Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Well hellooo Windows Vista Service Pack 1 aka: SP1

All the posts below this line are old and stale. I could have deleted them, but I left them here for posterity. Cross the line at your own risk.
____________________________________________
Wow, there is so much excitement in the room, and of course the room is Twitter. Microsoft finally made SP1 for Vista (aka: Windows Vista Service Pack 1) available yesterday, but not really until today. That accounts for the 3/17/08 file date on the Microsoft Download site. Don't ever question Microsoft logic. Perhaps they forgot to set their calendar ahead for Daylight Savings Time?

3/17/2008: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone (KB936330) - {Windows6.0-KB936330-X86-wave0.exe} 32-bit Download link: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b0c7136d-5ebb-413b-89c9-cb3d06d12674&DisplayLang=en

3/17/2008: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone (KB936330) - {Windows6.0-KB936330-X64-wave0.exe} 64-bit Download link: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=874a414b-32b2-41cc-bd8b-d71eda5ec07c&DisplayLang=en

Most of you will want the 32-bit version. That's the normal one for mom, dad and the kids. The 64-bit version of Windows Vista is for those who boldly go, where no man has gone before. (Cue StarTrek Theme Music.)

New Information as of 2:12 PM PDT: ...with thanks to my super cool Twitter friend @NickStarr, I have added another important all inclusive download link: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/Browse.aspx?DisplayLang=en&nr=20&productId=38DF6AB1-13D4-409C-966D-CBE61F040027&sortCriteria=date

The above link gives a chronological listing of the Vista related Service Packs, release notes and additional downloads necessary to prepare your Vista OS for accepting future Windows Updates. I suggest you use the above link.

Some important notes: Vista SP1 will break stuff and fix stuff. Read all the notes first before running the service pack. My Twitter pal @mickduc adds "SP1 install fails if sfc /scannow fails. Make sure it is clean." I say, take a nice warm bath and scrub your lower bits and upper bytes too.

My other Twitter buddy @Lolagrrl tweets, @acomputerpro I'm afraid! So much stuff is broken on my compuker already! Will SP1 actually help?! I scared! Hold me!! ;)

Note: I will hold any of my female Twitterbuds at any time. That is written into my consulting agreement. Male Twitterpals, you're on your own. Sure... call me a sexist, but I favor the ladies.

So, in recapitulation... here is my instruction set:

1. Install Vista if it's not already on your computer (and if you want it on your computer.) The service pack won't work if you don't have Vista installed, because it's a Vista Service Pack... DUH!

2. Read all the readme.txt files and notes. Follow all the instructions. Run the built in Windows System File Checker [sfc /scannow] from a command line. Look it up if you don't understand what that means. I'm not here to baby you. You're running Vista you know!

3. I have no idea what to do at this point.

Happy updating...

-gj (a computer pro)

P.S. Follow me on Twitter if you aren't already. www.twitter.com/acomputerpro