April 23, 2008 1:39 PM PDT

Microsoft starts pushing out Vista SP1

Microsoft said on Wednesday that it is beginning automatic distribution of Windows Vista Service Pack 1, the first major update to the year-and-a-half-old operating system.

The company finalized the Vista update in February, but has held off until now pushing it directly to individuals.

Starting Wednesday, the company will start sending it to Vista users who have Windows' automatic update feature turned on. However, the company cautioned that not everyone will get SP1 immediately.

"While Microsoft is beginning automatic distribution today, it's important to note that customers might not see the update download right away since Microsoft is distributing the service pack in phases to ensure a seamless download experience," the company said in a statement.

Vista SP1 was made available for download to customers last month. Service Pack 1 doesn't add much in the way of new features, but rather is a collection of changes designed to fix bugs and improve performance, as well as address competitive concerns raised by Google over Vista's desktop search system. Microsoft also changed how its antipiracy mechanism works with SP1.

The release of Vista SP1 via automatic update is the second milestone this week for the Windows team. On Monday, Microsoft announced it had finished work on Windows XP Service Pack 3. That product will be available for download next week, Microsoft said, but won't start being pushed out via automatic updates until summer.

Recent posts from Beyond Binary
Memo: Windows chief on new ads
Microsoft begins big ad push
Microsoft Research gives photo help, for a price
EFF: We're concerned about Google's Omnibox
Google backtracks on Chrome license terms
Add a Comment (Log in or register) 5 comments
SP1 No Problems Here
by Renegade Knight April 24, 2008 7:19 AM PDT
For whatever reason I was able to get SP1 on my laptop. No problems. The issues I was having before seemed to be a non issue wiht a fresh install and a fresh service pack. Vista is a tad faster or so it seems. I'm finally happy with my Vista install...after a year.
Reply to this comment View reply
shitt pack one ready, huh?
by AppleRocks1963 April 24, 2008 8:06 AM PDT
Microsoft still trying to make this chrome plated turd float. It's an unmitigated disaster but go on promoting Vista because it's only going to help Apple stock.
Reply to this comment View reply
Powered by Jive Software
advertisement

Latest tech news headlines

About Beyond Binary

During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft.


Beyond Binary is a look at how technology is changing our lives and the people behind all that life-changing stuff, with an extra emphasis on that which emanates from Redmond, Wash.

Add this feed to your online news reader

Beyond Binary topics

Stuff I'm reading

Featured blogs

advertisement

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right
  • News - Business Tech

    Samsung contemplating SanDisk acquisition

    South Korean consumer electronics giant is considering a buyout of the chipmaker to reduce its NAND flash memory costs, according to PaidContent.

  • Gallery

    Photos: Ron Paul's RNC alternative

    As the Republican convention took place just miles away, a crowd rallied for the former presidential candidate and his message of limited government, ensured civil liberties, lower taxes, and peace.

  • The Open Road

    Analysts as a lagging indicator of success

    Gartner, Forrester, and other analyst firms tend to be great predictors of the past, probably because that's where they get their money.

  • Beyond Binary

    Memo: Windows chief on new ads

    Windows business unit head Bill Veghte send a memo to troops late Thursday promising that the debut Seinfeld/Bill Gates ad was just an "icebreaker."

  • Video

    YouTube plays party politics

    During the presidential campaigning four years ago, YouTube didn't even exist. Now it's a tool candidates must master to get their message across. CNET's Kara Tsuboi stops by the YouTube upload booths at the Democratic and Republican conventions to find out why Google's video site has such a big presence in Denver and St. Paul, Minn.

  • News - Digital Media

    Week in review: Google's Chrome shines

    Web giant makes long-awaited foray into browser market, while the mobile market warms up. Also: Tech goes to Republican National Convention.

  • Video

    Political party playlists

    We know the Democrats and Republicans are split over policy issues, but does their musical taste fall down party lines too? And what kind of gadgets did they bring to the conventions to listen to their music? CNET reporter Kara Tsuboi finds out.

  • News - Politics and Law

    Google and 'Vanity Fair' party with the GOP

    Google and Vanity Fair hosted one of the most talked-about parties at the Republican convention.

  • News - Cutting Edge

    Execs predict next Google-like tech

    On eve of company's 10-year anniversary, researchers and business pundits speculate about what technologies might someday have as much impact as Google.

  • Gallery

    Photos: The brains behind Google Chrome

    Here's a look at some of the engineers and executives who took the stage at the company's headquarters as they unveiled the new browser.

  • Crave

    Motorola U9 reviewed

    CNET puts the Motorola U9 through its paces.

  • Green Tech

    Duke Energy to invest in mini solar power plants

    Can hundreds of rooftop solar panels collectively operate like a central power plant? Duke Energy launches $100 million distributed solar program to find out.