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Community Newsletter: Q&A: Should I download Windows Vista SP1 patch?
- 9/25/08 1:01 PM
Read Security Fix from time to time
by jayatcnet375 - 8/18/08 12:51 PM In reply to: Should I download Windows Vista SP1 patch? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Brian Krebs writes the Security Fix blog for the Washington Post. His archives include this topic (whether and when to install major Windows updates) from time to time. Some of the content may be over your head right now, but reading things you don't entirely grasp is a way to become acquainted with detail which will be useful later. He includes references not easily found elsewhere.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/
Most experienced users of Microsoft products do not use them for weeks or months after they are first offered, so Microsoft can get feedback from other pioneers to find and fix flaws. A few months to a year generally is enough time to wait. Accepting high-priority updates is the interim fix.
VISTA SP1
by Randy Walter - 8/18/08 11:19 PM In reply to: Should I download Windows Vista SP1 patch? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi, Mary. I installed SP1 when it was released. I did not particularly like it. I don't remember specifically what it was about as it was last March. I guess I learned to live with it. However, it is possible Windows Update has already installed it on your machine. Go to control panel > system and maintenance > windows update > view update history. Scroll down looking for windows vista service pack 1 (kb936330). If you see successful next to it, you got it already. BTW, if you ever feel you need to reinstall SP1, Microsoft recommends you uninstall SP1 first, the install SP1 again. Hope this helps.
Installing Windows Service Packs
by waytron - 8/22/08 8:25 AM In reply to: Should I download Windows Vista SP1 patch? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Installing any Windows Service Pack whether it is for Windows Vista or Windows XP requires the roughly the same steps and precautions. I usually recommend not being the first on your block to install a service pack when it first comes out, but after the dust settles and the majority of problems have been identified, I would never hesitate to go ahead and install any of these updates.
Having said that, there are some fundamental steps you should take to reduce your chances of running into problems:
1. BACKUP YOUR DATA – I know, everyone is tired of seeing “Backup Your Data”. I guess only those of you who have actually lost everything can appreciate the importance of this step.
2. CHECK FOR KNOWN PROBLEMS – Check the website for your specific computer for known issues with the update that you are planning to install. There may be drivers, firmware or software updates that may be required to prevent problems with the new update.
3. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE – Your computer should be in good shape and well maintained prior to installing major updates. Service Packs are not a fix for a damaged computer. This means that your computer should be free of viruses and Spyware, delete temporary files and defrag the hard drive prior to upgrading. (Defrag is usually automatic in Vista)
4. REMOVE SECURITY SOFTWARE – I personally recommend uninstalling you’re security software prior to installing Service Packs and then reinstall after the update. This is not an absolute but many installation problems are often due to conflicts with Antivirus and Firewall software.
5. DOWNLOAD THE SERVICE PACK – Most service packs are rather large at several hundred megabytes. Service Pack 1 for Vista is about 430 megabytes and can take a while to download depending on the speed of your internet connection and the time of day. I could take anywhere from 5 minutes for a fast FIOS connection to several hours to download.
6. DISABLE SCREEN SAVERS – It is a good idea to turn off any screen savers that you have before running the installation program.
7. RESTART YOUR COMPUTER – I always recommend shutting down and restarting your computer just prior to installing a Service Pack. This just makes sure everything is clear and running correctly. (Select SHUT DOWN or SHUT DOWN AND INSTALL UPDATES rather than RESTART)
8. START THE INSTALLATION – Installing Service Packs can take an hour or more to install so be patient.
9. PROBLEMS - If you run into problems, you can always uninstall the Service Pack. In Windows Vista go to SETTINGS > CONTROL PANEL > Select PROGRAMS and FEATURES > Search and click on Service Pack 1 and then click on Uninstall. (For Windows XP START > CONTROL PANEL > ADD or REMOVE PROGRAMS)
Dana
Wayland Computer
Umm...
by cinemike - 8/22/08 11:29 PM In reply to: Installing Windows Service Packs by waytronGreat article - very clear... But... what if you are at the end of a connection with an average transmission speed of 3Kbps...???
