New SSD Win 7 x64 install: need service pack 1 or not?

[KingFatty]

Hello,

For a new SSD, is it better to install Windows 7 x64 with service pack 1, instead of installing Windows 7 x64 and then allowing windows update to download SP1 after windows is installed?

I ask because I wonder if there are any SSD-specific optimizations introduced in service pack 1, to where it makes a better Windows installation?

I recently ordered the Plextor M3 128GB shell shocker deal and it just arrived.

So I need to know if I should make my own installation disk by slipstreaming SP1 into my plain Windows 7 x64 install, or is that a waste of effort because I won't gain any benefits by installing with the SP1, and should just allow windows update to take care of that. I don't care about any time savings at the install that might occur due to slipstreaming, but whether there is a performance enhancement to installing onto SSD specifically. Did SP1 even introduce any SSD-specific enhancements?

 

[kbp]

Well... If you buy a new copy of win7 it comes with SP1 on it.
As far as enhancements i do believe there are security features you may want.

 

[KingFatty]

If I install without SP1, then I'd immediately manually install SP1 before even connecting the computer to the network. So I'll end up with SP1 regardless.

But I'm wondering if SP1 replaces something in Windows 7 x64 that would normally be applied during installation on an SSD, such that the SP1 thing is better for the SSD installation specifically? Like some kind of alignment thing or something, just speculating because I haven't reviewed all the details of whether SP1 brings SSD enhancements, and whether those enhancements will apply whether you install windows with SP1 or add SP1 after installation.

 

[bryanW1995]

You want sp1 because you will avoid any potential alignment issues that could crop up from installing without it.

 

[ctk1981]

Havent noticed a dramatic effect on any of the machines I have. 1 laptop and 2 desktops all installed with older copies of Windows 7 and then updated to SP1 later on. 1 OCZ Summit, 1 OCZ Vertex, 1 Intel X-25M.

 

[taltamir]

You should always, under all circumstances, install from a CD with the latest service pack.
If your purchased disk comes without it you can EASILY and LEGALLY make a disk that integrates it (called slip streamed disk).

1. It avoids installer issues
2. It is faster to slipsstream a disk then it is to install the updates after the fact
3. It is less likely to have an update bug
4. It will take up less space (windows keeps the obsolete files to undo the install)
5. It is more secure (since you have all the security updates from the get go before even connecting to a possibly infected lan).
6. etc

 

[groberts101]

no difference that I've ever heard of from installing it with the OS initially over installing it after the fact, although taltamir makes a few good points above.

Alignment will not be affected either way.

as for performance increases from SP1 over the base non-SP1 versions of Windows?

With the SP1 update there comes a different AHCI driver which does in fact have deeper reaching NCQ support to give slightly improved results over the base versions default AHCI driver. Usually only seen in random data benchmarks like AS SSD, CDM3, Anvil, and HDD suite testing benchmarks though. Probably have to mutitask yer SSD's ass off to see any tangible differences during usage, I would imagine.

 

[Kenmitch]

Slipstreaming isn't supported by microsoft. I tried third party but seems like the basic install winds up being larger for some reason. Doing the install then doing SP1 takes way too long to deal with.

Best way is to just download the version that you need. Perfectly legal as you use the code you paid for when installing anyways.

These links in the post are direct from microsoft so they are safe and they'll come down as fast as you can take them. 5MB's plus a second for me

http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-digitalriver-windows-7-sp1-13-languages.html

 

[taltamir]

Slipstreaming isn't supported by microsoft

well what do you know... it used to be with XP but starting with vista its no longer officially supported. Still legal though...
Or just get a hold of the right installation CD with SP1 preintegrated by MS (corporations IT departments should have those) and use it with your license key

The MSDN links are from MS, yes... but you need to pay to be a member otherwise you can't download those.

