Will not download Windows updates

[townsbg]

I don't think that the service packs will automatically install however you should have been notified. You should also install sp2 since support of sp1 has been or will be discontinued as has the RTM.

As for installing more ram you will definitely want to if you only have 1 gb however I think that under most circumstances having more than 4 is overkill. For example if you usually only use 2-3 gb max than 8 won't help. IMO since most of it will go unused you are just wasting money. If you usually need more than 4 then having more would help however I can't imagine you needing more than 6. Otherwise the only advantage to 6 over 4 is if your motherboard has triple channeling and 3 gb just isn't enough. I only have 2 on my desktop and that is usually enough.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Support for Vista with only SP1 ended July 11, 2011 so as townsbg recommends, install SP2 a.s.a.p. and there are dozens of updates since then (for anyone else reading here, SP1 must be installed first). I recommend temporarily disabling any antivirus protection during the operation as that can cause a failed installation.
It's best to do the SP install from the standalone download.
For 32-bit systems 4gb is the max RAM and only around 3.7gb of that will be recognized but on a 64-bit system then more can be installed, depending on the motherboard of course.

Information about Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008

Error message when you try to install Windows Vista Service Pack 2: "One or more system components that the service pack requires are missing"

How to obtain (Free) Windows Vista service pack support
Support for Windows Vista

How to Slipstream Vista SP2 to Create A New Installation DVD
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/230249-sliptream-vista-sp2.html

 

[townsbg]

For 32-bit systems 4gb is the max RAM and only around 3.7gb of that will be recognized but on a 64-bit system then more can be installed, depending on the motherboard of course.http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/230249-sliptream-vista-sp2.html

I forgot about that.