dslreports logo
 story category
Vista SP1 May Be Available Tomorrow
Microsoft hasn't confirmed but reports seem confident

Windows Vista users have been waiting for months for the release of the first service pack which will hopefully improve their computer experience. They shouldn’t have to wait much longer as the rumor is that it will be released tomorrow.

What can be expected?

quote:
“Microsoft has said on numerous occasions that Vista SP 1 won't include a raft of new features, but will instead focus on fortifying the security, performance, and reliability of the OS.”
Microsoft hasn’t confirmed whether this is the final version of Vista SP1, saying only that they’ll be releasing that version within the first quarter of this year. They’ve also refused to comment on rumors that this week will also see the launch of Windows Server 2008, the first major update to their server software in over five years.

view:
topics flat nest 

Camelot One
MVM
join:2001-11-21
Bloomington, IN

1 recommendation

Camelot One

MVM

Improvements? Just fix the bugs for now!

I don't care about adding features, just fix the damn bugs!
Or just release DX10 for XP, that would make me even happier.

MysticGogeta
The Robot Devil
Premium Member
join:2005-03-14
Katy, TX

MysticGogeta

Premium Member

Re: Improvements? Just fix the bugs for now!

If they release DX10 I won't upgrade for at least a year. DX10 sucks.
ctggzg
Premium Member
join:2005-02-11
USA

1 recommendation

ctggzg

Premium Member

Re: Improvements? Just fix the bugs for now!

said by MysticGogeta:

If they release DX10 I won't upgrade for at least a year. DX10 sucks.
That didn't make any sense.

LSJ
@qwest.net

LSJ

Anon

Re: Improvements? Just fix the bugs for now!

It makes perfect sense. He won't upgrade because it has something that he doesn't want because the new version would be regarded as worse.
JDCMAN
join:2006-02-23
Somers, NY

JDCMAN to Camelot One

Member

to Camelot One
I haven't had that many bugs on my Vista x64 copy. File transfers are slower than XP (why???), but I hear that Vista SP1 fixes this.

Luckily, MS has said that SP1 is a bugfix/stability release, not a "oooh, new shiny buttons!" release

Matt3
All noise, no signal.
Premium Member
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

Matt3

Premium Member

Re: Improvements? Just fix the bugs for now!

said by JDCMAN:

I haven't had that many bugs on my Vista x64 copy. File transfers are slower than XP (why???), but I hear that Vista SP1 fixes this.

Luckily, MS has said that SP1 is a bugfix/stability release, not a "oooh, new shiny buttons!" release
I've been running the release candidate of SP1 on my copy of Vista x64 and it's a night and day difference. All the little stupid ass annoying bugs seem to have been taken care of.

Nhatters
join:2004-01-24
Oklahoma City, OK

Nhatters to JDCMAN

Member

to JDCMAN
Thank gosh! That was driving me crazy!

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

1 edit

FFH5 to Camelot One

Premium Member

to Camelot One
said by Camelot One:

I don't care about adding features, just fix the damn bugs!
Fixing bugs is number 1 on the list. And new FEATURES are virtually non-existent. But it does add support for MANY more devices than the original release did. And it also improves performance.

See a Microsoft Technet article here:
»technet2.microsoft.com/W ··· mfr=true

Summary of what is in SP1:
»www.techarp.com/showarti ··· 2&pgno=0

Airwolf
Premium Member
join:2001-10-30
Windsor, ON

2 edits

Airwolf

Premium Member

Excellent!

Ready, set and...

I'll let you finish this one yourself.

Too bad Microsoft won't allow you to slipstream it. Sucks, causes I guess there's a Hotfix in SP1 for SB600 and AHCI with the installation.
»support.microsoft.com/kb/931369
JDCMAN
join:2006-02-23
Somers, NY

JDCMAN

Member

Re: Excellent!

No slipstreaming? That's a major step backwards, I was definitely going to make a slipstreamed SP1 ISO for my Retail copy. That really, really, really sucks.

Maybe I'll have to get the 7 CD version in a few months when they deplete the "gold" stock and start sending out SP1 cds. I'd prefer an SP1 DVD, but the integrated installs are so much better...fewer bugs, don't have to download all of the updates, less issues, faster...
Done_Posting
Shoot to kill
Premium Member
join:2003-08-22
Toledo, OH

Done_Posting to Airwolf

Premium Member

to Airwolf
said by Airwolf:

Too bad Microsoft won't allow you to slipstream it. Sucks, causes I guess there's a Hotfix in SP1 for SB600 and AHCI with the installation.
»support.microsoft.com/kb/931369
Where did you hear that SP1 won't be capable of being slipstreamed? I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just curious where you got your information. I haven't seen anything about that yet (granted, I haven't been actively researching the subject either).

