Thanks Paul,
That helped to get SP1 installed, but still cannot instal Silverlight 5.
A two pipe problem I think.
Cheers
Ian K
"Paul" wrote in message
I have never been able to load SP1, and never found it a problem, but now,
I am
unable to load Silverlight 5, needed to watch BT sport.
64 bit. Have tried all the simple remedy's I've found on the net.
Anybody have a simple solution to this, or shall I speak to microsoft here
in the UK?
Cheers
Ian K
Tech support for Service Packs, used to be free. (The Microsoft person
answering the phone, should not need a credit card number.) This
usually applies for a limited period of time, from the release
date of the Service Pack. Like, for a year or so, after
the Service Pack is released. It usually pays to resolve the
Service Pack issue, soon after it is released.
It isn't always possible to do that, such as if you bought
Windows 7 after that date. But by that time, the installer
DVD would be patched to SP1 anyway, and so there would
be no issue getting there.
One way to do it, would be to repair install using an SP1 DVD.
The sevenforum site, the last time I checked, they didn't
recommend a "slipstreamed" DVD, which is what we used to use
for an OS like WinXP. It must be a "real" installer DVD.
Fortunately, those are available for download from
DigitalRiver (an e-tailer selling the Windows OS electronically).
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html
Examples of DVDs I downloaded, would be
X17-24208.iso - Windows 7 Home Premium x86 SP1 <--- 32 bit
X17-24209.iso - Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1 <--- 64 bit
First one is 2,563,039,232 byte
Second one is 3,319,478,272 bytes
I've used the license key off the COA on my laptop, popped
24208 into a virtual machine, and the license key was accepted.
(Tested with computer network disconnected, so activation not tested.)
I had to test the 32 bit one, since my VM environment happens
to not accept 64 bit stuff.
So if I ever need to do a repair install (which creates a large
Windows.old folder), I can now do that. This might be an option
of last resort, due to the size. I have both DVDs here, in case
I need a 32 bit version of bootsect.exe for example. Even though
my laptop has a 64 bit OS install (check System control panel
for details).
If you look for those in Google, you'll get more info, such
as they're Home Premium, one is 32 bit, one is 64 bit, and you
want the one that matches your installation.
Before running the SP1 installation (like say, if you
downloaded SP1 as a separate .exe file), you can run
SURCheck. That checks the store for certain issues.
It's not exactly "SFC /scannow", but it's a check
they recommended in some cases, where the user had
trouble installing the .exe.
"System Update Readiness Tool fixes Windows Update errors in Windows 7"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821
All supported x86-based versions of Windows 7 <--- 32 bit
All supported x64-based versions of Windows 7 <--- 64 bit
You can then try the SP1 installer directly. One is 900MB,
the other 500MB, and perhaps about nine times as much download
as you'd get over Windows Update. But sometimes installing
this directly works (for people with downloader issues).
There were a few people, who had repeated failures via
Windows Update ~100MB worth of files.
"Win7 SP1 .exe installer, select your language first..."
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5842
windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe 537.8 MB <--- 32 bit
windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe 903.2 MB <--- 64 bit
Those aren't complete OS installers, they're just the
Service Pack SP1, for installation over top of the original
Win7 install. Doing an installation via an .exe, avoids
the busted Windows Update system, at least to a point.
Things could still be damaged in the Windows file "store",
causing the .exe to fail and back out the installation.
On rare occasions, the installation claims to have finished,
the computer reboots, and all hell breaks loose. Which is
why you make a backup of C: before beginning this (with
System Image is good).
So your trial route might be:
Run a System Image, back up SYSTEM RESERVED and C: ... Safety first.
SUR Check (in case your Windows Update is cooked)
windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe 903.2 NB (for a 64 bit OS)
Repair install with X17-24209.iso 3.3GB (digitalriver)
If the third line there works for you, then the fourth line
is still good to have in your file collection, for making
your emergency re-installation disc. If an SP2 comes
out some day, you'd want to collect that DVD as well.
There is no sign that will happen.
Some software installers want .NET 4.0 for no particular
good reason, and that has SP1 as a requirement. And that's
how the software industry, helps Microsoft get SP1 into
every machine. For you to have a good, working OS, you
don't have a lot of choices after a while.
HTH,
Paul
