No service pack 2 for Windows 7

[WildW]

that is more work than just installing SP1 after OS install, and then let windows update take care of the rest.

Indeed. Maybe, you know, Microsoft could just do that; roll up the patches into one download so I only have to download them once instead of every time I reinstall. Would save them bandwidth.

Last reinstall of Win 7 I did there were 100 important updates after I'd applied SP1, I think it was about 400MB. A downloadable update roll-up would be great.

 

[tcsenter]

that is more work than just installing SP1 after OS install, and then let windows update take care of the rest.

But less work than doing your way 20+ times.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Do we even need another service pack? Other than rolling up updates I'm not sure what purpose a SP2 would serve.

Meanwhile business customers would be elated to not have another SP. Service packs break their precariously programmed software, and their vendors aren't about to support a new service pack any time soon.

Windows service packs are generally just compilations of patches released since the last service pack, most of which the majority of companies are probably installing via patch management utilities anyway. So the argument that a service pack "might break x, y, or z" may not be the best argument since you figure most of these patches are getting applied anyway.

On the other hand, sometimes service packs DO contain new functionality (like Windows XP SP2) which was not included in a previous patch and those can cause quite a bit of issues. It is clear that MS won't be adding features to Windows 7 via SPs in the future, so I really don't know what harm it would do do release a cumulative patch update once per year even if they don't want to call it a "service pack."

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Service packs are supposed to be just a big roll up of updates so that you don't have to install 200 disparate updates. And if MS was doing their jobs right an SP would never break any apps because it would just be security updates with no other changes or features.

Exactly. And since most admins are probably applying the individual patches as they come out via patch management utilities anyway, what harm would it do to Microsoft to release a cumulative patch update once per year or so?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Corporations may not want to move to win 8 given the touch oriented UI. Therefore, win 8 sp1 may not be needed.

I would wager that not only will SP1 be released and arrive relatively soon, but SP1 will contain a utility to restore the Windows 7 interface (ala the $5 Stardock utility).

 

[dagamer34]

I'm sure Win 8 will get 1 service pack, and it will be fairly early on in its life. There are a number of companies that have unofficial policies about not upgrading until at least SP1 of some Windows release. So there will probably always be at least one service pack, but only one.

Windows 8 won't be getting any service packs. They've already released a major update with fixes that would have been reserved for a service pack. My strong guess is we are moving to yearly paid Windows updates in some fashion. Xbox Live started out that way. Office is moving that way. Only a matter of time until Windows comes along for the ride. And the obvious reason for this is that the WinRT API is young and needs iteration as there's no way it can stay unupdated and stagnant for years. The days of waiting 3 years for a major Windows release are gone.

 

[dagamer34]

Exactly. And since most admins are probably applying the individual patches as they come out via patch management utilities anyway, what harm would it do to Microsoft to release a cumulative patch update once per year or so?

They spend a ton of resources over several months to develop a service pack from testing update paths to making sure the system image itself is stable. It's resources that would honestly be better saved for actual development of new versions (which would inevitably would include fixes anyway).

I mean, if you're going to be mucking around with core parts of the OS, you might as well add new features while you're at it. The testing cycle is the same anyway.

 

[Anubis]

What Microsoft says now isn't even worth printing, much less worth reading.

Wait 12-24 months from now and look at the presence of Win8 at the enterprise level. That is what will determine whether Win7 gets another service pack. If the enterprise-level customers demand SP2 for Windows 7, Ballmer will bend over so fast to accomodate them that he'll tear something and end up in traction.

we just rolled out win 7 6 months ago
win 8 is a decade away