- Tate

redxii
Mod
join:2001-02-26
Michigan
Asus RT-AC3100
Buffalo WZR-HP-G300NH2

redxii

Mod

Re: Excellent!

"Slipstreaming" SP1 involves installing Windows XP/Vista on the first partition and installing some tools, then installing Vista again on another partition (other than the first/boot partition), and after setup immediately go into an audit mode (using sysprep) and then installing SP1, then afterwards finishing using the imagex tool in the other install to create a new install.wim from the contents of the "slipstreamed" partition. But this has a limitation: it can only be used for one edition. If you "slipstream" Home Basic, then you'll only be able to install Home Basic. vLite could use the SP1 package to slipstream an offline image, however, in the recent betas they took steps to prevent offline slipstreaming.

IMHO, installing Vista SP1 is a really time-consuming task unlike previous OSes.

There is also Office 2007 SP1. I argued that putting the SP1 setup file in a folder called "Updates" is NOT slipstreaming, and someone instead said it is but 'just not a method I'm used to'. That's a "post-setup task," the source files remain untouched without updated versions, and after setup, it runs the service pack setup.

So the last slipstreamable Office is 2003 and OS is Server 2003 and XP. Those service packs update the source files so you are installing XP SP2, not XP SP0 THEN SP2. As always Microsoft provides updated sources, but with Vista if you want it to work with all editions, you have to plop down hundreds of dollars and maybe thousands for an MSDN subscription. All for a DVD that costs maybe a dollar. Replacement media with SP1 may be as much as $30.
pommard
join:2002-01-05
Scarsdale, NY
Greenwave FiOS-G1100

pommard to Done_Posting

Member

to Done_Posting
If you do a search on "slipstream Vista sp1" You will get lots of hits that explain the no streaming. Here is one to get you started. »www.boxxet.com/Windows_V ··· 15v6ya.d
Done_Posting
Shoot to kill
Premium Member
join:2003-08-22
Toledo, OH

Done_Posting

Premium Member

Re: Excellent!

Thanks for the heads up. What a PITA! I'm a big fan of creating customized ISO's that take care of everything in one fell swoop. The last time I did that was with nLite and XP/SP2 though, so it sounds like it's time to start reading up again.

- Tate
JDCMAN
join:2006-02-23
Somers, NY

JDCMAN

Member

Release date optimistic?

I've heard a lot of great things about Vista SP1. I have a 64-bit version running on my home machine that works extremely well, file transfer ops are a bit slow, but I hear that SP1 improves that massively.

A Monday release seems a bit optimistic though. Wasn't Windows XP SP2 RTM'd on August 6th 2004, provided as a standalone update on August 9th, and distributed by Windows Update on the 16th?

It seems optimistic that Vista SP1 would appear tomorrow without a couple days notice for admins to get ready to test it and prevent any possible WSUS problems (if they don't want to update yet)...

Also, pirates beware. Many online copies of Vista that were no-key were actually not VLKs, they were fake emulated BIOS chips. Vista SP1 has countermeasures that disables many of these emulated chip copies.
gaforces (banned)
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
join:2002-04-07
Santa Cruz, CA

2 edits

gaforces (banned)

Member

Re: Release date optimistic?

If they release it tomorrow, it will be just for technet and OEM's, business partners, etc.
For the rest of us, if they release it, it will be on tuesday.
Go spinning Blue Donut! HAHAHAHA If you use Vista, you will get that.

Jeff
Connoisseur of leisurely things
Premium Member
join:2002-12-24
GMT -5

Jeff

Premium Member

Re: Release date optimistic?

said by gaforces:

If they release it tomorrow, it will be just for technet and OEM's, business partners, etc.
For the rest of us, if they release it, it will be on tuesday.
Go spinning Blue Donut! HAHAHAHA
That touches on my question---do you think it will be that fast? I have a few relatives with Vista, and I want to give them the heads up.

