Travel Technology - Vista SP1 is now available

Full download here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b0c7136d-5ebb-413b-89c9-cb3d06d12674&DisplayLang=en

This is the complete SP1 update, i.e. it contains many hotpatches and fixes that were included in the incremental updates. SP1 is supposed to be available later today via Windows Update, and this will be a smaller download, as it will be customized to the downloading computer's installation.

You mean it's available to the general public :)

It was available through Technet a month ago. It has fixed quite a few things, but there are still a few loose ends they need to sort out...

You mean it's available to the general public :)

It was available through Technet a month ago. It has fixed quite a few things, but there are still a few loose ends they need to sort out...Indeed. :)

Also, I'd recommend that, before installing SP1, everyone do a full backup of their computers . . . just in case. ;)

I've just installed the SP1 update. Installation was without any problems and completely automatic. It did, however, take nearly an hour and involved several reboots. However, I'm now running my Vaio SZ440 with Vista Business SP1. It's too early to say whether this will fix some of the weird bugs I've experienced over the last year. Time will tell.

Is it any faster? I'm happily on XP Pro on my previously Vista Business equipped laptop.

Is it any faster? I'm happily on XP Pro on my previously Vista Business equipped laptop.It's hard to tell, but most reports that I've read said any speed increase in SP1 is relatively nominal. I've been quite happy with the speed of my laptop, with the exception of the copy function. I'll have to try it to see if that's been improved.

PTravel,
Thanks for the heads-up about SP1 update. Just downloaded and installed. Boy, it took about 35-40 minutes to simply get it installed! Seem like eternity!
Hope it solves the USB problem that I currently experiencing.
To me, Vista has been buggy, compared to XP.

Is it any faster? I'm happily on XP Pro on my previously Vista Business equipped laptop.

I wouldn't expect it to be. The only major speed improvement that I can think of that they supposedly addressed was the issue with copying to a Windows server. Most of the generic "it is slower" stuff won't change. The OS is a bigger resource hog and there isn't much that the SP is going to change there.

I installed it via windows update, took me aprox 15 Min.

Greetz

The network copy is what is said to be faster. Just got my invitation to update.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080318.wgtvista0318/BNStory/Technology/home

......
Hope it solves the USB problem that I currently experiencing.


My USB problem is now history. Not sure if it was SP1 that did it. But I am happy that my system is healthy again. Thanks.

Ok quick question. When I do the auto update through microsoft, it doesn't give me the option to download and install SP1. The link above takes you to a page where you can download it BUT it says not for install on a single computer.

How do I get SP1? I would like to get rid of some of the quirks which this allegedly fixes.

Ok quick question. When I do the auto update through microsoft, it doesn't give me the option to download and install SP1. The link above takes you to a page where you can download it BUT it says not for install on a single computer.

How do I get SP1? I would like to get rid of some of the quirks which this allegedly fixes.

Did you try the link in the first message? It takes you right to a download page.

Did you try the link in the first message? It takes you right to a download page.

Yes I did and that is where I found the message that the download is not for single computers, hence my question.

Yes I did and that is where I found the message that the download is not for single computers, hence my question.

It's just their way of saying they'd prefer you download the one through Windows Update since it only sends you the parts you really need.

The large one linked to will work just fine for you.

It's just their way of saying they'd prefer you download the one through Windows Update since it only sends you the parts you really need.

The large one linked to will work just fine for you.

Thank you.

If SP1 isn't offered to you as an update, it is because the update software detected incompatible drivers. On my Vaio SZ there are supposedly incompatible drivers. However, I just downloaded the entire update package and installed it -- everything runs fine (and SP1 provides a noticeable improvement to Vista).

Ok I installed SP1, looks good to me :)

One question though, I now have an extra 15 GB on my harddrive. How did that happen? My files seem to be in place - any clues?

Give it a few days, and when everything seems to work as it should, follow these instructions:

http://www.labnol.org/software/tutorials/finish-install-windows-vista-sp1-clean-junk-files/2641/

Give it a few days, and when everything seems to work as it should, follow these instructions:

http://www.labnol.org/software/tutorials/finish-install-windows-vista-sp1-clean-junk-files/2641/
Wow! Thanks, Scott, for a great tip.

Ok a couple of quirky things I have noticed since updating to SP1 - are they things I can correct?

1) the boot-up is slower than before. Part way through the boot cycle I get only a mouse on a screen, the rest black before it actually cycles into MS.

2) My network adapter does not load all the time, 2x now I have had to reboot to get it to be active

3) When my network adapter does load, it no longer shows in my system icon notification area and more importantly it is greyed out and won't let me check to have it show.

Any tweaks I can do?

The computer is an HP DV2710US running Vista Home Premium.