 

[Kenmitch]

The MSDN links are from MS, yes... but you need to pay to be a member otherwise you can't download those

I would think that if your statement is true then microsoft would have the technology to require a login to download the iso's

Seeing how it's click it and get it I'm going with the perfectly legal thing to do stance on it. A person needs to use the code they paid for to activate it so I'd see no reason for it to be otherwise.

 

[LokutusofBorg]

If you can get your hands on an ISO that has SP1 already in it that's the easiest way. Those links to the digitalrivercontent.net site in that notebookreview forum thread are slightly questionable, but it seems Digital River is a company Microsoft has used for a lot of stuff.

If you can't get your hands on an ISO with SP1 already in it, you will be just fine installing your copy of Win7 and then immediately installing SP1. All of the SSD stuff was put into Windows 7 from the start, so alignment and what not will all be taken care of. Once you've installed it you can cleanup all the backup files that allow you to uninstall the service pack to get disk space back.

 

[LokutusofBorg]

Slipstreaming isn't supported by microsoft. I tried third party but seems like the basic install winds up being larger for some reason. Doing the install then doing SP1 takes way too long to deal with.

Best way is to just download the version that you need. Perfectly legal as you use the code you paid for when installing anyways.

These links in the post are direct from microsoft so they are safe and they'll come down as fast as you can take them. 5MB's plus a second for me

http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-digitalriver-windows-7-sp1-13-languages.html

Those links are not direct from Microsoft, unless you have some info from some other source that says Microsoft has authorized those downloads from the msft.digitalrivercontent.net site... Digital River is affiliated with Microsoft on lots of stuff, but that isn't a guarantee that MS has authorized those ISO's to be posted.

 

[Kenmitch]

Those links are not direct from Microsoft, unless you have some info from some other source that says Microsoft has authorized those downloads from the msft.digitalrivercontent.net site... Digital River is affiliated with Microsoft on lots of stuff, but that isn't a guarantee that MS has authorized those ISO's to be posted.

So what your saying is Microsoft is full of idiots that can't use google to search for " Windows 7 Sp1 iso downloads " I guess.

Even bing found this one which was the second hit

Here's another website with pretty much the same links. The article was posted on 7/30/2011

Downloading these ISO images from Digital River is legal and free of charge. Downloaded ISO images will be of virus and malware free as Digital River is official Download Channel. However you need to purchase a license key to activate Windows 7 after using for 30 days.

http://techdows.com/2011/07/downloa...h-sp1-iso-official-direct-download-links.html

Here's another one if you don't like the above one. Dated 8/30/2011

http://www.w7forums.com/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads-t12325.html

If it was illegal to download these iso's then Microsoft would have nuked it a long, long time ago.

 

[taltamir]

I would think that if your statement is true then microsoft would have the technology to require a login to download the iso's

they do
Pressing it leads me to a login page for my windows live ID.
After login attempting to download them gives me the following error.

There is no subscription associated with your Live ID. Add a subscription to this account.

If you can get your hands on an ISO that has SP1 already in it that's the easiest way. Those links to the digitalrivercontent.net site in that notebookreview forum thread are slightly questionable, but it seems Digital River is a company Microsoft has used for a lot of stuff.

Actually he linked to a forum (digital river) which doesn't host anything but in turn links to MS for downloading the images... or to instructions and software to use to make your own slipstreamed disks.

 

[KingFatty]

I have an upgrade key for Windows 7 x64 professional, but I don't see an ISO specifically for an upgrade version. Is there just one ISO that is smart enough to know which key you are using and install accordingly? Will my upgrade key work on the full ISO from the digitalriver site?

My upgrade key was used to install my current windows version, which I happened to obtain from digital river a while back.

 

[LokutusofBorg]

So what your saying is Microsoft is full of idiots that can't use google to search for " Windows 7 Sp1 iso downloads " I guess.