Do you think it will be released to Auto Updates/Windows Update that quickly? I want to give my relatives the heads up, but I don't want to let them know them too far in advance where they'll forget.
gaforces (banned)
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
join:2002-04-07
Santa Cruz, CA

1 edit

gaforces (banned)

Member

Re: Release date optimistic?

It's close to the originally announced release date, and MS usually makes their deadlines. I'd say it's a good chance but sometimes excrement happens and MS is not immune to it.
Just have to wait and see. I'm not telling my relatives and clients for a week or 2 after release to test it out myself first. I think most of em ignore the windows update notices anyways.

I really hope to see less of the spinning blue donut

jrobert69
How High?
Premium Member
join:2001-05-19
Las Vegas, NV

jrobert69 to gaforces

Premium Member

to gaforces
I like Vista 64 so dont get me wrong, sp1 update is good to hear and Ill get it as soon as its available. With a bit of sarcasm and genuine concern I wonder how long it will take to get the patch to fix the bugs in sp1
Insder
There never was a second I in my name
Premium Member
join:2005-04-27
Salem, MA

1 recommendation

Insder to JDCMAN

Premium Member

to JDCMAN
There's no fresh piracy protection. I've been running Vista under an emulated HP OEM Bios (worked wonders for WGA too :]). I installed the Beta of SP1 and my Vista was still activated with no issues. I expect the final will be the same.
dustman81
join:2002-05-28
united state

dustman81

Member

Re: Release date optimistic?

I don't think MS incorporated their anti-piracy measures on the betas of SP1 as they didn't want to see them become cracked even before SP1 was released.

The final version, by all the accounts I've been reading, is going to have the OEM BIOS crack disabled.
Insder
There never was a second I in my name
Premium Member
join:2005-04-27
Salem, MA

Insder

Premium Member

Re: Release date optimistic?

Could I possibly have a link to these accounts? AFAIK, I actually read they toned DOWN the anti-piracy measures (»blog.wired.com/monkeybit ··· k-1.html).

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

1 edit

FFH5 to JDCMAN

Premium Member

to JDCMAN
»www.informationweek.com/ ··· 06103605
Microsoft said Monday that it has released the first major update for its Windows Vista operating system to manufacturing, meaning the software will be ready for general distribution in the coming weeks.

Vista SP1 will be available in mid-March through Microsoft's online Windows Update service and through the download center on Microsoft.com.
»www.pcpro.co.uk/news/162 ··· k-1.html
Microsoft has announced that Vista Service Pack 1 has been released to manufacturing - but it's being held back from public release until mid-March.

Microsoft claims a series of driver issues is preventing the company from offering the Service Pack for download immediately.

As a result, Microsoft will now tweak Windows Update so that systems running the faulty drivers don't download Service Pack 1. "While we know that most customers who update from Windows Vista to SP1 will NOT be affected, our approach is to improve the experience for all our customers," says Nash.

"To do this, we will begin making SP1 available through Windows Update in mid-March, giving us time to work with some of our hardware partners to make adjustments to the installation process for the affected drivers."

Microsoft will then start delivering SP1 to Vista users running automatic updates in mid-April, but once again, those people with the faulty drivers will miss out. "As updates for these drivers become available, they will be installed automatically by Windows Update, which will unblock these systems from getting Service Pack 1.

crippy
Premium Member
join:2005-05-17
some place

crippy

Premium Member

cure to all problems ?? :o

i hope it comes out, ive been dying to get a new pc but just the thought of it coming with vista would keep me away from it.. as i really hate my laptop with vista on it... i hope this can be the cure to all the problems

Ben
Premium Member
join:2007-06-17
Fort Worth, TX

Ben

Premium Member

Re: cure to all problems ?? :o

said by crippy:

i hope it comes out, ive been dying to get a new pc but just the thought of it coming with vista would keep me away from it.. as i really hate my laptop with vista on it... i hope this can be the cure to all the problems
Why not just get a PC that has XP on it?

Thing is, you'd probably have to do it online. You won't be able to do it in places like Best Buy. Then again, I don't recommend going there to buy a PC anyway.
gworkman
join:2005-10-18
Las Vegas, NV

gworkman

Member

beta is available

I downloaded RC1 and it slowed my machine down considerably. I'm using Vista Home Premium as an HTPC. The PC ran fine with a couple of bugs. Hoping to remove the bugs, I went through the hour long process of "upgrading". The unit became very sluggish and couldn't do anything if it was recording a TV show.

