Vista News

Install Windows Vista SP1 Release Candidate through Windows Update Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC Refresh is available to Beta testers through Windows Update. Experience the WU installation path for Windows Vista SP1 by following these simple steps and give us your feedback to improve our quality. Before You Install You must uninstall any previous versions of Windows Vista SP1 before installing Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh To uninstall previous version of Windows Vista SP1 Open the Programs and Features control panel and select View installed updates. In the Microsoft Windows section, right-click Service Pack for Windows (936330) and select Uninstall. Your system will now uninstall the previous version of Windows Vista SP1 Beta and...

We are excited to announce that the Windows Vista SP1 Release Candidate (RC) Refresh - Build 17128 is now available for download! This build is also available on Windows Update (WU) for download and install. Find the new WU redirection script here and get Windows Vista SP1 RC after 4 simple steps. http://connect.microsoft.com/windows/Downloads/DownloadDetails.aspx?DownloadID=10389 Thank you for your feedback thus far; it is an invaluable part of our beta program. In this build, you will see many elements of your feedback have been incorporated. Please download the Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh build and continue to test SP1 aggressively. However, please note that at this point in the process, only the most serious issues will be...

Two or three updates are required before you install Windows Vista Service Pack 1. The updates that are required depend on the edition of Windows Vista that you are upgrading. Prerequisite update 935509 is only applicable to Windows Vista Enterprise and to Windows Vista Ultimate. The other prerequisite updates that are discussed in this article apply to all editions of Windows Vista. Before Windows Vista SP1 is released, these prerequisite updates will be delivered to most users through Windows Update as part of regularly scheduled monthly updates. These updates will be installed together with other updates that will require that you restart the computer. An additional restart will not be required. Therefore, this delivery method will...

Windows Server 2008 has gone into the final test stages: Escrow. If all goes well it is expected the RTM build bits to be delivered on January 16th. After that all the teams working on Windows have to "sign off" the build (till Jan 23rd) The week after that there will be "media verification" whatever that may be and then the Release To Manufacturing on February 6th. We already know Windows Server 2008 build is in sync with Windows Vista Service Pack 1, so do the math. February 27th is the worldwide launch of Windows Server 2008 together with Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008 in Los Angeles. There will be launch events around that day all over the world. SQL Server 2008 has not yet RTMed yet on its launch day! WSUS 3.0 sp1...

Net Protocol to Unleash Explosion Author: Michael Sainsbury Date Published: October 30, 2007 Read More at the Source : NOTE: Sounds promising. Australian IT: Net protocol to unleash explosion Shawn

Microsoft publishes detailed Vista SP1 “changelog” Leading up to next week’s public beta-test release of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Release Candidate, Microsoft today has published a 17-page document outlining in fine detail exactly what difference SP1 makes to Vista. Some of the contents has been shared in bits in the past, but this is so far the most comprehensive “changelog” we’ve ever seen and probably will see as the final version is not expected to differ much from the RC, with the exception of WGA modifications as described below. I’ve highlighted some of the most interesting changes which you may or may not already know.This document describes many of the notable changes in Windows Vista SP1, with the exception of some...

Today we're making available the release candidate (RC) of Windows Vista SP1 via Microsoft Connect, and tomorrow subscribers to TechNet and MDSN will have access to those RC bits too. In addition, the RC will be available to the public next week via Microsoft's Download Center. The release candidate phase of beta software is typically the final phase before the RTM (release-to-manufacturing) of a product and indicates that the code has attained a significant level of performance and stability. Let me call out several changes made since the Beta release of Service Pack 1 -- many of which came about as a result of direct feedback from our Beta-testing community (thank you!): The size of the standalone installers have decreased...

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) RC should be used to update a PC running Windows Vista RTM to Windows Vista SP1. This standalone package will install SP1 as well as any applicable pre-requisite packages. The 5-Language standalone package supports installations on all versions of Windows Vista with one or a combination of the following languages installed: English, German, Japanese, French, Spanish. The All-Language standalone package supports installations on all versions of Windows Vista with one or a combination of the 36 Windows Vista languages installed. Download: Windows Vista SP1 RC - 5 Language Standalone Package (x86) (x64) Download: Windows Vista SP1 RC - All Language Standalone Package (x86) (x64) ***Remember this...

Office suite link is working now, the rest will follow soon! Office 2007 Service Pack 1 Visio 2007 Service Pack 1 Project 2007 Service Pack 1 Microsoft Office Visio Language Pack 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Microsoft Office Project Language Pack 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer Language Pack 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) The 2007 Microsoft Office Servers Language Pack Service Pack 1 (SP1), 64-Bit Edition Microsoft Office Visio Viewer 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) The 2007 Microsoft Office Servers Service Pack 1 (SP1) Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Microsoft Office Proofing Tools 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Microsoft Office InterConnect 2007 Service...

Q&A: Microsoft Corporate Vice President Mike Sievert discusses some of the latest tactics the company has implemented to respond to increased organization and sophistication of software pirates. REDMOND, Wash. Dec. 4, 2007 – As part of a comprehensive effort to address piracy of its products, Microsoft today announced that the company will increase efforts against piracy and outlined new steps being taken to protect Windows Vista from ongoing and known counterfeiting threats. The upcoming Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) will include updates that target and disable two types of known exploits to the Windows Vista activation process. Also, as part of SP1, the company is making changes in how it differentiates user experiences for...

Microsoft will change the user experience of its automatic anti-piracy checks in Windows Vista and also make it harder for hackers to bypass the system in the first service pack for the OS due out early next year. Once Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) is installed on a PC, that computer will no longer go into limited functionality mode if a user or administrator fails to activate Vista on that system in 30 days or if the system fails Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) validation, which checks to see if a version of Vista is pirated or counterfeit. In Vista, WGA is called the Software Protection Program feature. In limited functionality mode, a computer will shut down after 60 minutes and then allow only browser use. Now...

