Microsoft starts pushing out Vista SP1

Microsoft said on Wednesday that it is beginning automatic distribution of Windows Vista Service Pack 1, the first major update to the year-and-a-half-old operating system.

The company finalized the Vista update in February, but has held off until now pushing it directly to individuals.

Starting Wednesday, the company will start sending it to Vista users who have Windows' automatic update feature turned on. However, the company cautioned that not everyone will get SP1 immediately.

"While Microsoft is beginning automatic distribution today, it's important to note that customers might not see the update download right away since Microsoft is distributing the service pack in phases to ensure a seamless download experience," the company said in a statement.

Vista SP1 was made available for download to customers last month. Service Pack 1 doesn't add much in the way of new features, but rather is a collection of changes designed to fix bugs and improve performance, as well as address competitive concerns raised by Google over Vista's desktop search system. Microsoft also changed how its antipiracy mechanism works with SP1.

The release of Vista SP1 via automatic update is the second milestone this week for the Windows team. On Monday, Microsoft announced it had finished work on Windows XP Service Pack 3. That product will be available for download next week, Microsoft said, but won't start being pushed out via automatic updates until summer.

[Renegade Knight]

SP1 No Problems Here

For whatever reason I was able to get SP1 on my laptop. No problems. The issues I was having before seemed to be a non issue wiht a fresh install and a fresh service pack. Vista is a tad faster or so it seems. I'm finally happy with my Vista install...after a year.

[ittesi259]

Glad it worked out for you

You seem confused you already have it.....did you get via automatic updates? Its been available for download manually from Windows Update for about 2 months.

[The_happy_switcher]

shitt pack one ready, huh?

Microsoft still trying to make this chrome plated turd float. It's an unmitigated disaster but go on promoting Vista because it's only going to help Apple stock.

[ittesi259]

Thanks for making us all look bad

Comments like this make the rest of us Apple users look really bad. We wonder why we get called elitist snobs, and stupid comments like this is why. So to everyone who uses a PC (I use both), allow me to apologize for this flaming comment, we're not all like that.