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Windows Vista Service Pack 1: Not for the Impatient

Microsoft has released a bundle of security and stability updates for Windows Vista users. What follows is a long-overdue primer on this package of goodies from Redmond known as Service Pack 1.

While some peoples' experience with Service Pack 2 for Windows XP may have left them feeling wary about installing this package, I haven't heard about SP1 causing any major problems for Vista users. Most Vista systems probably will be better off -- security- and stability-wise -- with this rollup than without it, for the reasons I describe below.

One reason I haven't heard of any problems with SP1 may be that few people have yet to install it. Following all of Microsoft's instructions for prepping a system to receive SP1 can be extremely time-consuming, and even more so for a subset of Vista users who have certain incompatible hardware drivers installed on their systems. As a result, it's likely that a large portion of Vista users simply won't bother with this service pack, at least for now.

Strictly speaking, Vista users who are staying up-to-date with security patches from Redmond don't have to install this update, as Service Pack 1 includes all of the security patches Microsoft has released for Vista since first shipping the operating system more than 14 months ago.

While this service pack does include other security enhancements, it seems oriented more toward fixing problems that users have most frequently reported about system crashes, slowness or other buggy system behaviors.

Many of the security features of SP1 are designed specifically to enhance the security of Vista installations in a corporate environment, but one portion from Microsoft's description of what's included in the service pack bears highlighting. Microsoft says that in addition to offering a rollup of all security patches released thus far for Vista, SP1 includes security improvements that came from taking a second look at areas of the operating system that have been found to be the source of vulnerabilities so far.

"SP1 includes Secure Development Lifecycle process updates, where Microsoft identifies the root cause of each security bulletin and improves our internal tools to eliminate code patterns that could lead to future vulnerabilities," Microsoft stated in a paper documenting the Vista changes introduced via SP1.

Microsoft says SP1 provides for faster file copying (25-50 percent faster, Microsoft claims) and decompression, as well as better handling of large files. The company said SP1 also addresses the most commonly reported causes of operating system failures or program crashes. Other changes include new protections to help prevent data loss while ejecting certain types of removable media, and more stable and reliable networking in Vista. A full list of the hundreds of hotfixes, drivers, etc. included in SP1 are at this link.

Here's what you should know before you install SP1. Microsoft recommends users fetch the service pack using Windows Update (a 65 megabyte file for most users), but anyone who needs to install the update on multiple computers can download a standalone installer (>450 mb).

Microsoft says that for Windows Update and stand-alone installations, the SP1 setup program automatically creates a system restore point before the installation of SP1 begins (system restore backs up critical system files). But Redmond suggests that Vista users "may want to back up any user data before you begin installing SP1." Vista includes a backup utility called the Backup and Restore Center that allows you to back up certain files or make a complete backup image of the hard drive where Vista is installed.

But before you try to download and install SP1, Microsoft says it's a good idea to check to make sure there are no corrupted files on your computer. To accomplish this, run the Check Disk and System File Checker utilities by doing the following:

1. Open a Command Prompt window (click the Start button, type command in the Start Search box, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator).
2. Run the following command (assuming that C is the system drive): chkdsk c: /F
3. After the command in step 2 completes, type SFC /Scannow, and hit enter.

These two scans took about 10 minutes total to run on my machine, but then again I don't have a lot much more than the default Vista operating system files on my Vista PC, so the scans may take longer for Vista users who have other programs already installed.

Some Vista users won't receive notifications that SP1 is ready to install even if they've turned on Automatic Updates from Microsoft - and this was indeed the case with my Vista (Ultimate) PC. According to Microsoft, there may be several reasons for this. Among the most likely is that Windows Update will temporarily not offer Windows Vista SP1 to systems that have certain hardware device drivers that have shown to cause problems with SP1. Microsoft lists a bunch of these, which includes some pretty widely-deployed hardware drivers, including audio drivers Conexant HD Audio, Creative Audigy, and RealTek AC'97 (you can check for the presence of these driver files by searching for them by name, as listed in this advisory).

