Windows 7 SP1 - install after mobo drivers or before?

[alexb1]

Just building a Win7 Home Premium now and just built the OS and started Windows live and updated everything but didn't install SP1.

So far, I only had Windows live upgrade the video driver, no other motherboard driver is installed. Shall I install SP1 first, or the motherboard drivers first? or does it even matter?

Thanks

 

[Schadenfroh]

I typically install any service pack that might be available for the operating system first, before any other update or any drivers are installed. I do this with the offline install before connecting to the internet.

 

[Cerb]

If you have a choice (IE, you don't need HDD, LAN, etc., drivers, just to get things going), it doesn't matter. While there is that, there really isn't any major downside to letting Windows Update get drivers and all, as they might be newer and better than you'd have around, anyway.

It's generally easiest to let Windows Update do as much work as possible, and then just fill in any gaps, since it will get updated drivers as optional updates. Manually installing SP1 will be faster, of course (especially if you disable system restore, until you're done with the initial setup).

Also, Windows Live? All you need to be worried about, until you have updates and drivers all in, is Windows Update. Whatever you use Live for can wait until you are fully patched.

 

[alexb1]

If you have a choice (IE, you don't need HDD, LAN, etc., drivers, just to get things going), it doesn't matter. While there is that, there really isn't any major downside to letting Windows Update get drivers and all, as they might be newer and better than you'd have around, anyway.

It's generally easiest to let Windows Update do as much work as possible, and then just fill in any gaps, since it will get updated drivers as optional updates. Manually installing SP1 will be faster, of course (especially if you disable system restore, until you're done with the initial setup).

Also, Windows Live? All you need to be worried about, until you have updates and drivers all in, is Windows Update. Whatever you use Live for can wait until you are fully patched.

Most things are working fine without specific MSI drivers, so I guess I'm fine to just update before drivers.

By Windows Live Update I meant Windows Update. I've done all of the updates available so far, apart from (1) Win7 SP1, (2) IE 9.0. Shall I disable system restore while doing the next updates? If so, why?

Also, my motherboard is an MSI 890FX with AMD 850 chipset. Shall I use CD drivers first, or just get the latest AMD/ATI Catalyst drivers off AMD website? Also, for other drivers, shall I just have Windows update do it? or go directly to the mobo website for latest?

 

[Cerb]

I've done all of the updates available so far, apart from (1) Win7 SP1, (2) IE 9.0. Shall I disable system restore while doing the next updates? If so, why?

If you're that far along, nah. The reason is to save a few minutes on the total install and setup time.

Also, my motherboard is an MSI 890FX with AMD 850 chipset. Shall I use CD drivers first, or just get the latest AMD/ATI Catalyst drivers off AMD website? Also, for other drivers, shall I just have Windows update do it? or go directly to the mobo website for latest?

Get the latest from AMD, for the video, unless Windows Update also gave you the CCC (I don't remember if it does or not). Unless there's a problem, there's very little reason to get drivers for much else...though apparently there are some repeatable SATA issues, too, I believe involving using WMC for playing back certain kinds of video (there's a long thread about it, somewhere on AT).

Windows 7 is still new enough to need fairly few added drivers. If it follows other Windows OSes, this situation may be very different for new HW in 4-5 years.

 

[JackMDS]

To be safe I install every thing as is, and only when every thing is working run the SP1.