Hope that RC1 is not the soon to be SP1
mobbo
join:2005-04-13
Denton, TX

mobbo

Member

Re: beta is available

Ditto. I installed RC1 and it added more bugs rather than fixed bugs. My wifi card in the laptop stopped working, file transfers were slower, etc.

Boogeyman
Drive it like you stole it
Premium Member
join:2002-12-17
Wasilla, AK

Boogeyman

Premium Member

Re: beta is available

I installed whatever version they had out a few weeks ago and it didnt cause any new problems that I have noticed. It did seriously speed up network transfers though. Went from an average of 3mbps to 10mbps.

What problems are you guys having so I know what to watch for?

Also, how much of a pain in the ass is it going to be to uninstall this one and install the official one?
mobbo
join:2005-04-13
Denton, TX

mobbo

Member

Re: beta is available

This is just my experience so I think it varies from person to person. I installed the RC1 version the day it came out. It wasn't until a few days later that my laptop just flat out refused to associate with wifi points. It was incredibly annoying because I was on the road trying to connect to the free wifi in my hotel room. I uninstalled RC1 through Add/Remove Programs, but had no luck. I had to FORMAT and start over fresh and my wireless worked again.
Done_Posting
Shoot to kill
Premium Member
join:2003-08-22
Toledo, OH

Done_Posting to Boogeyman

Premium Member

to Boogeyman
said by Boogeyman:

Went from an average of 3mbps to 10mbps.
Please confirm -- Did you mean Mbps or MB/s? 10 Mbps is horribly slow in terms of file tranfers within your LAN...

- Tate

Boogeyman
Drive it like you stole it
Premium Member
join:2002-12-17
Wasilla, AK

Boogeyman

Premium Member

Re: beta is available

Its MB/s. If it was mbps I would just burn it to a dvd and copy that to the other pc.
amungus
Premium Member
join:2004-11-26
America

1 recommendation

amungus

Premium Member

anyone know

...If they finally fixed the explorer bug where it never seems to remember your settings???

Drives me nuts to open up a folder and see huge icons when I specifically set it to small ones. Control panel especially. Bothersome to constantly have to change view settings from giant oversized icons, to small ones.

I'll still give it some time while others test it and provide feedback.

crippy
Premium Member
join:2005-05-17
some place

crippy

Premium Member

Re: anyone know

i wonder if they even care to check their own operating systems before releasing in the market sometimes _

SLD
Premium Member
join:2002-04-17
San Francisco, CA

1 edit

SLD

Premium Member

Server 2008 rumors?

That is a stupid concept. Why would MS not give an exact release date for the Server product since it is business software. Yeah, like MS is going to make all their business customers guess when the release will be rather than tell them exactly... No one could plan deployments. The source article gave the release date, not a rumor.
JoelC707
Premium Member
join:2002-07-09
Lanett, AL

JoelC707

Premium Member

Re: Server 2008 rumors?

Yeah, not only that, Microsoft's own website has a countdown timer on it for the launch event. The time is set to expire in 24 days or on the 27th which is the date mentioned in the article. »www.microsoft.com/window ··· ult.mspx

jgkolt
Premium Member
join:2004-02-21
Avon, OH

jgkolt

Premium Member

whoopty i a

I am still on XP and I dont feel like i am missing anything. I don't want to upgrade and have my computer run slower. If i wanted something like vista i would get ubuntu and byril for the aero style graphics.

Xavier
@cgocable.net

Xavier

Anon

Re: whoopty i a

vista what? who cares, I certianly don't... switched to mac and never been happier,
in a perfect world mac OSX would work on custom pcs,

David_
La vida es bella
join:2001-01-28
chile

David_

Member

Why can`t microsoft get it right the first time around...

This is Micro$oft we are talking about , Vista is the worst OS since windows ME. It`s probably better to expect for a SP2 or SP3 at least before even trying vista...

I wouldnt install vista again on any of my machines... just my 2 pesos...
Done_Posting
Shoot to kill
Premium Member
join:2003-08-22
Toledo, OH

Done_Posting

Premium Member

Re: Why can`t microsoft get it right the first time around...

said by David_:

This is Micro$oft we are talking about , Vista is the worst OS since windows ME. It`s probably better to expect for a SP2 or SP3 at least before even trying vista...