If you have one these incompatible drivers on your system, you can try visiting Windows Update again and checking if it has an update to address that specific driver problem. Non-security related updates are usually marked "optional." Alternatively, you can check the support pages of the hardware manufacturer's Web site to see if they have any updated drivers.

Microsoft says another reason SP1 may not be offered even though Automatic Updates are enabled is that there are previous updates waiting to be installed. While it may seem like it shouldn't matter (because SP1 supposedly includes the latest security updates), Microsoft says SP1 cannot be installed together with any other updates.

"It must be installed by itself. Therefore, if there are any pending updates on Windows Update, such as security updates, Windows Update will not offer Windows Vista SP1 until the updates are installed."

Turns out, Windows Update won't offer SP1 if you haven't installed all of the updates tagged by Windows Update as "Important" or "Recommended."

When I began researching and writing this post, I was already up to date with the patches that Microsoft released last Tuesday, but was wondering why I hadn't yet received a notice that SP1 was available. When I went back in to Windows Update, I was surprised to find that I still had some 16 "recommended" updates that were not yet installed (most were marked simply "Update for Windows Vista (KB######)".

About 15 minutes and a reboot later, I had the 16 updates installed and was ready to head back to Windows Update to see if it would offer me the service pack. It didn't. So, in the interests of completing this experiment, I decided to download the 445 megabyte SP1 installer and install it manually.

The installation Window told me that the process might take an hour or more. My installation took slightly less than an hour. No problems that I can tell after installing it. I didn't time it or anything, but my Vista machine does seem to be somewhat snappier than before, taking less time to respond to simple requests.

But for anyone who does run into problems -- before or after applying SP1 -- see the section marked "troubleshooting" in the "Windows Vista Deployment Guide," found here.

What about you dear Security Fix reader? Are you a Vista user who has updated to Service Pack 1? Or maybe you've chosen instead to hold off? Tell us about it the comments below.

By Brian Krebs |  April 17, 2008; 11:15 AM ET New Patches
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Comments

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I installed SP1 a couple of weeks ago on my laptop and had zero problems. It also made a HUGE system performance boost. It is now tolerable for me to run!!

Posted by: David T | April 17, 2008 12:50 PM

Windows vista Home Premium SP1 it runs a way better than the RTM version :)

Posted by: frank | April 17, 2008 1:02 PM

Windows Vista SP1 is very stable, no problems so far

Posted by: Tim | April 17, 2008 1:06 PM

I'm waiting for Windows XP Service Pack 3 (due end of this month?, see SANS link below) as the OS is still more viable on my slightly older hardware. I'll probably wait for Vista's successor (Windows 7) due circa 2010 when I purchase new hardware too.

http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=4297

Meanwhile, enjoy this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPv8PPl7ANU

Posted by: TJ | April 17, 2008 1:34 PM

I backed up my files and installed SP1 a few days after it came out. Overall it worked fine. My only gripes are 1) b/c of the user access control, my plan to have the update finish after I went to bed didn't work. 2) some of the power settings had changed and I had to readjust them.

Haven't noticed any difference in the way the computer runs.

Posted by: ugh | April 17, 2008 2:53 PM

I put Vista SP1 on my HP Laptop, and it installed OK, and the computer seems to be working normally after the installation. I have a Vista Desktop, and have not installed SP1 on that one yet. My Vista w/o SP1 seems to be working just fine, but will install SP1 within the next week or so. Wanted to see if other people were having trouble with it. So far have not seen any negative comments. Both of my computers are fairly new and were delivered with Vista installed, so all my hardware was compatible with the initial version of Vista

Posted by: Ron Geiken | April 17, 2008 5:29 PM

I installed SP1 on my Vista Ultimate 64-bit version machine using the built-in update tool with no trouble. I haven't noticed much performance improvement, but I didn't have any complaints to begin with. From my perspective, I cannot understand any of the bellyaching about Vista. It just works for me.

