14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just announced that Windows 7 Service Pack 1 would be automatically installed on all computers running the world’s number one operating system starting today.
“Updating customers to Windows 7 SP1 is part of our ongoing effort to ensure continued support and improved security updates for customers who have not yet installed SP1,” the company said.
Service Pack 1 will be distributed via the integrated Windows Update, so no user interaction is necessary. Up until now, SP1 was displayed in Windows Update, but users had to manually select it for installation.
“SP1 will be released gradually over the coming weeks to all customers on the RTM version of Windows 7. The service pack will take slightly longer to install compared to other updates. To ensure Service Pack 1 is installed without issue, customers should check for sufficient free disk space and that AC power is present on a laptop,” Microsoft explains.
“If additional space needs to be created, we recommend using the Disk Cleanup tool to delete some files so that the service pack will install. If the service pack installation is interrupted, it will reattempt to install automatically after the next restart.”
As you probably know by now, sources familiar with the matter indicated that Microsoft doesn’t have plans for a second service pack for Windows 7, as the company is trying to focus on a more frequent update cycle, such as the one used by Apple for its OS X platform.
It appears that Microsoft will debut the first Windows 8 major upgrade called Blue this summer, while the next full Windows contraption is likely to see daylight next year in November.
As far as Windows 7 is concerned, the RTM version (the one with no service pack) will no longer be supported as of April 9, 2013, so you have less than one month to deploy SP1.