Microsoft was doing so well cleaning up their reputation post-Vista era until they released Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Even SANS Internet Storm Center has an article dedicated to identified issues with the service pack. Here is my advice:

Unless you have not installed the recent patches via Windows Update or are reinstalling from scratch, hold off on installing the Service Pack for Windows 7. Windows Server 2008 R2 users may find a few benefits to updating but as always BACKUP your data before installing the service pack!

If you are ignoring my advice and want to install the service pack there are a few things you should do before. First, backup all your data! Second, verify you do not have the hotfixes that Microsoft claims may block or cause the Service Pack install to fail: 2406705, 979350 or 983534

To determine if the hotfixes are installed there are two simple methods:

1. Go to the Windows Update pane (Start menu and type Windows Update) then click on View Update History.
2. Open a command prompt (Start menu and type cmd) then type:

• wmic qfe list full > patchlist.txt
• notepad patchlist.txt

If you do have any of those hot fixes installed. Follow these instructions.

Good luck,

Jorge Orchilles