Windows 7 installation nightmares: should you wait until SP1?

Windows 7 was to be the perfect OS, but enterprises may want to proceed cautiously

Last week, Gartner declared that enterprises needn't wait for Windows 7 SP1. But over the weekend, the Microsoft help forums were flooded with questions and complaints from users having installation problems. Two were most reported by the press: an issue that caused some computers to continuously reboot and an issue that made the operating system refuse to acknowledge the product key from software purchased from big-name retailers. It all adds up to the big question for enterprises -- should you wait for SP1 before even contemplating a Windows 7 cutover?

I had previously assumed the answer would be, no. Windows 7 is really an upgrade to Vista and even so, seemed to be the most tested desktop operating system Microsoft ever produced. Microsoft issued I-don't-know-how-many beta versions to thousands upon thousands of users. Plus, the Gartner analyst who said there was no need to wait for SP1 points out that Microsoft now rolls out continuous software updates.

Microsoft says that most of these installation problems are isolated instances. Let's point out, too, that most of the problems being reported by users are from consumer-oriented editions such as Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit. Here's one example: On Monday, a user named RonF57 posted a message to a Windows 7 support forum saying that he was attempting to install Windows 7 Ultimate on a newly built PC.

"By the time the [Microsoft] tech finished 'suggesting' i no loner had a functioning windows 7 ultimate machine...and i began a process of trying to get windows 7 to reinstall. Unfortunately, the installation STOPS at a blank screen with the cursor arrow it and nothing further happens. I have been getting this no matter what size partitio i try to install to and have even tried other hard drives. Something is wrong with Windows 7 installation. I have had no issues with any of the beta or RC installs on other systems or testing W7. This is the first new system install i have done with W7 and it is from the Signature edition DVD, both 32bit and 64 bit have this issue on my machine. This is unacceptable."

To be sure, most companies are not expected to roll out Windows 7 for a 12-18 months, about the time we can expect Microsoft to be at least talking about SP1, if not already confirming a release date.

But if you were planning on leading your company into early adoption, based on your lab tests of Windows 7 beta versions, looks like a dose of caution wouldn't hurt.

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• Microsoft
• Windows 7
• Windows 7 SP1