Posted by: Toddzilla | April 17, 2008 5:42 PM

vicodin addiction

Posted by: vicodin addiction | April 17, 2008 5:50 PM

"Vista users who are staying up-to-date with security patches from Redmond don't have to install this update"

This is clearly not true! Especially as you go on to describe other updates not previously installed.

Posted by: Jim | April 17, 2008 5:55 PM

"Vista includes a backup utility called the Backup and Restore Center"

Except for vista home Basic.

Posted by: Jim | April 17, 2008 6:01 PM

I installed SP1 yesterday and because of the expected hour I left it running overnight, found it booted up in the morning with a Bluescreen error reported on the screen, clicked OK and it seems to be ok still - does seem to perform better too.

Posted by: Nelly | April 17, 2008 7:16 PM

Earlier this week I added Vista 64 SP1. The piecemeal download failed, so I grabbed the entire 730Mb distribution. I thought it was nice that it told me it was going to take an hour. However, it was more like 3 hours with reboots and post-processing of the update.

The system seems faster in copying files, but certain applications still seem glacially slow when compared to win xp. (My machine is multi-boot; I usually run XP except when I need to access 4Gb of memory.) I am still able to crash Vista periodically, usually if the machine is heavily bogged down. I noticed that most of the Office 2003 patches have failed with "Code 779" or some such. Office seems to still work, though.

You wrote: "Microsoft says it's a good idea to check to make sure there are no corrupted files on your computer."

This expectation of system fiddling is an unreasonable request for a consumer operating system. It (and disk defragmentation, which has been in linux/unix for >20 years) seems to be something the OS ought to do in the background.

Posted by: jim carson | April 17, 2008 7:42 PM

"This expectation of system fiddling is an unreasonable request for a consumer operating system."

System fiddling? Hardly. It's called preventative maintenance, as well as recommended prerequisites to ensure a successful installation. Not what I would call unreasonable.

"It (and disk defragmentation, which has been in linux/unix for >20 years) seems to be something the OS ought to do in the background."

Huh? What about Windows XP prefetch? Which optimizes the boot process and the use of installed applications or the self optimization when idle, all done in the background. Vista takes the concept a little further with superfetch.

Manually running disk defragmenter once a month builds on the prefetch/superfetch optimization. Along with checkdisk and disk cleanup, consider it preventative maintenance for your computer.

Then again, some never do maintenance on their vehicles either, then can't figure out why it breaks down or doesn't operate at peak performance. :::scratching head::::

Posted by: TJ | April 18, 2008 9:53 AM

SP1 was fine for me, although the total process took around 2 hours - when you reboot the files are installed in three stages so it's worth finding something better to do meanwhile...

Posted by: Jess Luscombe | April 18, 2008 11:20 AM

I have installed Vista SP1 on my actual computer (Vista Home Premium, pre-installed on the NEW machine by the manufacturer the past November) as well as a vmware virtual machine running the same version with no problems.

My first blue screen came /after/ the SP1 install, but otherwise there have been neither positives nor negatives that I can detect. Local file copying still seems to take longer than absolutely necessary, and scanning directories over a local network Samba share still takes unreasonably long (up to 30 seconds to scan a directory of maybe 40 files and directories before I can even see them in explorer!).

Note that backup options depend heavily on the "version" of Vista that you have. Full disk backups are only available on "business" and "better" versions, and, as another posted pointed out, "backup and restore center" does not exist at all on "home basic" versions.

@TJ Finally, *nix "defragmentation" basically does not exist. Sure, you can get ext2's defrag, but even /they/ tell you not to use it. Also, that program requires that you invoke it yourself -- nothing is automatic.

Posted by: Chris | April 18, 2008 11:38 AM

730MB???? BLOAT!!!

