Microsoft: Vista SP1 ready for download
Well, Amazon was at least half right. As the retailer predicted, Microsoft did make Windows Vista Service Pack 1 available for download on Tuesday via Windows Update and on its Web site.
Still unclear is when it will start being available on retail shelves. Amazon said it will start shipping boxed copies with SP1 included on Wednesday, while Microsoft said it will be at retailers "as soon as April." I've asked for further clarification on the disparity, but have yet to hear back.
Meanwhile, in a posting on the Windows Vista blog, Microsoft also went into a little more detail on a previously disclosed driver problem that may prevent some drivers that work in Windows Vista from working with Service Pack 1. Microsoft also posted a list of potentially problematic drivers.
Microsoft said some drivers have already been updated to fix the incompatibility.
"We're working with the providers of the remaining devices to get updated versions of the drivers to our customers as well," Microsoft product manager Nick White said on the Vista blog. "In the meantime, Windows Update will recognize PCs with drivers that may be problematic and postpone offering SP1 to those PCs until it has installed corrected drivers or other applicable updates. Either way, Windows Update works to detect whether or not your system is ready for SP1 and not offer it to you until the time is right."
So, you may or may not be able to get SP1 starting today. For those whose systems are able to get SP1, the update is available in five languages: English, French, Spanish, German, and Japanese.
As for other means of getting SP1, Microsoft plans to start pushing out Service Pack 1 next month to Vista users who have automatic updates turned on. As for when new PCs will start carrying it, that is still a bit unclear, with Microsoft noting that it takes time for PC makers to update their assembly lines, but also saying they can use the new code "when they are ready." Microsoft finalized Vista Service Pack 1 back in February.
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina. 
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Beginning today, customers can get Windows Vista SP1 in English, French, German, Spanish, and Japanese by visiting Windows Update or the Microsoft Download Center. Windows Vista SP1 will be available in the remaining 31 languages beginning in April.
For those of you eager to receive the benefits of Windows Vista SP1 - you can now do so! We've seen quite a bit of questions in our comments so we want to communicate as much as possible surrounding Windows Vista SP1 and today's release to Windows Update as we can.
For those of you happy to wait - sit tight because SP1 will start downloading to PCs automatically beginning in mid-April (Remember, this happens only if you have your Windows Update configured to automatically download updates and SP1 will automatically download but not automatically install). But if you want to get the benefit of a year's worth of improvements right now, go check Windows Update today...(Click the Start Menu, All Programs, and select Windows Update).
* MSFT fanbois and astroturfers will proclaim that the SP makes their machines faster than XP and/or anything else on the planet.
* Meanwhile, tech reports from independent sources will show that it's pretty much a wash, and still slower than XP on equivalent hardware (and pretty much anything else).
* Some bugs will be squashed, new ones will appear, but... we'll be treated to glowing reviews by the Astroturf crowd that not only did all bugs go away, but that Vista is suddenly just as safe and secure as its competition.
* Reality will flatten the preceding prediction's proclamations squarely, followed by fervent denials.
More to come...
/P
Try flipping the record over dude, your needle is getting worn out with the tired, same old story.
Why on earth do I have to click (literally!) eight clicks into Microsoft's website to get this update? And why didn't you link to it here?
x86 Version:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b0c7136d-5ebb-413b-89c9-cb3d06d12674&DisplayLang=en
64bit Version:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=874a414b-32b2-41cc-bd8b-d71eda5ec07c&DisplayLang=en
http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/3/b/83b8c814-b000-44a4-b667-8c1f58727b8b/Windows6.0-KB936330-X64-wave0.exe
In common language, keep your mouth shut if you have no personal experience.
This was one of the biggest gripes with Vista beside it being bloated and non compelling to upgrade to.
So it is supposed to provide an increment of speed improvement. I kind of look at that like the retailers that sell merchandise for more that it's worth and then make a big deal when they have a sale...It's still not a good deal as Vista is not a Compelling upgrade.
For granny and grandpa they would probably love it but for the computer enthusiest it just doesn't make the cut.
if you have conflicting drivers and will no allow you to download or
install sp1 until those drivers are replaced with compatible drivers.
So some people won't even know the update is available until mid
year, were the proper drivers are posted and downloaded
automatically.
- Vista SP1 Really Slow....
- by grabacontroller March 19, 2008 2:56 PM PDT
- I have noticed a downgrade in performance when I first use SP1 and I had to use ccleaner to fix it! It wouldn't get past the 3rd stage...so I shut the computer off and turned it back on to make it past stage 3....
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