430Mb -> 144,000 seconds -> 24,000 minutes -> 400 hours -> nearly 17 days...
On the other hand, rural France is lovely...
Mike
3Kbps?
by Randy Walter - 8/23/08 12:02 AM In reply to: Umm... by cinemikeMan, they say speed kills, but you won't have to worry about that. It should be ready when you get back from France, say around CHRISTMAS time!
Interent Connection too Slow to download
by waytron - 8/23/08 4:45 AM In reply to: Umm... by cinemike3Kbps ???, you might want to consider UPGRADING to a dialup connection. Normally you can order service packs on CD from Microsoft. I might be wrong, but I have not seen it for Vista Service Pack 1 as yet. So I would suggest that you find a friend with a fast Internet connection and have them download it to a CD for you.
Slow connection...
by cinemike - 8/23/08 6:20 AM In reply to: Interent Connection too Slow to download by waytronWell, that is a dial-up connection... no broadband here. It is ostensibly meant to be 28.8Kbps but the bandwidth is taken by other poor devils in the same situation.
One occasionally sees something come through at 5Kbps, but sometimes it slows right down to 1.1 Kbps or slower!!!
Vista SP1 on CD/DVD
by lawli56 - 8/24/08 12:57 AM In reply to: Umm... by cinemikeMost service packs can be obtained from Microsoft on CD/DVD for a small fee($10). Vista is no exception.
https://om2.one.microsoft.com/opa/Validation.aspx?StoreID=1a7e5dd8-0088-46ce-a7d3-8fa1ab523be0&LocaleCode=en-us
It takes a few weeks to arrive, but ensures that you never have to waste time downloading over a slow connection. Enjoy.
MARY'S LAST POST.. SP1 ABOUT TO BE DOWNLOADED...W/POST BACK
by mkrock - 8/23/08 8:28 AM In reply to: Installing Windows Service Packs by waytronThank you Dana for your post. I have read your replys to many other questions in this forum and I do believe that you are extremely knowledgeable in these areas. I have copied and pasted yours and bits and pieces of other posts, and have printed them up. I am now going to do one more virus/spyware scan and then go for the download. I did update HP, made a back up DVD, created a system restore, and saved the SP1 download to my desktop. This will be my last post for the next several hours as it will take 2+ hours to scan my pc and then do the download.
Oh, by the way, thanks for reminding me to temporarily disabling my virus protection while I do the download. I now remember that this was suggested on the Microsoft web page, but forgot about it until your post reminded me. Thank heavens for the copy and paste function, if it wasn't for that function, I'd have page upon page of hand written notes from all of these posts on what to do before the actual download! Thank you again... please continue to respond to others questions in this forum... your information is the one I consider the most valuable. There are several others who are extremely intelligent in these areas, but you rank #1 for me.
YUK
by marpincan - 8/23/08 12:44 PM In reply to: Installing Windows Service Packs by waytronremove this, remove that, disable this and that, restart your computer 3 times and hors of work!! this is why Micro Soft SUCKS!!! They make all there problems your problem!!! This seems to be the whole premiss's around Vista. There answer to security seems to be to ask you for permission before something happens. with all the brains they are supposed to have working at Microsoft, they still can't figure out that people want to just use there computers without a whole lot of hassle!!
Seinfeld will never save them - Seinfeld will just come out looking bad for being associated with them! Like he really needs the money!
Vista SP1 Not A Really A Problem
by kcolton1946 - 8/23/08 10:49 PM In reply to: Installing Windows Service Packs by waytronAfter several failed installs, I called support@micro-soft. The tech told me that the files get corrupted if downloaded on a dialup connection. The solution was to order a SP1 disc. SP1 installed w/o any problems. End of story.
