WAIT – WAIT – Where did my DISK SPACE GO! Windows SP1 Available

Most people get the notice about updates on their systems and say OK and don’t think about it again.  They most likely wont notice the missing 500MB of storage that’s gone.  For many power users this is no big problem, but for those people who have Notebooks with smaller drives this could make a difference.

But WAIT – you don’t want to delete these files for a few weeks of use to make sure you don’t have issue with the update.  Once you feel that you have used your system without any issue, then you might want to take a look at the following article from HOW-to Geek to remove and restore that storage.  At the same time you can remove some other stuff as well!

After you install the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 that we mentioned yesterday, you might be wondering how to reclaim some of the lost drive space—which we’ll show you how today—but should you actually do it?

Note: If you haven’t installed the new SP1 release yet, be sure to read our post explaining what it entails before you do. Spoiler: it’s mostly bug fixes.

Should You Delete Windows 7 Service Pack Backup Files to Save Space?

Wait, What Now?

It’s simple: installing the service pack will take up a bunch of extra space, because Windows is going to create a ton of backups of the pre-service pack files in case you want to roll everything back and uninstall the service pack. This could be anywhere from a few hundred MBs all the way up to a GB or so.

You can easily clean out these backups with Disk Cleanup (see more below), but don’t rush to do that. Keep reading.

Microsoft – Windows 7 Service PACK 1 – AVAIALABLE!

Well…. Microsoft released Service Pack 1 today…  For those that have  been keeping up to date and using the automatic update feature of Windows 7 – there should be very little to update.  The good thing about this is that if you use the Automatic update, the Service pack will only update the items that you have not installed over the last year.

Similar to other Service Packs – there are very few items that are new, no real new features but a few bug fixes.  The nice thing about this for those that install WIN7 often,  or like to do clean installs – this will make the hundreds of updates a lot quicker.

You can just go to Windows update and tell it to update or you can go to the Windows update web page to download it yourself.

Windows 7 SP1 now available for everyone – Microsoft BLOG

HOW TO – Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Arrives – Supersite for Windows

Related Articles

• Okay folks, prep your back-up. Windows 7 Service Pack 1 now available for all. (winextra.com)
• “Preparing for Windows 7 Service Pack 1” and related posts (windowsobserver.com)
• You: Microsoft: Windows 7 service pack available (washingtonpost.com)

Internet Browser – IE9 RC RELEASED – Internet Explorer 9 LIGHT – FAST – CLEAN

If your running Vista or Windows 7 you’re going to want to update your IE 8 to IE 9 and enjoy a LIGHTER – FASTER and a Cleaner experience.  Microsoft is saying they are ahead of the rest of the pack with this new release…..

Internet Explorer 9 RC Now Available: Here’s the Most Interesting New Stuff – FROM HOW-To Geek

Windows 7 SP-1 RELEASED to OEM Partners – It’s coming!

For those already using Windows 7 this is no big deal as there is very little new and if you have been updating all along there will really be nothing of importance.  For those moving to Windows 7 this is good news as it will make the install go much faster.

It will be available to home users starting February 22, through the Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update.  If you have been keeping up to date, this update should be very quick.

Windows 7 updates deliver more bang for your buck

Product updates to get the most of out your Windows experience

Today, we’ve officially released Windows 7 SP1 to our OEM partners. We’ve said all along there’s no reason to wait for SP1, but with its official arrival, now there really is no better time to migrate. Windows 7 SP1 includes minor updates, including some made previously available through Windows Update. SP1 also includes client-side support for RemoteFX and Dynamic Memory, two new virtualization features enabled in Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1. You can read more about the desktop virtualization updates on the Windows Server Team blog and get the quick run-down on the SP1 timeline here.

If you’ve already begun your Windows 7 deployment, you should continue with your roll-out while doing an evaluation of SP1 in a test environment then update your images when you’re ready. You also can easily deploy SP1 to existing Windows 7 PCs through management tools such as System Center Configuration Manager and Windows Server Update Services.

The Windows Blog by Gavriella Schuster

Windows 7 Resources – Dedicated FOLDER just added!

I wanted to make sure you where aware of a new FOLDER added to the blog, like the others I try to keep it updated with current information and posts related to the folder.

Thought I would start a WINDOWS 7 folder since I have posted many resources and articles around moving to Windows 7 and I realize for many this can be and will be a difficult process.

WINDOWS 7 RESOURCES

This page is dedicated to the posts that I have made on Windows 7, you will find WHY and how type posts.  I hope this will assist you in making the final decision to move to Windows 7 and also help you on your way.

Windows – 7 – Should you – Shouldn’t you – WHY? – 7 reasons to move to WIN7

Windows 7 Deployment – An Insider’s Guide – Webinar – Hopefully you can view, as this happened on FEB 2nd

Windows 7 – Thinking of MOVING! Need HELP? – Resources to assist you in moving from XP to WIN7

Windows – 7 – Should you – Shouldn’t you – WHY?