Nvidia is ready for its next-generation GPU launch. According to sources at graphics card makers, the company plans to launch its GeForce 9 series GPU after the Lunar New Year in February. The first chip to rollout of in GeForce 9 family will be the D9E, a high-end product that adopts 65nm manufacturing. The new product will also support DirectX 10.1 and Shader Model 4.1, revealed the sources. In addition to the D9E, Nvidia will roll out a mid-range GeForce 9 family product named D9P in June 2008. The new GPU will adopt 55nm processing, the sources pointed out. Source:- Nvidia to launch GeForce 9 series in February

Good news is on the way for those of you who with to use Windows Home Server with x64 home computers. As many of you know, the Windows Home Server Connector does not currently support x64 home computers, which has caused a lot of frustration and angst amongst early adopters of the x64 platform. Microsoft have previously announced that they would provide x64 support for machines running Windows Vista (check out our Q&A with the WHS Team for more) - those of you running Windows XP x64 will have to upgrade, unfortunately. The connector has been undergoing internal private test for the last few months, but I can confirm Microsoft will be making an announcement about x64 Connector availability at the International CES Show in January...

Microsoft is looking to release the Release Candidate (RC) test build of Windows Vista Service Pack (SP) 1 to selected testers the week of December 1, according to sources close to the company. Microsoft’s plan is to expand the SP1 RC test to the general public by making the build available to any interested parties in the second week of December, sources said. Microsoft is currently testing the escrow of the SP1 RC build internally. The build being tested internally is build number 17051, sources said. Microsoft has said it is planning to deliver the final SP1 code in the first quarter of 2008. Microsoft made a preview build of the Vista SP1 RC available to 15,000 pre-selected testers on November 14. It’s not clear if Microsoft...

Hi all! It's been a little bit over 2 months since my last blog on the Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.1 (WVHA) release back in August. You may wonder what our dev team is up to. Well, aside from getting the much needed rest, we have been busy working on the NEXT version of the tool. Yes, we're talking about a major expansion here. For those of you who haven't heard of WVHA, it's basically a network-wide readiness assessment tool that goes out to your network and securely assess each PC for their hardware and device compatibility for Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office migration - click here for my detailed blog post. Tool Expansion - Microsoft Assessment and Planning Solution Accelerator This expansion will not only retain...

Yesterday was an exciting day for the Zune Team. Their new Zune devices - the Zune 4, Zune 8, and Zune 80 - hit store shelves and they launched a brand new version of Zune.net now with your very own Social Profile (your Zune Card). The Zune Team also launched a new version of the Zune software - completely re-done and much improved. There is quite a bit of reviews on both the new devices and Zune software all over the web today. I'd like to call out the reviews by Featured Community member Jason Dunn over at Zune Thoughts. He's got some fantastic videos up on the new devices and software worth checking out. I'd like to share a few things myself on the Zune software, the Zune 8, and the Zune Social web service. First off, yesterday I...

The new version of the Windows Live OneCare service is being made available today, running on both 32- and 64-bit Windows Vista systems (32-bit Windows XP SP2 is also supported). We built OneCare because we know that most homes have more than a single computer (surely not news to you if you're a reader of this blog), with PC security and maintenance being needs consistently expressed by both home users and small business owners. A lot of these customers run PCs without basic anti-virus and anti-spyware protection, and even fewer perform performance-enhancing tasks such as disk defragmentation and regular system back-ups. Furthermore, the plethora of digital photos stored on PCs means that more and more people are trusting their...

Michael Wolf over on the Gamerscore Blog announced on Wednesday two new Games for Windows Live titles hitting store shelves this week: Crysis and Kane & Lynch: Dead Men. Crysis received a score of 98 out of 100 by PC Gamer and utilizes Windows Vista's DirectX 10 offering incredible graphics. And Kane & Lynch: Dead Men is a Games for Windows - LIVE title supporting online game play for up to 8 players with free List Play for Silver users and, for Gold members, enhanced matchmaking and online multiplayer achievements. Gears of War was also released as a Games for Windows - LIVE title earlier this month. The Games for Windows - LIVE update I posted about in October was released as well. Michael Wolf has some information on the update...

Similar to last month's Redmond-based Install Fair, the Windows Vista SP1 Deployment Team is holding another Install Fair at our Silicon Valley campus early next month. You're welcome to drop by if you find yourself in the neighborhood, provided you register beforehand. Windows Vista SP1 Beta Install Fair - Silicon Valley Date: 8-9 December 2007, 9:00am - 4:00pm Location: Microsoft Silicon Valley Campus, 1065 La Avenida St., Mountain View, CA 94043 Timeslots: Desktops: 9:00am or 1:00pm Laptops: 9:00am or 1:00pmRegistrations must be made via email to Windows Vista Install Fair Registration ([email protected]). Please indicate your preferred timeslot when replying. Spaces are limited. What is Windows Vista SP1...

The Windows SteadyState 2.5 Beta supporting Windows Vista is now available for testing. Whether you manage computers in a school computer lab or an Internet cafe, a library, or even in your home, Windows SteadyState helps make it easy for you to keep your computers running the way you want them to. Overview Specific Beta Feedback Your customer feedback and support is valuable to the upcoming release of Windows SteadyState 2.5 and we want to ensure that we provide a great experience for you! Email comments and issues to [email protected] or post at our SteadyState Beta Community Site. Continually check the SteadyState Beta Community Site for announcements and topic discussions during our Beta program. We are specifically...