Posted by: Gubinsky | April 18, 2008 12:12 PM

I installed SP1 in the same manner that you did and it worked fine for me. I also downloaded the 435mb file as the Update feature did not work for me either. Before the install I had 46 optional updates available [I only update monthly those updates required when choosing the Express update option.] . After the install, I now have 9 optional updates available.

Posted by: Richard | April 18, 2008 2:03 PM

SP1 is completely incompatible with one of the most important features of Vista Ultimate, the ability to make it multi-lingual by installing full MUIs for any of the 30+ language flavors of Vista. For some of us, this is very important, because Vista Business, e.g., has inadequate language support for some applications.

In fact, Microsoft tech support recommended upgrading the Vista Business on my new computer to Ultimate to install Korean language support. Microsoft tech support did not know (nor did the salesman at Best Buy) that SP1 does not support any languages. So upon "upgrading" to "Vista Ultimate with SP1" (already so listed on the box, capsule or whatever they call that thing), it became impossible to download any language MUIs. No warning on the "box" either or anywhere I could find on Microsoft's website, which continued to tout the multi-language capability of Vista Ultimate.

The MS SP1 incompatibility team (yes, MS has a special group available to address such problems) explained the above to me by e-mail, for which there is no fix. Microsoft intends to have a language-compatible version of Vista with SP1 available by the end of the year! Microsoft did offer me a refund. So I am stuck using XP (on an old computer) for Korean language purposes. MS should not have released Vista Ultimate with SP1 until it is compatible with other languages.

Posted by: William | April 18, 2008 7:27 PM

Having trouble after previous Windows Updates received an error10 message on my network adapter. Followed MS's recommendations of the SP1 update to resolve the issue.

After installing SP1 on my Vista 32bit home premium system my network adapter no longer works, (no wifi) and I can not restore my backup files as they were stored on a plug n play hard drive and my usb ports are not responding.

Hopefully system restore will resolve the issue. I am currently waiting for the reboot with fingers crossed!

Posted by: max1030 | April 19, 2008 12:15 AM

People are not serious enough about their jobs or work at Microsoft. There is no pride in the work or the company, just the paycheck and the ability to live cushy in the Seattle/Redmond area.

Posted by: jimmyL seattle | April 19, 2008 2:23 AM

I am sing a Sony laptop model VGN-CR2G/R running Vista Home Premium. Until today Vista SP1 was not offered to me as a download via Windows Update. This was puzzling.

Research using Microsoft KB948343 appeared to show no obvious difficulties. Contrary to what it said on the Sony Australian web site for my Vaio, no Chinese language pack was installed. Norton Internet Security 2008 was uninstalled using their clean tool and then re-installed using the latest version available from their web site. (This Symantec recommends.) Device Manager was checked. Realtek AC97, and the other audio drivers were not shown. There is no fingerprint scanner on this computer and there never has been. Display drivers seemed OK. My Intel driver did not fall within the problem range. There is no smart card.

Wait! Just because the hardware is not there does not mean that there is no offending software for that hardware. An advanced scan showed that the UPEK fingerprint sensor driver file tcusb.sys WAS there and fell within the range for causing problems with the install of Vista SP1!

A visit to UPEK at http://www.upek.com/support/downloads/drivers/windows.asp found suitable drivers. The offending drivers were renamed with the extension tcusb.old. I found it useful to turn off UAC for this!

The bottom line is that Sony probably uses an image when loading software onto a hard drive and this image is the same for all the series, irrespective of installed hardware. (In my case series CR2.) Undoubtedly other OEMs do the same. If you don't get Visat SP1 showing in Windows Update, check for possible problems using advanced search as well as looking in Device Manager!

