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Topic: Software

Why SP1 was offered to some via Windows Update yesterday

Summary: Yesterday some people got a surprise - Windows Vista SP1 coming down the Windows Update pipes. Turns out someone at Microsoft flipped the wrong switch.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

By for Hardware 2.0 |

Yesterday some people got a surprise - Windows Vista SP1 coming down the Windows Update pipes.  Turns out someone at Microsoft flipped the wrong switch.

Here the information that I have thanks to a Microsoft spokesperson:

We’re very pleased with the progress we’ve made with Windows Vista to date. Since releasing SP1 to manufacturing on February 4th, we have made Windows Vista SP1 available to beta testers, MSDN and TechNet Plus subscribers, as well as Volume Licensing customers. Today, a build of SP1 was posted to Windows Update and it was inadvertently made available to a broad group. The build was intended only for our more technically advanced testers, and was meant to only be offered to those with a specific registry key set on their PC. For general availability, we are still planning to make SP1 broadly available in the mid-March timeframe.

So, I'm assuming that if you got SP1 yesterday, you were lucky, but if you're still waiting, you'll be waiting until mid-March.

Topics: Software, Microsoft, Operating Systems, Windows

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20 comments
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  • Who would have thought reasling an SP could be so difficult?

    Microsoft has managed, yet again, to take something so simple and make it difficult. While I realize this was a mistake the mistake is the way in which they're rolling out this service pack. Just release is and be done with it.
    ye
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Why SP1 was offered to some via Windows Update yesterday

    "So, I???m assuming that if you got SP1 yesterday, you were lucky"

    I disagree! I'm very happy that I did NOT get the update yesterday! Come on, it's Microsoft, I'm willing to bet there will be numerous issues brought on by the SP, so I'd rather wait till it's stable.
    matthewazzaro@...
    Reply Vote

    • Re: Wait till it's stable

      I hope you're young and in good health.

      cmsix
      cmsix
      Reply Vote

    • Its very stable

      I normally dont install beta versions of SP's on my main machine because I dont want to wreck it, so when MS offered me up (what im assuming is the final SP1 bits) I happily accepted. I have noticed a marked improvement on the overall UI and everything seems snappier. I did the beta testing (on a different box) and the last public beta wasnt as good as the RTM version IMHO.
      JT82
      Reply Vote

      • remember the NT days

        Back when Service pack could kill you system. I think many still are little gun shy after those days.
        voska1
        Reply Vote

        • Oh yeah ..

          ... I remember those days well!
          Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
          Reply Vote

    • What is going to change?

      To my knowledge the SP accidentally released yesterday is the same SP that will be released in March. Which is the reason why everyone is asking: Why not release it now?
      ye
      Reply Vote

      • The delay is to allow those applications ....

        ... and drivers that may break to be fixed. Microsoft is giving the rest of the industry time to get ready. That is what will change!
        ShadeTree
        Reply Vote

        • Then they'll be delaying indefinitely.

          No reason to not make it available to those who want it. It doesn't have to be delivered through Windows Update but I see no reason they can't make it available for manual download.
          ye
          Reply Vote

        • Maybe I am mistaken...

          ...but I thought the SP scanned your system for incompatibilities before it allowed an install.
          Michael Kelly
          Reply Vote

  • Mean Green is clintching their teeth at MSDN for the best to come!

    " I would indeed tell the tale of a fond memory gone arai with you at the garage; but the anticipation of what only could be good and kind in your production was my disbelief to the tune of 'Ten thousand maniacs'. Oh yes, did I say I'm sorry I didn't get one?
    rtirman37@...
    Reply Vote

  • both 32 & 64 bit vista via updates starts:18April'8

    Although other routes of sp1 can be found in March'8, actual final update sp1 will be 18april'8 for all Vista builds.

    Signed:PHYSICIAN THOMAS STEWART VON DRASHEK M.D.
    VONDRASHEK@...
    Reply Vote

  • Who is running the show over there?

    They continue to make these types of gaffes...this is a multi-billion dollar company, with supposedly the brightest bulbs in the biz? lol Ok....
    techboy_z
    Reply Vote

  • LOL How Can Microsoft Fanboys Continue To Support This Idiocy?

    I find it almost comical reading the Micro$hill posts here that are continuing to support this farce of a once great software company.

    It's almost like watching people stand around while everyone else is drinking the Kool-Aid saying "It's ok, my cup of Kool-Aid won't kill me"....

    I love it.
    itanalyst
    Reply Vote

    • Were it not so pathetic

      You are right, it would actually be funny.

      Can't help but feel a twinge of pity for
      those without the mental capacity to "get
      it", even though the smartmouthed ones
      deserve what they get, anyhow.
      Ole Man
      Reply Vote

    • Who is supporting it? (nt)

      .
      ye
      Reply Vote

  • SP1 was made available to me last week

    SP1 was made available to me last week. I thought maybe MS changed their release schedule. This is my system at home (which I built with Vista 64). I am not an IT pro and have no clue why I was able to get it. I did upgrade from Vista 32 and spent much time with MS via phone to activate 64 last month. I was also using SP RC1, which I had uninstalled a couple of days prior.

    Wierd. Sleep mode now works!
    jrsevy
    Reply Vote

  • Guess What?

    I recieved the SP1 yesterday too but, unfortunately I didn't know about the registry hack before applying it (I was a little behind on the actual release date). OOP's.
    I had to do a total reinstall since I didn't have any restore points. OOP's.
    Now kick my behind because, I do consider my self an advanced IT Pro and not having a backup or even restore points, shame on me etc.
    jet1959mo@...
    Reply Vote

  • I got it - and I'm not going back!

    I got it :D. And I'm not going back. Quite frankly, this switch should've been thrown a long time ago, and if the code is RTM, it should be released to the public immediately. And if it wasn't ready, it shouldn't have been RTMed.

    I really don't think Microsoft is making [i]any[/i] good decisions concerning this release. It was timed poorly, released to RTM when it wasn't ready, and delayed after it went to RTM. Sounds to me like a very big mess, and sounds to me like it wasn't ready for RTM.

    Regardless, though, it's nice to have the patch a bit early :). It does indeed solve a lot of the annoyances that gave Vista a bad reputation.
    CobraA1
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Why SP1 was offered to some via Windows Update yesterday

    What do you mean registry hack first?

    I can't find anything on that. I did find someone at Speedguide who said they installed SP1 and their system slowed to a crawl. They uninstalled it and now it works good again.
    QuiGonJohn
    Reply Vote
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