing beta software or indeed any software that you can download from a torrent site.  These programs are often modified by virus and malware writers to carry a hidden payload.

The final release of Service Pack 1 should come in the first quarter of 2011.

Here are a selection of screenshots of the service pack, the easy install process and the end result.

Windows UAC is the first thing to kick in to warn you that installing anything on your PC is potentially dangerous.

The support and helpful advice with this service pack is as good as, if not better, than Microsoft have provided in the past.

There is, as you would expect, a license agreement you mst accept before you can install SP1.

A useful feature is the option to prevent SP1 from automatically restarting your PC when it’s done.  Many people who want to carry on using their PC during the SP1 install will welcome this.

The download and install of Sp1 will vary from one machine to another, but on my test machine, it took only a few short minutes.

You will be prompted to reboot your computer when SP1 is installed if you unticked the box to have the service pack installer restart your PC automatically.

Like I said, it’s a quick, simply and painless installation that only takes a short while.  If only all Windows service packs of old had been like this.

The end result shows Windows running, in this instance, Service Pack 1, v.178 with the text “Windows 7 Evaluation copy, Build 7601″ added to your desktop in the bottom right-hand corner.  This is common for Microsoft and text such as this is added with almost all beta software.

There’s nothing really new, in an exciting way in SP1 but what is there Martin wrote about earlier today.  It’s nice to know though that this is a simple and pain-free process.

Windows 7 users thinking about downloading and installing the beta should carefully consider doing so. Not only because it is not legal to do so but also because it is a beta build of the upcoming service pack. It is not the final service pack of Windows 7. Even more convincing should be the fact that Microsoft will not include major new features or improvements in the service pack 1 once it comes out.

It should also be noted that the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 beta will expire on 20110401 (or three month later with the rearm command) making it a less than ideal candidate for a productive environment.

Some users report speed improvements after installing the service pack beta but that does not guarantee that every user installing the service pack will see those improvements.

Installation seems to be quite complicated judging from the installation instructions posted at some Bittorrent sites the service pack was posted on. There does not seem to be an official release log or change log either.

Let us know if you have been able to spot any major improvements or changes if you have installed the service pack 1 beta for Windows 7.

With Windows 7 that seems unnecessary. Rumors about the Windows 7 service pack 1 have made their rounds in the last weeks with most suggesting a release in the fourth quarter of 2010, around a year after Windows 7 has been released.

Microsoft employee Brandon LeBlanc yesterday revealed additional details about the upcoming service pack for Windows 7.

For Windows 7, SP1 includes only minor updates, among which are previous updates that are already delivered through Windows Update. SP1 for Windows 7 will, however, deliver an updated Remote Desktop client that takes advantage of RemoteFX introduced in the server-side with SP1 for Windows Server 2008 R2.

The announcement confirms that Windows 7 Service Pack 1 will be anything but spectacular. This also means that companies and organizations do not need to wait for the service pack to be released before they start migrating to the new operating system.

The service pack will be delivered through Windows Update and as a download that will be made available on the Microsoft website. Brandon promised to post additional information about the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 shortly before the development team reaches the next milestone. So, no release timeline at this point.

There are not any changes yet that can be identified after installing Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista. The service pack 2 currently contains all released patches and hotfixes that have been already released and several files that are required for future updates that Microsoft will release to testers.

Users who are still interested in testing Windows Vista SP2 can download a batch file that is stored at Mediafire which will add the required keys to the Windows Vista Registry. The computer has to be restarted after executing the batch file before the changes become visible.

Windows Update will present the Vista SP2 Servicing Stack Update first which has to be installed before the actual Vista SP2 becomes available.

According to ZDnet Microsoft has already send a beta of the Windows Vista Service Pack 2 to selected partners to receive feedback for the development process. Some users might wonder about Service Pack 1 for Microsoft Windows Server 2008 since there was no official release until now.

Windows Server 2008 was build on the Windows Vista Service Pack 1 codebase meaning the functionality is already included in the release of Windows Server 2008. It might still confuse customers who do not know that.

Both service packs are said to be released before the release of Windows 7 to avoid customer confusion since some might want to test the announced service pack 2 before making a decision whether to switch to Windows 7 or stick with Windows Vista.

Windows 7 is still on track to be released in the second half of 2009 with a first public beta coming out in late 2008.

To make it easier for you I have collected the download links for the most important language versions of Windows XP Service Pack 3. A complete list can be found at Tip and Trick.

The ISO is provided for system administrators who have to distribute the Service Pack to several computers. There should not be a problem however to distribute the executable version of the service pack to multiple computers as well as long as they are all using the same language version.

Windows XP SP3 English EXE
Windows XP SP3 English ISO

Windows XP SP3 Chinese Simplified EXE
Windows XP SP3 Chinese Simplified ISO

Windows XP SP3 German Simplified EXE
Windows XP SP3 German Simplified ISO

Windows XP SP3 Russian Simplified EXE
Windows XP SP3 Russian Simplified ISO

Windows XP SP3 Spanish Simplified EXE
Windows XP SP3 Spanish Simplified ISO

Windows XP SP3 French Simplified EXE
Windows XP SP3 French Simplified ISO

Windows XP SP3 Dutch Simplified EXE
Windows XP SP3 Dutch Simplified ISO

Windows XP SP3 Swedish Simplified EXE
Windows XP SP3 Swedish Simplified ISO

No news yet on what has been changed in this new release. A tester mentioned a few observations in the Neowin forum. The new Windows Vista SP1 seemed faster, detected 4GB of Ram correctly but used still only 3.32 GB, noticeably faster explorer tasks and no chattering hard drive after install.

Another user reported that the downloads are available on the official Windows download website. I have not tested these yet and the KB article referred to points to one from last year. If you still want to give it a try you can download the 32-bit or 64-bit version of the latest Windows Vista Service Pack 1.

Not by all users but by beta testers.. and you. The process is similar to the one that was used to get the Windows Vista Service Pack early. Create a new entry in the Windows XP Registry and use Windows Update to download the latest service pack for Windows XP.

Thankfully though there is no need to download and reboot the computer three times, a reboot is actually not needed at all.

Here are the two commands that you need. (you actually can bypass the first one if you have not installed the Service Pack 3 before)

reg delete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\XPSP3 /f 2> NUL
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\XPSP3 /v RCPreview /t REG_SZ /d 1c667073-b87f-4f52-a479-98c85711d869 /f

Create a batch file (or download it here), put those lines into it and execute it. This creates the necessary key that makes Windows Update believe that we are one of the few that are allowed to download the Windows XP Service Pack 3. It should appear in the list of Updates right away.

Please Note: This is a Release Candidate. Do not download it if you do not know what Release Candidate means. It could break your system. The size of the service pack is roughly 80 Megabytes.

Update: The third service pack for Windows XP has been downloaded in the meantime. It is no longer necessary to download a release candidate build of it. Please use Windows Update or official Microsoft websites to download the Windows XP Service Pack 3 to the computer to install it.