I wouldnt install vista again on any of my machines... just my 2 pesos...
I've been very pleased with Vista. It's worked flawlessly (aside from slow file transfers) on every machine I've used it on. Mind you, I'm a complete Linux fanboy (Suse and Fedora in particular). I certainly wouldn't pay the outrageous prices they're asking for it though.

- Tate

supergirl
join:2007-03-20
Pensacola, FL

supergirl to David_

Member

to David_
said by David_:

This is Micro$oft we are talking about , Vista is the worst OS since windows ME. It`s probably better to expect for a SP2 or SP3 at least before even trying vista...

I wouldnt install vista again on any of my machines... just my 2 pesos...
Vista sucks more than Hookers on the Point. Ugliest interface I ever saw when M$ sales came to demonstrate it. It booted in 3-5 minutes. I laughed and he knew we weren't buying it.

What's 10 billion Vista boxes at the bottom of the ocean? Well, environmentalists said, "Okay, just this once!"

Trooper
Premium Member
join:2005-05-18
USA

1 recommendation

Trooper

Premium Member

Sweet

Well I for one have had no problems with Vista, guess its just luck, or my hardware is digging it overall. I am looking forward to SP1 to see what improvements have been made.

As for comparing Vista to ME, hardly in my opinion.

Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY

Transmaster

Member

Well I have not

Seen anything yet to cause be to switch from XP. I know I will go to Vista eventually but I am in no hurry.

ARGONAUT
Have a nice day.
Premium Member
join:2006-01-24
New Albany, IN

ARGONAUT to Trooper

Premium Member

to Trooper

Re: Sweet

said by Trooper:

Well I for one have had no problems with Vista, guess its just luck, or my hardware is digging it overall. I am looking forward to SP1 to see what improvements have been made.

As for comparing Vista to ME, hardly in my opinion.
Same here, I'm not having any issues.

mikedz4
join:2003-04-14
Weirton, WV

mikedz4

Member

vista sucks a**

Winblows Vista is the worst thing Microsoft ever brought out, even worse than ME was!!! I had it on my computer for 4 months then had to take it off. It totally trashed my computer, I should have known when it wouldn't let me upgrade from xp then when it told me my ram was bad at bootup, that I was in a shitload of trouble.
OCP
Premium Member
join:2004-10-11
USA

OCP

Premium Member

OEM with SP1?

Does anyone have any guesses on how long it will take Newegg, ZZF and such to get the DVD with SP1 installed as one with the OS? I'm only concerned with the OEM disks.
lefty1
join:2002-10-25
Clay, NY

lefty1

Member

No improvement

Vista SP1 removes the 'Search' feature when you right-click on a drive or folder. That's gonna cause lots of problems for less-inexperienced users, and a pain-in-the-derriere for the rest. I know they did it to appease Google, but does anyone know how to put it back in? Is there a registry hack to fix it?

Dan48
Trailer Park Supervisor
Premium Member
join:2002-12-17
Eh?

Dan48

Premium Member

Bashing Vista

I honestly believe that those who are bashing vista have not used it for an extensive amount of time.

A. System is stable, has not crashed once on me.
B. Quick startup (30 seconds tops)
C. Compatible with everything i've installed (games to audio apps)? YES
D. HTPC integration is better than xp.

I have had enough people complaining every thread of ever ms related article about vista.

We get it, vista is not your flavour. All I have to say is between using XP for 5 years, then Vista, after 1 hour of setup, my settings are the same, no warning messages, as zippy as xp, and no limitations on programs.

I believe the Vista bashing a moot point, as people need about a month to adjust to a new system. It's just like getting a new razor. It takes time to get used to, but once you do it will perform as well, if not better.

••••••

BACONATOR26
Premium Member
join:2000-11-25
Nepean, ON

BACONATOR26

Premium Member

Server 2008 on TechNet

I can confirm, Windows Server 2008 Datacenter, Enterprise and Standard (64-bit) are now on TechNet.

Bill
Premium Member
join:2001-12-09

Bill

Premium Member

Re: Server 2008 on TechNet

Yep, seeing them on my MSDN account also.
nbicomputers
join:2002-03-31
Bronx, NY

nbicomputers

Member

today

i just checked with microsoft and sp1 has already been released to manufacturing RTM and will be in the general public in march
also as of today microsoft is shipping server 2008

phi
@currico.com.au

phi

Anon

s2008

server 2008 is released to OEM but the launch isn't until Feb 27, it's so they can pre-build the systems.