Keith
removing old service packs.
by ronnie2751 - 8/24/08 1:58 AM In reply to: Installing Windows Service Packs by waytronsince a freind started installing service packs some time ago, my pc's are working far slower. both my daughter and i are running XP and will not touch "vista". i do "disk clean" and "defrag" on a regular basis.
question is can i remove the old service packs without harming my computer?
thanks in advance for any advice you can give me
ronnie
You Can - Your Shouldn't
by papakeithjenkins - 8/24/08 11:50 AM In reply to: removing old service packs. by ronnie2751Your problem is probably all the junk that gets picked up along the way. I make dozens of housecalls to customers with similar issues and sometimes the very best thing that can be done is to backup your personal data - documents, pictures, music, e-mial, etc - and format the machine, then reinstall everything you need and all the updates, including SP3. You will probably be amazed to find that your issue is not the service pack, but the added junk.
You would think the bugs would be out of XP wouldn't you?
by Shofarman - 8/25/08 3:58 AM In reply to: Installing Windows Service Packs by waytronGreat Answer! I thought when I received an update for XP (Service Pack 3) that surely Microsoft had worked out all the bugs before sending this out as XP has been around for years now.
What in the world was I thinking? I must have had them confused with another software company that puts out great software because that update was more buggy than anything I had EVER tried to install in my 20+ years in dealing with computers. I had error after error and they just wouldn't stop, so, I stopped it finally and uninstalled it. After wasting probably 2-3 hours of my time my computer is running like it did before I installed that piece of junk software.
Why is it that a multi-billion company can't make a decent product? If you are going to send out an update for your "somewhat stable" operating system, you would think they would want to make it more stable instead of less stable.
You know what? I bet they sent that out intentionally with bugs where they would get folks to update to Vista or whatever their new piece of junk software is when their computer crashed and they can no longer even use their older computer that WAS running just fine till they tried to install Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) Size: 66.9 MB - 316.4 MB
Below is the update you should avoid like the plague.
Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) is an update to Windows XP that addresses key feedback from our customers and is a cumulative update that includes all previously released updates for Windows XP, including security updates. Windows XP SP3 contains a small number of new updates and should not significantly change the Windows XP experience. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
Those last two sentences are a joke. It should say, "Windows XP SP3 contains a small number of new updates (known as bugs) and WILL significantly FRUSTRATE YOU AS AN END USER BEYOND COMPREHENSION AND change the Windows XP experience TO ONE THAT IS COMPLETELY USELESS AFTER THE INSTALL OF THIS UPDATE. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer (IF YOU CAN EVEN GET IT EVER WORK AGAIN LIKE IT WAS BEFORE YOU INSTALLED THIS.) BY THE WAY, GOOD LUCK TRYING TO GET HOLD OF ANY OF US ABOUT INSTALLING THIS SOFTWARE BECAUSE WE ARE LAUGHING OUR HEADS OFF WHILE WE PUT YOU ON HOLD AND TRANSFER YOUR CALL TO INDIA OR SOMEWHERE THEY DON'T EVEN SPEAK ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, MUST LESS AS A FIRST LANGUAGE.
re: Windows Vista SP1
by mrmaxx712 - 9/13/08 1:14 AM In reply to: You would think the bugs would be out of XP wouldn't you? by ShofarmanNo thanks. I've installed Vista on my machine twice now over the past 6 months and most recently SP1......Sorry Microsoft Windows Vista is a failure. It didn't work worth a crap the first time I installed it, and I hate to say that it still doesn't work worth a crap..The only difference I saw with the SP1 update was that it caused me 3 hours of frustration this time as apposed to 4 1\2 hours worth of swearing and yelling at my machine 6 months ago.
My advice to Microsoft would be to run it for themselves for a year, fix all the bugs in it before releasing to the public for hundreds of dollars, only for poor Joe or Mary to discover that, this greatly hyped new version will destroy their sanity.........
Vista Free here
mrmaxx
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