Redmond (WA) – After more than four weeks of Vista SP1 release chatter, Microsoft officially announced today the availability of the Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista.  
Here is a quick overview of what is included and what to expect from the package, which includes 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) support.

Performance has been a major complaint with Vista from the beginning, so it should not come as a huge surprise that Microsoft has worked on this issue quite a bit. Microsoft claims that SP1 should bring 20-25% performance improvement, mostly due to increased application responsiveness.

According to the manufacturer, compressing and uncompressing data is much faster now, which, in our opinion could have been easily fixed by the company by simply licensing (or buying for that matter) WinZip or WinRAR. Also, same-disk copy processes have been accelerated by 25% and even by 45% when files are copied from a remote non-Windows Vista system to a SP1 system; Microsoft promises a 50% improvement when files are copied from a remote SP1 system to a local SP1 system.

Of course, there is a boatload of general fixes in Vista SP1, which address those nasty crashes in the Calendar, Media Player and Explorer; a revised indexing tool puts an end to continuous indexing and should reduce the stress on hard drives; a new startup repair tool allows users to make change son the fly; the networking feature set has been vastly improved with wireless ad-hoc connections, which may especially appreciated by notebook users; rewriting the network stack also brought numerous improvements in performance, such as the elimination of lack of the Explorer freeze while browsing disks that are being shared on a network.

All of this, by the way, was achieved by replacing the “old” Windows Vista kernel with the Windows Server 2008 kernel.


New features

The list of features offered by SP1 are quite extensive. Owners of USB removable media will be happy to see exFAT, a new file-system that will support larger capacities and larger files (current FAT32 file system limits the largest single file to 4 GB, while FAT16 is limited to 2 GB). This is actually a critical new feature since high-end USB sticks are already available with up to 32 GB. The previous file system does not support single-volume 48 or 64 GB USB sticks.

The multimedia interface was upgraded to DirectX 10.1, which means that you can expect ATI to drum this feature all the way to the bank, especially since Nvidia is launching its GeForce 9800 line-up without the support for this API. All GeForce 9 products are based upon different versions of G92 chip, and this means DX10.0 for GeForce 9200, 9400, 9600 and 9800 products.

The BIOS as we know it is ready to kick the bucket, since SP1 delivers support for EFI and UEFI. This feature provides the foundation for boot disks that can boot the PC without BIOS (but of course, with EFI), and also enables a native installation on GPT formatted disks. Boot, Restart, Standby and Hibernation are supported as well. This should bode well with owners of Macs and future PC computers.


OMG... I can defrag more partitions now!

We saved one interesting improvement for the end. SP1 comes with an improved Windows defragmentation utility: It can defrag more partitions, which means that you can defrag all your hard drives at once, instead of defragmenting several hard drives over a number of days.

We actually have been running SP1 (MSDN release) on a 32-bit Vista Home Premium and 64-bit Vista Ultimate system for quite some time. Our impressions are positive, especially when it comes to the added stability. But, it still takes a century for the OS to start copying files on USB sticks or optical media. Calculating the time remaining for such a process appears to be a very complicated task. It looks like we have to wait for SP2 if this one is fixed.

Before you install SP1, make sure you check that your system is ready to support SP1. We highly recommend that you back up all of your data.

The complete release notes can be found here. You can download 32-bit pack here; the 64-bit version can be downloaded here.

The 32-bit version is 434 MB in size, while the 64-bit version will eat up 726 MB.

Time to go home from work and break my computer...

Mar 18, 2008 16:49     

Well, looks like I'll download this computer virus called Vista SP1 and completely F&#$ Up my computer. I would like to thank Micro$oft in advance for this evenings headache.
Henrik report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Well, bollocks!

