Microsoft starts Vista SP1 auto delivery

[Noreen]

Pasted from another forum.

Users who have Windows Update (WU) set to automatically download and install important patches, hotfixes and other updates will start receiving SP1 beginning Wednesday, a Microsoft spokeswoman said in an e-mail. "Today Microsoft will begin automatic distribution of SP1," she said. "This means that users with the Automatic Update feature turned on will automatically download SP1 to their PCs."

Not everyone will be offered the update immediately, however, because Microsoft is distributing SP1 in phases, a common practice when it rolls out a major upgrade via its online update service. It is also limiting the automatic delivery to English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish versions of the operating system.

Although Microsoft released the other 31 language packs last week, it will wait until the middle of next month before it adds them to Windows Update automatic distribution, said Chris Flores of the Windows client communications team, in a post to the Vista blog today.

Microsoft had posted Vista SP1 to Windows Update more than five weeks ago, but made the download optional; users had to aim a browser at the WU site and manually select SP1. At the time, the company said it would begin serving SP1 automatically in "mid-April."

Even after today's announcement, however, some Vista users may not see SP1 for weeks or even months because their PCs are using defective device drivers that Microsoft says may cause problems during an upgrade. It is blocking systems with those drivers from obtaining SP1 until the drivers themselves have been updated.

Flores alluded to the delay in his post. "Automatic distribution will only occur, according to user settings, on PCs ready for SP1," he said, and linked to a support document that spells out seven different reasons, including the balky drivers, why some users won't be offered the service pack.

Users can obtain SP1 by downloading a much larger standalone installer from Microsoft's site if the service pack is not visible in Windows Update.

[Rik]

Just when you thought you were safe, Noreen.

[Noreen]

Computer came with it already installed, Rik.

[Rik]

I much prefer it when the manufacturer has sorted an SP.

[Noreen]

I think that that is probably why my Vista appears to be fast and doesn't seem to have the various problems that other Vista people have complained about, I've really nothing to complain about and I like Vista.

[Rik]

I'm sure you're right.

[madasahatter]

I'm looking forward to this - should be fun 

[Noreen]

Do you like Vista, Mad?

[Sebby]

I like Vista, it was just terribly slow on my PC.

I actually downloaded the full 430MB file last night for one of our Vista PCs. No problems at all.

[Simon]

On my laptop, the mousepad buttons stop working after each major WU, so heaven knows what this will do to it, knowing my luck!

[Sebby]

[Steve]

I wonder if the version of SP1 thats been available for the last month or so as an optional update will be the same as the automatic version? Paranoia suggests  I've been beta testing

[Sebby]

No doubt there'll be rumours flying around, but I don't think Microsoft would get away with it; someone be able to tell, surely?

[Lance]

i think i'll leave off this for a while, as my machine runs fine, and i need it for the next 4 weeks until i finish my exams! Don't want to mess it up!

[Gary]

i think i'll leave off this for a while, as my machine runs fine, and i need it for the next 4 weeks until i finish my exams! Don't want to mess it up!

I downloaded SP1 Lance, no troubles with it at all, I did a chkdsk before and after and it took about 30mins ish from start to finish to install, no issues whatsoever thankfully, must admit I Really like vista and I was a real stick to XP type. The download was about 66 MB for my setup on Home Premium 

[Noreen]

This link shows the various improvements the download make to Vista. http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/005f921e-f706-401e-abb5-eec42ea0a03e1033.mspx?mfr=true

[madasahatter]

Do you like Vista, Mad?

Yeah I do Noreen - I'm not sure I understand the hatred that some peeps have for it tbh. It does everything that I want it to do very well, and I haven't found it slow to run at all.

Must admit that the screen going dark and the "are you sure you really want to do this" warnings get a little tiresome if you are updating/ installing a lot of things at once, but thats about it really. The one thing i would like to see is the ability to turn this off, but I haven't found a way to do it yet.

Apart from that, I think Vista is great 

[Gary]

Yeah I do Noreen - I'm not sure I understand the hatred that some peeps have for it tbh. It does everything that I want it to do very well, and I haven't found it slow to run at all.

Must admit that the screen going dark and the "are you sure you really want to do this" warnings get a little tiresome if you are updating/ installing a lot of things at once, but thats about it really. The one thing i would like to see is the ability to turn this off, but I haven't found a way to do it yet.

Apart from that, I think Vista is great 

You can turn turn UAC off but you lose some protection Mad, as you run as admin all the time which defeats the point really, I have got used to it, and as you said it does all what I need and fast what's your WEI score? If you don't mind me asking

[Niall]

I've turned that off as it reduces the time wasted when you could be doing something else. Plus it annoyed me immensely.