Came across a great article today that goes through 7 reasons you should be moving to Windows 7 sooner than later!

Summary: Evolution vs. Revolution

At the end of the day, what makes Windows 7 compelling isn’t any significant feature. In fact, it is the lack of major features that makes Windows 7 so important. Like XP, its spiritual predecessor, Windows 7 tweaks a working formula.Vista introduced the new kernel, the new interface, UAC and other features. Introducing change is painful. Windows 7 takes what works and makes it better. Windows 7 is the long term, strategic desktop decision because it is a polished system that introduces small, incremental updates and relies on established features to drive its overarching value. If Vista was revolutionary, think of Windows 7 as evolutionary.

 

The REASONS:

1. Inevitability
2. Performance
3. Security
4. Solid State Drives
5. XP Mode
6. Branch Cache
7. Direct Access

Read the details for each @

7 Reasons to Migrate to Windows 7

Windows 7 – Personalize Your System – USING THEME’S

Most people like to make their computers fit with who they are, they want to personalize to make it more enjoyable to work on them. 

Windows 7 allows you to do more then XP ever did….  Theme packs are for sure one way to really make your computer yours…

I have found several sources that go through the process….

Tips for creating great Windows 7 themes, part 1 – Microsoft BLOG

Create a theme – Microsoft Windows BLOG

Windows 7 Tip of the Week: Personalize Your Desktop with Wallpaper and Aero Themes – Supersite for Windows

Theme File Format – MSDN Library

 Take a look, all of these are good to get you started making your computer special.

Windows 7 Deployment – An Insider’s Guide – Webinar

For many thinking of moving to Windows 7 can be a huge task, you have been using XP for what seems like forever.  You know all there is to know about Windows XP.  You had a reason to delay when VISTA arrived, but today you may not have a choice in moving to Windows 7.

Why not take an hour out of your busy schedule and attend the webinar from Microsoft, learn about moving to Windows 7 – the tools and issues etc…

Need to build your Windows 7 deployment knowledge?  Looking to for some deployment tips and tricks that can help save you time (and headaches)?  Join Steve Campbell, Microsoft Services, Deployment Architect and myself at 9am (PST) on February 2 for a webinar: “Windows 7 Deployment – An Insider’s Guide.”   

READ ENTIRE ARTICLE and details about the Webinar

Windows 7 – Thinking of MOVING! Need HELP?

Change is always difficult and moving from something you have had for 10 years – you know how to fix almost everything from just experience because you have had to do it so many times.  Vista and negative press made it really easy not to upgrade when it came out a few years ago, but not the case with Windows 7.

With support and security issues moving to Windows 7 today make a lot of sense, but just because it makes sense doesn’t mean it makes it easy to move forward and start your upgrades.  It’s in Microsoft best interest to try to make it as easy as possible to help you make that move and they have been releasing tools to do just that.

You need to look at and use the following program to really position your current state and to get a true picture of where you need to be tomorrow.

Are you looking for a tool to simplify your organization’s migration to Windows 7 and Windows Internet Explorer 8—and, in turn, benefit from improved desktop security, reliability and manageability? The MAP 5.5 Internet Explorer migration assessment inventories your environment and reports on deployed web browsers, Microsoft ActiveX controls, and add-ons, and then generates a migration assessment report and proposal—information you need to more easily migrate to Windows 7 and Internet Explorer. The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit and the Security Compliance Manager are the essential toolset to automate your desktop and server deployment of new Microsoft technologies. Using MDT and SCM, you can significantly reduce the costs and time to securely deploy and manage Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Hyper-V, and Microsoft Office 2010 across your organization.

What can I do with it??? Identify and analyze web application and database readiness for migration to the Windows Azure platform.

FULL ARTICLE – Assess your environment for migration to Windows 7 with MAP 5.5

Security – AVG Update could be Dangerous – Windows Vista & Windows 7 Users

If you pay for or use the FREE version of AVG anti-virus – they have had issues with the current upgrade with systems running Vista and WIN7.   The upgrade deletes a very important file and your systems go into a Blue Screen – re-boot loop.

They (AVG) seems this is not the first time they have had issues with upgrades – A company this size with so many users should not be releasing upgrades which shut down  your systems.  Once burned OK, twice burned – I believe it’s time to move on and find another product.

If you have followed this BLOG you will have noticed that I am a user of Microsoft Security Essentials – this is another FREE anti-virus software that is light and works really well.  This would be great alternative to AVG or any paid service your using.  You can find the LINK to Microsoft product and others utilities @ my DOWNLOAD PAGE.

If you have been one of the unlucky people who did the upgrade and have not been able to fix your system yet, there are methods to do this which you can find in an article that ran this morning in DAILY TECH – AVG Update Cripples Users’ Windows 7, Vista Computers