Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 now available!

Windows Vista SP1 is available in English, French, German, Spanish, and Japanese. Other languages will be made available soon.

Microsoft strongly recommends using Windows Update to download and install Windows Vista SP1 on single PCs:

• The download size from Windows Update of Windows Vista SP1 for x86 is 65 MB (compared to 450 MB from the Microsoft Download Center).
• The download size from Windows Update of Windows Vista SP1 for x64 is 125 MB (compared to 745 MB from the Microsoft Download Center).

Windows Update will recognize PCs with known problematic drivers and postpone downloading Windows Vista SP1 until the PC has updated drivers or other applicable updates. Using Windows Update will help ensure you have the most trouble-free update experience possible.

Some Windows Vista users may encounter an issue with a small set of hardware devices that may not function properly after updating a Windows Vista PC to Windows Vista SP1. This is an issue with the way the device drivers were re-installed during the Windows Vista SP1 update process, not with the drivers themselves—these drivers worked on Windows Vista RTM and they work on Windows Vista SP1. This problem is typically corrected by simply uninstalling and reinstalling the driver. We are working with the manufacturers of these devices to get the known problematic drivers and their install programs updated, and also on other solutions we can use to ensure a smooth customer experience when updating to Windows Vista SP1 using Windows Update. For new PCs provisioned with Windows Vista SP1, this is not an issue.

If you choose to install Windows Vista SP1 via the standalone installer available on the Microsoft Download Center, Microsoft advises that you first visit Windows Update and install all optional drivers. Read Knowledge Base Articles 948187 and 948343 for more information.

If you have a prior version of the Windows Vista SP1 beta installed, you must uninstall it prior to installing the final version. Use the Control Panel applet "Programs and Features" and select "View installed updates" from the top left of the task pane. Under Windows, look for "Service Pack for Windows (KB936330).

Downloads: Windows Vista SP1 32-bit (x86) (434.5 MB, *.exe) | Windows Vista SP1 64-bit (x64) (726.5 MB, *.exe)
Link: Lunarsoft Frontpage

kudos for the heads up

Nice! I hope it's good.

I want to get Vista soon so this is a good thing.

Had the service pack for the past month and I can say it works very well and has some good performance improvements for overall computer speed. Frames in games are about the same.

List of known drivers to cause issues with Vista and SP1-
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948343

If SP1 does not show up on Windows update, check to make sure you don't have the following drivers

If you have any of the following below, make sure you update before trying to install SP1.

Audio drivers

Realtek AC'97
• For x86-based computers: Alcxwdm.sys - version 6.0.1.6242 or earlier
• For x64-based computers: Alcwdm64.sys - version 6.0.1.6242 or earlier

SigmaTel
• For x86-based computers: Sthda.sys - version 5.10.5762.0 or earlier
• For x64-based computers: Sthda64.sys - version 5.10.5762.0 or earlier

SigmaTel
• For x86-based computers: Stwrt.sys - version 6.10.5511.0 or earlier
• For x64-based computers: Stwrt64.sys - version 6.10.5511.0 or earlier

Creative Audigy
• For x86-based and x64-based computers: Ctaud2k.sys - version 6.0.1.1242 or earlier
• For x86-based computers: P17.sys – all versions (This was originally a Windows XP-based driver.)

Conexant HD Audio
• For x86-based computers: Chdart.sys - version 4.32.0.0 or earlier
• For x64-based computers: Chdart64.sys - version 4.32.0.0 or earlier

Biometric (Fingerprint) Sensors
• AuthenTec Fingerprint Sensor with the Atswpdrv.sys driver file – version 7.7.1.7 or earlier
• UPEK Fingerprint Sensor with the Tcusb.sys driver file – version 1.9.2.99 or earlier

Display drivers

Intel Display
• For x86-based computers: Igdkmd32.sys – versions between and including driver 7.14.10.1322 and 7.14.10.1403
• For x64-based computers: Igdkmd64.sys – versions between and including driver 7.14.10.1322 and 7.14.10.1403
Other drivers

Texas Instruments Smart Card Controller with the GTIPCI21.sys driver file – version 1.0.1.19 or earlier

Sierra Wireless AirCard 580 with the Watcher.exe application – version 3.4.0.9 or earlier (This application is located in the AirCard 580 Program Files folder.)

Symantec software driver for Symantec Endpoint Protection and for Symantec Network Access Control clients
• For x86-based computers: Wgx.sys – versions 11.0.1000.1091 or earlier
• For x64-based computers: Wgx64.sys – versions 11.0.1000.1091 or earlier

I have a dell laptop that installing SP1 on dell default imaged = bad things. I had 2 of the following drivers above.
Clean install of Vista, then SP1, then most current driver from dell's web site = works perfect.

Can one of you give a brief rundown of what issues SP1 addresses, and what improvements have been made?

Also any issues that it has introduced on your system would be nice!

While trying to get my HP Laserjet 1012 printer to work in Vista, Windows Update installed SP1. Now the printer works. Co-incidence? I dunno

Do you know, I hate printers so much that I don't even have one now. If I really need to print something, I bung it on a cd and print it off at work.

Damn cheap crap with damn expensive consumables sums up my experience. Apart from the occasional damn expensive crap with ...ah, you get the picture

Well, I have SP1 now, and I don't see anything different tbh. I didn't really have any problems before, and I don't really have any now.

Reliability and performance will increase with SP1. I've talked with several who noticed this beneficial change.

Installed sp1 on Wednesday evening, took about an hour, everything still working ok so far as I can tell.

According to the download page improvements include

Better security
Slightly faster speed
up to 50% increase in file transfer rate.

Supposedly issues addressed include memory management issues, drive access issues, and some security and other features.

Almost entirely back end, so you won't see much of a difference, but you might perceive it in performance and peppiness.

Oddly enough, supposedly you get more of a performance increase from Vista Upgraded machines than clean install machines. At least that was the observed case I read about on previews.

Installed SP1, it didn't like my on-board sound. I uninstalled the drivers and restarted, Vista re-installed them and everything seems to be fine.