Even bing found this one which was the second hit

Here's another website with pretty much the same links. The article was posted on 7/30/2011

http://techdows.com/2011/07/downloa...h-sp1-iso-official-direct-download-links.html

Here's another one if you don't like the above one. Dated 8/30/2011

http://www.w7forums.com/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads-t12325.html

If it was illegal to download these iso's then Microsoft would have nuked it a long, long time ago.

Where did I say it was illegal or say MS are idiots? WTF? Put words in people's mouths often?

Actually he linked to a forum (digital river) which doesn't host anything but in turn links to MS for downloading the images... or to instructions and software to use to make your own slipstreamed disks.

I think you might be confused here. That thread on notebookreview has a link at the top of the OP that links to the MSDN site, but it also has links to ISO downloads hosted on msft.digitalrivercontent.net.

Digital River, Inc. actually owns the digitalrivercontent.net domain, but it is a far cry from digitalriver.com. All I am saying is, without knowing exactly how/why these ISOs are being made available from a non-Microsoft domain/site you can't 100% trust them. What better way to distribute malware than to slipstream them into a Windows ISO and get people to download them? Am I saying they're 0% trustworthy? No, I'm saying they're not 100% trustworthy. If it were me I would install using my existing ISO without SP1 and then just install SP1. But then I have had MSDN for years, so I can get the SP1 ISOs easily, too.

 

[KingFatty]

Anyone roll their own SP1 installation using something like this:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/145343-slipstream-windows-7-sp1-into-installation-dvd-iso-file.html

Was it a good payoff, investing time up front to slipstream SP1 and recovering that time by having to install SP1 later?

 

[DirkGently1]

The Digital River source is perfectly Legit. Here's a link to all versions:

http://www.mydigitallife.info/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-digital-river/

 

[KingFatty]

The Digital River source is perfectly Legit. Here's a link to all versions:

http://www.mydigitallife.info/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-digital-river/

I don't see an upgrade version among all the versions on that site; will they work with an upgrade-only key? Back when I purchased win 7 x64 pro upgrade, I got my key and downloaded my install ISO from digital river. when i install, I need to install Vista first, then upgrade to win7 x64. Anyone know if this will work with the versions posted above? Or do I need to find a different ISO that is specifically restricted to upgrade-only?

 

[Kenmitch]

Where did I say it was illegal or say MS are idiots? WTF? Put words in people's mouths often?

Maybe I was a little cranky last night

The thing to note is all legit links point to the same source that was in the original link I provided. If Microsoft didn't want the iso's downloaded the download links would no longer be active.

 

[Burner27]

You want sp1 because you will avoid any potential alignment issues that could crop up from installing without it.

Wait.....What? Where is there documentation on this?

 

[taltamir]

Wait.....What? Where is there documentation on this?

none because this is wrong.
Win7 RTM aligns correctly. no need for SP1 for alignment... you still should get SP1 though.

I think you might be confused here. That thread on notebookreview has a link at the top of the OP that links to the MSDN site, but it also has links to ISO downloads hosted on msft.digitalrivercontent.net.

My apologies for misunderstanding

 

[KingFatty]

none because this is wrong.
Win7 RTM aligns correctly. no need for SP1 for alignment... you still should get SP1 though.

So it's OK to get SP1 separately, after the initial install, without slipstreaming, so long as you eventually get it and don't mind the extra space wasted for the SP1 uninstall stuff?

 

[taltamir]

So it's OK to get SP1 separately, after the initial install, without slipstreaming, so long as you eventually get it and don't mind the extra space wasted for the SP1 uninstall stuff?

yes, its ok.
I'd prefer not to but if you don't have a legit access to an SP1 disk you might as well.

 

[KingFatty]

Anyone know if there is such a thing as an "upgrade" ISO? I purchased an "upgrade" Key from microsoft, but I can't tell whether the "upgrade" aspect is part of the key or part of the ISO.

I have my original ISO download, it has a standard naming just like all the others, would that help me figure out if my ISO is just a regular old full install ISO that uses the key to activate the upgrade aspect?