Mar 18, 2008 16:59     

"Additionally, users whose machines have any of the problematic device drivers that caused Microsoft to delay Vista SP1's public release last month won't be able to download the service pack until an update has been installed, White said. These include certain Intel (NSDQ:INTC) display drivers and a Symantec (NSDQ:SYMC) software driver for Symantec Endpoint Protection and for Symantec Network Access Control clients, which Microsoft said Symantec is aware of and is in the process of updating. Other problematic drivers include audio drivers from Realtek AC '97, SigmaTel, Creative Audigy, and Contexant HD Audio; biometric fingerprint sensors from AuthenTec and UPEK; and aTexas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) Smart Card Controller and Sierra Wireless AirCard 580 driver. Although the news is a breath of fresh air for users who've been waiting diligently for Vista SP1, it wouldn't be a genuine Vista SP1 story without at least a little bit of Redmond-style subterfuge, and it's still unclear whether Vista SP1 will be available through the retail channel this week." -http://www.crn.com/software/206904428 Any word on when fixes for these products will be available? And whether we are waiting for fixes from Microsoft or the software vendors? I'm very sad as both computers i was looking to update have parts that are blacklisted. List of conflicting devices and drivers for 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 Note Symantec is aware of this issue, and it is working on a solution. Symantec provides various update procedures. This includes their LiveUpdate service." -http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=948343

Atomic report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Did they fix the video driver lockups?

Mar 18, 2008 17:24     

I sure hope they fixed the video driver lockups.
Game Interrupted report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Thx Atomic

Mar 18, 2008 19:43     

Thanks for the "issue list".
Eric report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

@Henrik - Too Funny!

Mar 18, 2008 19:44     

I think I am going to finally install Ubuntu in dual boot mode on my laptop and do a VirtualBox install of XP in seamless mode. Had to buy this laptop on the road and had no choice but to have this virus called vista pre-installed. Just haven't had the motivation but now I think I will.
Elijah report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

@Elijah

Mar 19, 2008 04:24     

Vista is NOT a virus. Virus is designed to be small and efficient, unlike Vista ;-)
GooseMan report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

oh gnoez

Mar 19, 2008 06:15     

1) virus... virus... don't want a virus? don't use the computer 2) wahh I need to find a new crack ;[
niggerwidanattitude report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

vista sp1.

Mar 19, 2008 08:53     

ok. installed sp1 on my self build desk top..works fine. installed sp1 on dell m1330 laptop..also works fine. install sp1 on another dell 9300 laptop.... well...it won't install. got a generic error and point to a we site to ask to do checkdisk.. sfc... etc...etc....turn off programs... still no deal. Might not be problem of sp1...since the vista on it is a little screwed....can't turn on some network firewall... I think I just have to get a new os and format c:

yo report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

LMAO, GoosMan!

Mar 19, 2008 09:13     

I completely agree!
Hexadecimal report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

damn microsoft

Mar 19, 2008 18:27     

now I have to find a vista cd key that works with sp1... then again why should i complain? last time I paid for a microsoft product was..... welll... never. hahahaha haa
R report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

@R

Mar 20, 2008 09:14     

I paid for XP ($180) and a week later, it fucked up on me, so I had to reformat and the key didn't work them so I've sworn to myself, it's illegal or linux when it comes to windows now ;)
niggerwidanattitude report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Classic back ?

Mar 20, 2008 10:02     

Did they at least put back in the classic login ? Man that new login sucks so bad, sucks even more if you take out the "remember last user"..... Who signed that kacke off ? :-) Also funny that its just come out now, I have access to licensing.microsoft.com from my company and can download there products, they have had Vista with SP1 integrated for download in there for weeks now
YepYeppa report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Not too bad actually...wow!

Mar 21, 2008 14:06     

I cant believe I just said that.. ha I installed SP1 on a machine that I rarely use, so if it messed up, I dont really care. It has actually fixed a lot of issues that made me not use that computer in the first place. It took a little bit to install, but there were no problems at all. Microcrap actually did something right for the most part on this.
Ted report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Sp1 trash

Mar 24, 2008 20:16     

Since downloading sp1, my computer has basically taken a dump. I would like to congragulate all of the Microsoft staff for there hard work and stead fast dedication to ruin my computer and others.
Bort report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0