Merci.

Ok a couple of quirky things I have noticed since updating to SP1 - are they things I can correct?

1) the boot-up is slower than before. Part way through the boot cycle I get only a mouse on a screen, the rest black before it actually cycles into MS.Though mine does that, too, I find it's booting faster than before SP1.

2) My network adapter does not load all the time, 2x now I have had to reboot to get it to be activeThat was happening to me before SP1. Rather than rebooting, go into Device Manager, disable and then re-enable the NIC. That will fix it without rebooting (at least it does on mine).

3) When my network adapter does load, it no longer shows in my system icon notification area and more importantly it is greyed out and won't let me check to have it show.Hmmm. That's weird -- I haven't seen that with my system.

Any tweaks I can do? The first thing I would do is make sure the NIC drivers are up-to-date. Don't rely on Windows automatic updating for this. Go to the manufacturer's website (you should be able to find the manufacture by looking at Properties for the NIC in Device Manager). Next, try uninstalling (rather than disabling) the NIC. Windows will automatically re-install the NIC. That used to work for me before SP1. If that fails, try a system restore to before the NIC started failing (but after the installation of SP1). If that fails, I'm out of ideas -- you may have to uninstall SP1.

Windows Update had a large number of updates today, but not SP1. I wonder if this group that was issued today (08 April) was the last in preparation for the push of SP1 (via Update) next week?

Windows Update had a large number of updates today, but not SP1. I wonder if this group that was issued today (08 April) was the last in preparation for the push of SP1 (via Update) next week?I've got SP1 and I got the same updates.

SP1 automatic updates are being pushed out mid-April according to the Vista blog: http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/04/07/windows-vista-sp1-update.aspx

SP1 automatic updates are being pushed out mid-April according to the Vista blog: http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/04/07/windows-vista-sp1-update.aspx

SP1 (65MB-427MB depending.... blah blah) had been on my automatic update list asking me to install for the last two weeks but I didn't bite. I downloaded today's new list of nine updates and SP1 has disappeared.

I REFUSE to go to Vista. I absolutly hate it! Too many issues with drivers, problems, requires a lot more RAM. I am very happy with my XP Pro SP2

I REFUSE to go to Vista. I absolutly hate it! Too many issues with drivers, problems, requires a lot more RAM. I am very happy with my XP Pro SP2

Agree...but (at least Dell) OEMs won't be pushing XP out after June 30. Bought a second laptop with Vista Business so I'll be carrying around 2 for a few weeks. The license though will make provisions for downgrade privileges though.

Ok a couple of quirky things I have noticed since updating to SP1 - are they things I can correct?

1) the boot-up is slower than before. Part way through the boot cycle I get only a mouse on a screen, the rest black before it actually cycles into MS.



This is a common symptom. Microsoft and others say it should speed up after a few reboots.

I'm going to do a clean install on a new HD and install SP1 on that. The last thing I need right now is to watch the SP install bomb, forcing me to start all over. It also gives me a good reason to get a larger hard drive. :D

This is a common symptom. Microsoft and others say it should speed up after a few reboots.

You are correct, now that SP1 has settled into my notebook it seems to be booting faster. Since the last update my sound and network icon's are back - weird.

I got the larger hard drive and installed Vista with SP1 on my laptop. Can we say smooth?!? It had native drivers for the display adapter, bluetooth, and WiFi on this silly Dell laptop. As soon as I dropped in my SD card into the internal SD card reader, it found and installed the drivers for it too!

I did notice that the "experience" index dropped a point due to the display drivers. I took care of that by installing the real driver from ATI, not the crap from M$.

So far, I'm quite pleased. Not entirely happy, but definitely much happier than before.

Is Vista worth the money??
how does the OS works, i'm still using winXP Pro too..

Is Vista worth the money??
how does the OS works, i'm still using winXP Pro too..

I'm one of those fools that have to try the bleeding edge stuff. Sometimes it's good, other times, it's bad. This time, its a toss up.

Things I hate about Vista in no particular order except the first one.

Crap ... drivers (especially video)
Uses up lots of RAM -- if you don't have at least 2GB, forget it unless you like to listen to your hard drive work overtime
M$ says the next generation of Windows will be coming out next year. Why spend money now on something that'll be obsolete next year?
There are several flavours of Vista out there. Choose the wrong one and you'll have something that's lacking or something that has too much of everything that isn't done very well
Copying speeds seem slower than XP
Older programs may not work. I know of several that definitely won't work (PDF Creator, Acrobat 7, Quickbooks 2006)


Things I like about Vista:

Preview icons -- you can see what the first page of your document looks like by looking at the icon.
Windows key-tab -- Scroll through the active programs and see in real time what's going on in each window.
Alt-tab -- gives you a small preview window of active programs
Sidebar -- kinda like Yahoo! gadgets
Search bar in the start menu -- enough said


If XP works for what you need (especially gaming), use it. No need to upgrade.

definitely[/b] won't work . . . Acrobat 7 , , ,
Acrobat 7 runs fine on under Vista Business on my laptop.

