Vista Service Pack 1

By Tyler Downer
3/29/08

Last week, on March 18th, Microsoft released the first Service Pack (SP1) for it's newest operating system, Windows Vista. This SP includes every update released prior and several new ones, including several fixes along with new technologies. Although the update does not include any major changes to the Graphical User Interface (GUI), many reviews have confirmed that it does speed Vista up and improves security. Despite this, many people are reluctant to download SP1 because of reports of wiped hard drives, damaged files or reduced performance. I will try to counter these arguments, some of which are plain false and others which can be combated by simple precautions.

Argument 1: Vista Service Pack 1 erased my hard drive or damaged my files.
Answer: As with all service packs, this is a major upgrade that will take a long time to download and install. When installation begins, a box appears saying, "Do not use your computer during the install." You MUST follow that rule. Do not use your computer and do not try to interrupt the install at any point! This is one of the major reasons people damage files. Also, in case of the rare damage, back up your files to a CD or thumb drive before installing. That way you are safe in case you do lose information.

Argument 2: Vista is a terrible operating system and I will stick to XP.
Answer: Vista has it's bugs. So does XP, so does Mac, so does Linux. Every operating system has quirks which are constantly being resolved. XP had more problems when it first came out than Vista ever did. Most people do not remember the issues with USB drives, data storage and drivers that occurred with the release of Windows XP. Many of these were not resolved until SP2 for XP. Vista is a step in a totally different direction for Windows, to be followed by Windows 7. Overall it is doing very well and SP1 only helps it along.

Argument 3: SP1 will not install on my computer, something is wrong with Microsoft.
Answer: Microsoft expressly said, before SP1 was released, that it would not install on all systems. Some computers did have problems with drivers that were potentially dangerous, thus SP1 will not install on systems with these drivers. If SP1 does install on your computer, you should.

Argument 4: SP1 slows Vista down.
Answer: SP1 does not slow Vista down by more than 1-2 seconds in typical tasks. In many, such as when booting up, it speeds it up!

Argument 5: The automatic update on Vista is dangerous.
Answer: The automatic update is a feature that Microsoft built into Vista to save time and increase security. This way, your computer checks for updates at a time that you schedule, then does one of several possible actions. It can alert you, download, but not install, or download and install. It can also be turned off. That is not recommended. Most operating systems have this feature. Most software programs do as well. If you are concerned that an update will be downloaded that you do not want, change your settings to check and alert. This way, it checks for updates, and tells you when there is one. However, automatic has not had any problems for most users and I suggest you keep it that way.

I hope that I have cleared up some of the myths and confusions about SP1. I recommend these safety precautions.

  1. Back up your important files BEFORE installing.
  2. Run scan disk and defragmenter before installing.
  3. DO NOT interrupt your computer while install is proceeding. It is best just to turn the lights off and leave the room for an hour or two once it begins.
  4. Install it on every computer it will go on. If it does not install, check with Microsoft and see if you have on incompatable driver.

I hope these rules will help you to have a good experience installing, using and enjoying Windows Vista Service Pack 1.

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