On a service pack note, what's the deal with XP SP3? I thought they'd released that, but I can't find it on the M$ site to download, or on the update page. There is a release candidate there, but no finished product that I can see. I've checked with both my laptop, and my mums PC (neither of which use auto update as I'm the network monkey in my house) and neither see any service pack available to download 

[Gary]

I've turned that off as it reduces the time wasted when you could be doing something else. Plus it annoyed me immensely.

On a service pack note, what's the deal with XP SP3? I thought they'd released that, but I can't find it on the M$ site to download, or on the update page. There is a release candidate there, but no finished product that I can see. I've checked with both my laptop, and my mums PC (neither of which use auto update as I'm the network monkey in my house) and neither see any service pack available to download 

29th for XP Nail, I believe

[Sebby]

On a service pack note, what's the deal with XP SP3? I thought they'd released that, but I can't find it on the M$ site to download, or on the update page. There is a release candidate there, but no finished product that I can see. I've checked with both my laptop, and my mums PC (neither of which use auto update as I'm the network monkey in my house) and neither see any service pack available to download 

It was released to manufacturing on 21 April, and will be available on Windows Update and through the Download Centre on 29 April.

[Niall]

Oh right. Strange. I've always managed to get my hands on a copy of the pack as soon as it's released in the past.

[Noreen]

You can turn turn UAC off but you lose some protection Mad, as you run as admin all the time which defeats the point really, I have got used to it, and as you said it does all what I need and fast what's your WEI score? If you don't mind me asking

My WEI score is 4.2.

Turn off annoying prompts
Vista added the A Program Needs Your Permission to Continue prompt to help prevent you from inadvertently installing malware or making unauthorized changes to your computer. It's annoying to see that dialog box constantly pop up. If you're computer savvy, you can turn it off by deactivating User Account Control in the User Accounts Control Panel.

[Gary]

My WEI score is 4.2.

Thats pretty good Noreen, what was your lowest score then, graphics or ram? Mines 5.7

[Noreen]

Processor            5.3
Memory (RAM)      5.1
Graphics              4.2
Gaming Graphics    4.2
Primary Hard Disk   5.1

[Gary]

Processor 5.7
Memory (RAM) 5.7
Graphics 5.9
Gaming graphics 5.9
Primary hard disc 5.7

[Noreen]

 

[madasahatter]

what's your WEI score? If you don't mind me asking

Don't know off hand - I'll have a look later when I'm on my lappy 

[madasahatter]

Right - I need to bow to you both 

WEI is 3. It's 4.5 on everything but graphics and gaming graphics - they are both 3.

Darn it

[Steve]

Bragging now!!! WEI 5.9
I think that's the max number at present,not bad for home made.

[Niall]

Bragging now!!! WEI 5.9
I think that's the max number at present,not bad for home made.

Home built PCs are generally better than store bought ones, as you get to pick and choose specific parts. With store bought you get a general build and it can be bottlenecked in places. DIY with PCs is the best way to go, and is often cheaper.

[Inactive]

DIY with PCs is the best way to go, and is often cheaper.

Unless of course your name starts with an S and ends with an n.. 

[Rik]

And has the 9th, 13th and 15th letters of the alphabet as well. 

[Inactive]

Wot like imo?

[Rik]

That would definitely be correct, imo.

[Steve]

IMO vista sp1 has speeded up the whole vista experience especially copying, unzipping and shut down its a very smooth OS now

[Inactive]

That would definitely be correct, imo.

Long time since we've had a good groan..

[Rik]

It's Friday.

[Inactive]

IMO vista sp1 has speeded up the whole vista experience especially copying, unzipping and shut down its a very smooth OS now

Sounds about right Steve, MS issue a new OS, take about a year or so to get it right, then issue it's replacement.

[Inactive]

It's Friday.

Not TFIF, for us though Rik.

Just another day.

[Sebby]

IMO vista sp1 has speeded up the whole vista experience especially copying, unzipping and shut down its a very smooth OS now

It's comments like these that make me want to give Vista another go, but I must resist.

[Rik]

Just another day.

Sounds like a song title, In.

[Rik]

It's comments like these that make me want to give Vista another go, but I must resist.

Give in, Sebby, You're young, live dangerously.

[Sebby]

I guess installing Vista could be classed as living dangerously!

[Rik]

It is to me.

[Inactive]

I am still not going to pay MS for an OS that has no significant improvements over XP, and is resource hungry.

