Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC is now available through Windows Update.
Experience the WU based Vista SP1 installation by following 4 simple steps. Windows Vista SP1 RC distributed through Windows Update will be applicable to Windows Vista machines that are running on any of the 36 languages supported by Vista RTM.
This update addresses issues with Media Center for Microsoft Vista.
In addition to the fixes that are contained in the updates that are listed in the “Hotfix replacement information” section, the October 2007 Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista resolves the following issues:
Supported Operating Systems: Windows Vista Home Premium; Windows Vista Ultimate.
Features that make Vista a better experience that aren’t marketed much.
Windows Vista has a lot going for it that most people don’t really hear about. It’s understandable because marketing some of these new features would essentially be tantamount to saying “Oops, XP had some problems”.
Moreover, it is often easy to forget just how big of a release Windows Vista really was. While Leopard claims “300 new features” most of those features are minor in nature (Let’s face it, MacOS X is so good that it’s in the enviable position of only needing to evolve, Windows Vista, by contrast, had to play a lot of catch-up). Windows Vista has closer to 10,000 new features when one adds both major and minor updates to the mix.
WinCustomize has an article outlining 10 examples of minor features that rarely get discussed and yet make a small but noticeable improvement to the Windows experience over Windows XP.
Click for more on Ten Cool Things about Vista you may not have heard of »
Microsoft releases a new update for Windows Vista that improves the compatibility, reliability, and stability of the OS.
Download for 32bit Windows Vista(link, WGA Free) and 64bit(link, WGA Free)
This update, detailed in KB941969, resolves the following issues in Windows Vista:
Click for more on Windows Update: Vista performance pack and DX9c Nov patch »
Something as small as swapping the video card or updating a device driver can trigger a total Vista deactivation.
Put simply, your copy of Windows will stop working with very little notice (three days) and your PC will go into “reduced functionality” mode, where you can’t do anything but use the web browser for half an hour.
You’ll then need to reapply to Microsoft to get a new activation code.
How can this crazy situation occur? Read on for the sorry tale.
Click for more on WARNING: device driver updates causing Vista to deactivate »
Back up your data and extends “free-trail” period
By default, there is a 30-day grace period for user to activate Vista, but it isn’t surprising that the user (is not able to)doesn’t want to activate it, or, he uses some kind of crack which turns invalid by Microsoft, So what to do in this case?
Installing SP1 requires lots of space, and might hinder many from adopting the latest update.
Per Microsoft’s claim, installing the service pack will require a large amount of free disk space (7 GB for x86 and 12 GB for x64). From my own experience, at least 6GB is required to install SP1 on x86. However, its possible to experience SP1 with less effort–only 3G is required now.
Click for more on Install Vista SP1 when system partition size is limited »
The much anticipated reliability and enhancement SP1 update for Vista reviewed.
As you might have known, the leaked beta of Vista SP1 is floating around now, and I get a chance to test it and would like to share my own experience.
Click for more on Hands-on: first impression on Vista SP1 Beta »
Available from Microsoft today, for Windows XP, 2003 and Vista.
Check them out if you have encountered any of the problems described.
For Windows XP
KB931678
Install this update to resolve an issue where an access violation may occur when a pop-up window in Internet Explorer 7 is closed on a system running Windows XP with Service Pack 2. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
Click for more on Multi Updates From Microsoft for Windows »
Windows DreamScene, which transforms your desktop from a static wallpaper image into a full-motion video is now available.
The release, in conjunction with Stardock, offers a number of cool, new animated DreamScene desktops, including “Aurora”. Additionally, you can use your own videos as DreamScene desktops or visit Stardock’s Dream.WinCustomize.com website to download Stardock’s DeskScapes (an add-on to DreamScene) as well as a collection of fabulous content created by Stardock and members of the Ultimate community.