If SP1 isn't offered to you as an update, it is because the update software detected incompatible drivers. On my Vaio SZ there are supposedly incompatible drivers. However, I just downloaded the entire update package and installed it -- everything runs fine (and SP1 provides a noticeable improvement to Vista).

I have the same problem with my SZ. Is there any way of finding out which drivers are incompatible? I thought it might be the fingerprint reader driver, but when I tired to update it (through the Device manager), it comes back with a message that I have the latest driver. I am almost sure this is not true...
When you installed the entire package, (I assume you got that from the Microsoft website) did all programmes run immediately and without problems? That would be a minor miracle, for MS updates ;)

I have an XP license. But I'd like to do a clean install. There is a process that allows Vista upgrade version to be done on a clean HDD. You don't enter the product key the first time (nor activate it). then you re-install it as an "upgrade", then register it etc.

Does anyone know if this works with SP1 upgrade? I'd like to just buy that version of the upgrade but still do the clean install.

I have the same problem with my SZ. Is there any way of finding out which drivers are incompatible? I thought it might be the fingerprint reader driver, but when I tired to update it (through the Device manager), it comes back with a message that I have the latest driver. I am almost sure this is not true...
When you installed the entire package, (I assume you got that from the Microsoft website) did all programmes run immediately and without problems? That would be a minor miracle, for MS updates ;)
I'm not sure any drivers are specifically incompatible, notwithstanding what Microsoft thinks. Everything ran perfectly once I installed SP1, with the exception of Nero 7, which isn't supposed to run under Vista anyway (though I did get it running). I upgraded to Nero 8, and that runs fine.

The two drivers that were supposed to be a problem on the SZ are the fingerprint reader driver and the audio driver. Though both worked fine after the SP1 install, I did find an upgraded UPEK driver for the fingerprint reader on the manufacturer's website. I installed it, and it works fine, but I see no difference between it and the earlier driver. I haven't found an updated audio driver, but the current one runs perfectly under SP1.

Yes, you can do this with SP1 (http://windowssecrets.com/2008/04/03/01-Its-official-upgrade-hack-included-in-Vista-SP1) as well.

For those not familiar with the issue -- to do an upgrade install, you must be running a version of Windows that qualifies and start the Vista upgrade while running it. You can't do an upgrade install (or a repair install) by booting from the DVD; that only allows a fresh install.

There really aren't different DVDs distributed for the different Vista editions; it's controlled by the product key you enter. If you try to enter an upgrade key during a fresh install, it won't accept it. However, it will allow you to install Vista without entering a product key or activating automatically. You have a grace period of 30 days after installing to provide a key and activate.

So you do that. Once Vista is running, don't activate it yet, just run the DVD again from Vista and "upgrade" to the upgrade version.

This is convenient in that you can do a clean install of Vista rather than upgrading over an old XP install, or replace a hard drive without reinstalling XP first. However, yes, it does allow you to buy an "upgrade" version even if you're not upgrading. For what it's worth, this almost certainly violates the end-user license.

Thank you alanh for the explanation and link!

I'm not sure any drivers are specifically incompatible, notwithstanding what Microsoft thinks. Everything ran perfectly once I installed SP1, with the exception of Nero 7, which isn't supposed to run under Vista anyway (though I did get it running). I upgraded to Nero 8, and that runs fine.

The two drivers that were supposed to be a problem on the SZ are the fingerprint reader driver and the audio driver. Though both worked fine after the SP1 install, I did find an upgraded UPEK driver for the fingerprint reader on the manufacturer's website. I installed it, and it works fine, but I see no difference between it and the earlier driver. I haven't found an updated audio driver, but the current one runs perfectly under SP1.

I also found that driver on the UPEK website. How does one go about installing it?

I also found that driver on the UPEK website. How does one go about installing it?Download the driver and extract it to a temporary directory. Go in to Device Manager, select the fingerprint reader and click on Update Driver. Don't select automatic update, or whatever it is called. Browse to the temporary directory and click on the driver (which, if I recall, is UPEK.SYS). Let Windows do its thing.

Download the driver and extract it to a temporary directory. Go in to Device Manager, select the fingerprint reader and click on Update Driver. Don't select automatic update, or whatever it is called. Browse to the temporary directory and click on the driver (which, if I recall, is UPEK.SYS). Let Windows do its thing.

That worked fine. Thanks!