[Sebby]

I sold my copy of Vista and I can't see myself buying it again just to give it a go. I have got a disc from another Vista PC, so I could install it as an evaluation. The biggest problem I found with Vista was that it's quick for a month or so, then the performance declines.

[Rik]

All PCs do that.

[Sebby]

Of course they do, but I'm not just talking about the expected disc fragmentation, redundant files/registry entries, I'm talking a grind to a halt!

[Rik]

There's also perception, of course.

[Sebby]

True. I think that's a good point. But I do know that when I had Vista, I couldn't quickly boot the computer to check something like I can with XP.

[Rik]

Easy solution, Sebby - never turn the machine off. 

[Steve]

It does at times appear to be very busy doing something that I've not instructed it to do. But at present boot and shutdown is far quicker on the laptop with vista than xp pro but there again there is far less dross on it at the moment

[Sebby]

Easy solution, Sebby - never turn the machine off. 

I couldn't possibly do that.

[Noreen]

Anyone else use the sidebar Gadgets in Vista, if so which do you use? I've a clock, London weather forecast and RSS feed from IDNet.

[Simon]

I use to have the clock and calendar, but have got rid of it, because I prefer the space on the desktop, and found the Gadgets of little use.

Going back a few posts, my WEI is 3.1. 

[Steve]

I use the met office,sky news, core and ram activity and network rail

WEI 3.1 Is that a laptop without a dedicated 3d graphics card i.e intel GMA

[Simon]

WEI 3.1 Is that a laptop without a dedicated 3d graphics card i.e intel GMA

Yes, it's an out-of-the-box Acer.

[Captain K]

I've discovered a problem, and a solution, arising from a conflict with Vista SP1 and Kaspersky Internet Security.

On some PC's with KIS installed, after installing SP1 the switch-user function fails to work.  The profile which is switched to fails to load properly.

A quick bit of googling reveals that the solution is to disable registry guard in KIS.  Do that, and everything returns to normal.

[madasahatter]

well - just updated my desktop with Vista SP1. Took about 30 minutes all in all. All looks fine so far 

[Rik]

Of course, nothings works anymore - but it looks great.

[madasahatter]

Of course, nothings works anymore - but it looks great.

[Sebby]

Of course, nothings works anymore - but it looks great.

So true, Rik.

[madasahatter]

You're both very naughty peeps - have to call Jill to sort you out 

[Sebby]

[madasahatter]

Coward!! 

[Rik]

No, a coward runs.

[Sebby]

[madasahatter]

No, a coward runs.

Ah, but would he dare turn his back to run if he knew that Jill was after him? Not sure I would 

[Rik]

If Jill was after me, I'd turn and face it like a man - provided I knew what it she had in mind.

[madasahatter]

If Jill was after me, I'd turn and face it like a man - provided I knew what it she had in mind.

So often the problem with women - not having a clue what's on their mind 

[Simon]

Oooh, dare I turn on my Vista laptop?   

[Sebby]

Oooh, dare I turn on my Vista laptop?  

If you do, make sure there's an XP disc in the drive.

[Simon]

[Gary]

I use the side bar gadgets having a wide screen monitor it really dows not take up much room for me, I like the clock the calender and the drag and drop for nero

[Sebby]

I use the side bar gadgets having a wide screen monitor it really dows not take up much room for me, I like the clock the calender and the drag and drop for nero

I do really like the Vista sidebar; whilst some gadgets are quite gimmicky, there are really useful ones out there.

[Noreen]

I have a clock, weather forecast and IDNet usage.

[madasahatter]

Oooh, dare I turn on my Vista laptop?   

Go for it Simon - you know you want to 

My PC hasn't blown up yet, so it can't be all bad 

[Simon]

Tomorrow...   

[TheMonkey]

Anyone else use the sidebar Gadgets in Vista, if so which do you use? I've a clock, London weather forecast and RSS feed from IDNet.

there is a nifty gadget that checks your temps using speedfan and also whats happening with your CPU.

should be this. can't bring up the link at work sorry 

http://gallery.live.com/liveItemDetail.aspx?li=4ab1983d-932d-471c-bff3-9c6daf6c75f0

[Gary]

there is a nifty gadget that checks your temps using speedfan and also whats happening with your CPU.

should be this. can't bring up the link at work sorry 

http://gallery.live.com/liveItemDetail.aspx?li=4ab1983d-932d-471c-bff3-9c6daf6c75f0

Some of the CPU and fan monitoring sidebar gagets use a lot of memory alas, the basic cpu monitor in vista is a good example of a resource hog