Hope this helps! (I have spent 10 days on this, on and off!)
Cheers,

Posted by: Bert | April 19, 2008 2:29 AM

With the release of 1TB internal HDD and ability to utilize PC3 1333 RAM at ~ 32GB how can anyone complain about "BLOAT". It's not the manufacturers fault that you're broke and can't afford a better system. I don't have much money either. The economy is not at it's best. Vista is meant for the new hardware/peripherals that have recently been released. I'm running a Phenom X4 on a 790x chipset motherboard. I'm running Vista H.P. 64-bit with 6GB of PC2 800Mhz RAM. And i'm running a RAID 0 config. with two 160 GB HDDs. My computer runs Vista great and it runs even better with SP1. Stop screaming BLOAT! and all the Vista errors B/S. If your machine was up to date you wouldn't have those problems.

-Warehouse worker $25k / yr ... If I can do it so should you be able to.

--ps.. however... if you use Vista in a Business environment God help you. But that's a whole other discussion. But you Home users should have no beef!

Posted by: LaborReady | April 19, 2008 12:32 PM

I just installed the SP-1 on my laptop a couple of hours back, seems like there's a slight performance improvement. Everything else is just as was before.

Posted by: Sharon George | April 19, 2008 2:24 PM

I just installed the SP-1 on my laptop a couple of hours back, seems like there's a slight performance improvement. Everything else is just as was before.

Posted by: Sharon George | April 19, 2008 2:26 PM

My Vista Ultimate had multiple languages installed - probably a big mistake on my part, because they inflated the already large OS footprint by at least 2x the size. I think the base backup now is 60gb !

Because of that the SP1 wasn't offered to me until this last week. It was approximately an 880mb download via Windows Update. It took forever to download, and then needed manual intervention to begin the installation which took at least another hour to complete. I think it was more.

Even though I'm using it right now, I haven't used it enough since the update to see if there are any related problems.

Additionally even if SP1 isn't available the first run through Windows Update when all fixes were previously installed, I've found that running WU a second time tends to have that and other items show up if they are actually available. However I am sure that it would have been alot faster to download the complete SP1 updater manually, than use WU as I did.

Posted by: Richard | April 19, 2008 3:41 PM

I could not install SP1 via the standalone installer for Windows Vista Home Premium on a Dell Inspiron 1720 laptop. I may have some of the device drivers for which Microsoft doesn't yet have SP1 support. The whole thing make me say "GRRRR!" - I'm hoping SP1 fixes all the blue screens of death we see on this OS.

The error I get while trying to run the SP1 install is "An internal error occurred while installing the service pack. 8007000D..." and then a "hyperlink" to a web article. I put the quotes around "hyperlink" (and you can rest assured I'll do the air quotes when I tell my friends about this little experience" because, not only can I not click it, I can't even copy-and-paste it. So Microsoft wants me to retype it in Internet Explorer? GRRRR....

Posted by: Charlie A | April 19, 2008 6:10 PM

It certainly appears from the article and these comments that Vista blows Apple away in every sense.

Posted by: Orphan | April 20, 2008 8:29 AM

Once you go Mac, you'll never go back.

Due to Vista (or rather the impending support drop for WinXP) I bought an iMac and Leopard at the beginning of Feb. I added a virtualizer called VMWare Fusion that allows me to run WinXP concurrently with Leopard OS. (I can even drag and drop between the two...). With this as a transition crutch, I'll be off WinXP in about 6 months. 95% of my work is moved over.

Adobe even allowed a license change, deactivating PS CS3 under XP and shipped me a new disk for Mac OS X (I had to pay shipping). Not bad for a $600 package.

What's nice is the absolute quiet. No disk drive thrashing itself continuously. Time Machine backup is well done (could use some user settings).

Face it, Vista is really a major patch that MS sold as an OS. And you fell for it. And now they're patching the patch. Oh my!

Posted by: Alan Browne | April 20, 2008 5:39 PM

"Face it, Vista is really a major patch that MS sold as an OS. And you fell for it. And now they're patching the patch."

You mean like Mac OS X (Cheeta, Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard)?

And didn't Apple also charge for each of those "major patches"? Silly fan boys!

Posted by: TJ | April 21, 2008 9:31 AM

I had problem installing on Dell Inspiron laptop, but after puting laptop in safe mode and then installing, no problem(s).

