Update to Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista to manufacturing (RTM) release
In my blog post on the subject, I noted that we were going to make SP1 available to customers in stages to make sure we delivered a great experience. As I explained, one reason for this is that we are working through an issue with a small set of hardware devices that may not function properly after the Windows Vista-based PC they are installed on is updated to SP1. This is an issue with the way the device drivers were re-installed during the SP1 update process, not with the drivers themselves — these drivers worked on Windows Vista RTM and they work on Windows Vista SP1. For new PCs with Windows Vista SP1 pre-installed, this is not an issue.
We are working with the manufacturers of these devices to get the drivers and their install programs updated, and also working on other solutions we can use to ensure a smooth customer experience when updating to SP1 over Windows Update.
My blog post also noted that when beta testers encountered this issue, the problem was typically corrected by simply uninstalling and reinstalling the driver. This type of issue can be addressed by our more technical customers since they are comfortable reinstalling drivers. While most people think that it’s smart that we are releasing SP1 in stages, some people asked why we haven’t made SP1 available to technical customers sooner.
We’ve heard the feedback and I want to update you on our plans and progress for making SP1 available to our beta participants, our Volume Licensing customers, and our MSDN/TechNet Plus subscribers:
- Late Friday we made SP1 RTM available to individuals and companies who participated in the SP1 beta program
- At the end of this week we will be making the English version of Windows Vista SP1 available to Volume Licensing customers. Other languages will follow soon after
- Later this month, SP1 will be available to MSDN and TechNet Plus subscribers
Windows Vista Team Blog
Announcement at the Windows Vista Team Blog
Here’s the timing for SP1 availability for current Windows Vista users:
- In mid-March, we will release Windows Vista SP1 to Windows Update (in English, French, Spanish, German and Japanese) and to the download center on microsoft.com. Customers who visit Windows Update can choose to install Service Pack 1. If Windows Update determines that the system has one of the drivers we know to be problematic, then Windows Update will not offer SP1. Since we know that some customers may want to update to SP1 anyhow, the download center will allow anyone who wants to install SP1 to do so.
- In mid-April, we will begin delivering Windows Vista SP1 to Windows Vista customers who have chosen to have updates downloaded automatically. That said, any system that Windows Update determines has a driver known to not update successfully will not get SP1 automatically. As updates for these drivers become available, they will be installed automatically by Windows Update, which will unblock these systems from getting Service Pack 1. The result is that more and more systems will automatically get SP1, but only when we are confident they will have a good experience.
- The remaining languages will RTM in April.
TechNet Blogs, Jeff Jones Security Blog
This paper analyzes the vulnerability disclosures and security updates for the first year of Windows Vista and looks at it in the context of its predecessor, Windows XP, along with other modern workstation operating systems Red Hat, Ubuntu and Apple products.
Download: vista-one-year-vuln-report.pdf
Edit.
Jesper Johansson’s blog.
Predictably, the report has generated the expected amount of controversy. Thomas Claburn, of Information Week, promptly wrote an article about it, which, in my summary, essentially says “Microsoft makes up statistics to show that Vista is secure. Nobody else believes them.” Austin Wilson, another Director of Security at Microsoft, meanwhile, published a blog post about how good Vista is. Austin’s argument is largely centered around disproving the myth that Windows Vista made no real security advances over XP.
The one bright spot for Firefox users is that, while Firefox users had more vulnerabilities overall than IE 6 users on XP, IE 6 on XP had almost 33% more critical vulnerabilities than Firefox. However, Firefox had 66% more critical vulnerabilities than IE on Windows Vista.
Complete article:
Do Vista Users Need Fewer Security Patches Than XP Users?
Microsoft January 2008 Bulletin Release included a Windows Sidebar Protection update for Windows Vista.
SUMMARY
This article documents the Windows Sidebar Protection update that was made to the Windows Sidebar for Windows Vista. The update was made to allow for the Windows Sidebar to perform the following actions:
- Generate unique identifiers for all gadgets that run in the Windows Sidebar
- Receive a list of known vulnerable gadgets from Microsoft by using Windows Update
- Stop a gadget from running in the Windows Sidebar if the gadget has been determined to be vulnerable
- Stop a gadget from being installed if the gadget has been determined to be vulnerable
Please see the Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 941411 for information and screenshots: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941411
Windows Vista Team Blog:
Today the Windows Live team announces the final release of the Windows Live suite of applications and web services designed to enhance the Windows user experience. Consumers can now download the full Windows Live suite at once or pick and choose their favorite apps and services.
Why Windows Live on this blog? Simply put, the two product platforms are now linked more than ever before.
PressPass:
Q&A: Chris Jones, corporate vice president, Windows Live Experience Program Management, discusses how Windows Live will help consumers more easily and safely communicate and share online.
Windows Live
A relative in the market for a new computer, showed me a pretty good deal she was looking at and asked what I thought. Everyone in the family knows I am a total geek.
The machine came with Vista Basic installed. I advised her to upgrade to at least Vista Premium so she could run Aero, also a better video card and more RAM.
Then another email arrived saying she had heard Vista was buggy and perhaps XP was in order.
I am biased because I genuinely like Vista. I still have XP Pro machines, but as vendors supply new drivers for Vista, I find myself booting XP up less and less, even though it is a good solid OS.
We decided the best way to go was to show Vista in action, not just the eye candy which it has plently of.
A few hours on my Vista machine and she was sold. Not a technical post on Vista but a human story. 
*Added links.
Did you know that Windows Vista allows three clocks to be accessed from the taskbar. Pretty handy if you would like to keep an eye on different time zones, especially when travelling and working from a laptop.
I have mentioned vista4beginners before, and link from the sidebar under ‘Vista’. They really do have great tutorials and not just for beginners.
http://www.vista4beginners.com/Checking-the-time-for-multiple-time-zones
Tuesday Microsoft offered a Vista Ultimate ‘Extra’. DreamScene is video wallpaper, so instead of a static image a full-motion video takes its place.
I downloaded and installed DreamScene which required a reboot. Right click on your desktop and you can either play DreamScene or leave it static. Either way, it is a very attractive dark blue wallpaper.
by certifiedbug on September 5, 2007
in Programs
Spybot-Search and Destroy, Home Page
We have to admit, it was delayed a few times, mostly because we always had some new feature we wanted to implement in mind, but now it’s finally here: we’re proud to announce the availability of Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.5. This new version features a lot of improved detection mechanisms (which in parts were already made available through the regular 1.4 updates in the past months), improved Operating System support (Windows Vista integration, restored support for Windows 95, more compatibility with Wine, support for bootable Windows CDs), improved browser support (e.g. for immunization) and much more - you can find an overview of noticable changes and some screenshots here.