Posted by: Lance E | April 21, 2008 11:12 AM

Just curious. Bought a new desktop with MS Vista Prem w/SP1 installed. Has there been any feedback/complaints for this flavor of OS w/SP1?

Posted by: krons01 | April 21, 2008 2:28 PM

I did my first installation of the release version of SP1 Friday on a computer running Home Premium that I built about 4 months ago. The downloaded file was just over 50 MB, and the installation took 17 minutes counting the 3 reboots required. Totally painless.

Posted by: slgrieb | April 21, 2008 3:43 PM

I installed Service Pack 1 on my HP laptop and now my large HP monitor no longer exists. I plug it in and Vista has no idea that it's there. Also my nvidia software seems to have vanished. I'm attempting to restore to my previous configuration. It worked fine before. Idiots.

Posted by: Jack | April 21, 2008 11:24 PM

I installed the service pack without incident on my gateway it took about minutes and after the reboot it took an additional 15 minutes and it works fine. It even recognizes my full 2 gigs of ram

Posted by: Mike J | April 22, 2008 8:19 PM

No problems so far, I just don't like the black theme of vista. I'm black though.

Posted by: Gomezgeka Phiri | April 23, 2008 7:23 AM

After getting the SP1 update, my computer got slower and my search engine in start/supposed to be in the right side panel, disapeared. The only one I had is when you hit the windows start to all programs, I still had the search box but the original file was gone. No longer have the advanced search. so I did a restore and made a short cut on my desktop, so when the update took affect again I would not loose it. I did not see any good in the SP1 update for Vista.. Sorry. RJL ~~

Posted by: RJL | April 24, 2008 11:23 PM

I installed the new service pack, and now it wont let me connect to the secure internet connections at uni, it says its connected to local only. really need xp back!

Posted by: Bloodyknee | April 25, 2008 1:35 AM

Last week - the last time I used Vista, I mentioned that because of the multiple Language Paks on my Vista Utimate, sp1 was a quite lengthy 880mb download and install process.

I'm here this week to report that there were an additional 680 mb download of SP1 updates for the language packs, which I just did tonight. Reasonably successfully in about 3 hours (so making a bit of progress timewise).

That is 1560mb of total SP1 updates - so far.

Only one of the Language (- Serbian) updates failed to install on multiple attempts using different mechanisms to coax it into existence here. Since there seemed to be not many reports about sp1 language pak problems, I logged a incident about this with MS. It's nice that MS has a special section for SP1 support. Which I'm not expecting to happen any too soon.

I continue to wonder when this OS will become more user friendly. And less demanding in it's upkeep. This isn't the first time it's taken forever to keep itself synced.

Of course as I said, in retrospect all those nice additional languages I installed were most likely a big mistake in judgment on my part.

Posted by: Richard | April 26, 2008 4:00 AM

I have always preferred the Mac OS, but have to work with Windows in my job. That being said, I found Windows XP Pro to be the best version of Windows I've ever had to work with.

Recently, I purchased a Duo-Core Laptop to use for work that had Vista pre-installed. It is the SLOWEST operating system I've ever had the displeasure of dealing with. Things take FOREVER. While I had no problem with the SP1 upgrade, I found NO IMPROVEMENT in so far as speed is concerned. Vista is horrible in my opinion for that reason. Vista is to XP what dial-up is to Broadband.

I'm wiping the drive to install XP. There are only so many hours in a day, and they should not be wasted waiting for an operating system to do its tasks.

You simply don't see this kind of crap go on with OSX....

Posted by: Nick in Las Vegas | May 1, 2008 4:14 PM

I installed Service Pack 1 and could no longer connect to our Xerox printer 6400n at work. Upgraded drivers made no difference. Uninstalled Service Pack 1 and I'm good to go at work again. Service Pack 1 is BAD.

Posted by: | May 5, 2008 10:35 PM

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