Prepare for the PC improvement
Everything you need to know about the Windows Vista upgrade
Marc Saltzman
As owner and operator of Elite Party Rentals in Moonstone, Ont., Kari Smith relies on her Windows Vista-powered PC to communicate with customers, process orders, design flyers and manage finances.
“It took me a while to learn my way around it,” says Smith. “But Windows Vista is very powerful, easy to use and has fast search, so I can quickly find something on my computer.”
Smith experienced only one problem after she upgraded from Windows XP: Vista didn’t recognize one of her printers. “I’m looking forward to getting the Vista SP1 upgrade,” she says. “From what I hear, SP1 fixes this problem.”
And it does. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) is a free downloadable update available to Windows Vista users. It includes support for many peripherals and helps improve performance.
“Anything that’s going to help me work better, faster and more efficiently is something I can get excited about,” says Smith.
What is Windows Vista SP1?
This service pack includes a comprehensive set of Windows Vista updates issued over the past year. It also includes new enhancements designed to optimize your computing experience.
“SP1 is a significant milestone for Windows Vista, which has already shipped more than 100 million licences worldwide,” says Elliot Katz, Windows client product manager for Microsoft Canada.
Windows Vista originally shipped with more than 20,000 “drivers,” which enable support for hardware (such as printers, keyboards or monitors).
Windows Vista SP1 adds 58,000 drivers, bringing the total to more than 78,000. So if some peripherals (such as printers) previously had a hard time working with Windows Vista, the problems will likely be resolved by installing SP1.
How do I get Windows Vista SP1?
If you’ve got automatic updates turned on (which is the default setting in Windows Vista), you’ll be prompted with a message window in mid-April that tells you SP1 is ready for download. You can install SP1 immediately or select a more convenient time.
Windows Update can be found in the Control Panel under System and Maintenance.
Windows Vista users who do not have automatic updates turned on can click on the Windows Update tab (Start > All Programs > Windows Update) and manually download SP1 at their convenience.
Just a few clicks is all it takes to ensure your computer automatically upgrades to SP1 and any future Vista updates.
How long does it take?
Downloading the 65-MB SP1 file should take only a few minutes. (The time depends on the speed of your Internet connection.) The installation itself takes about 20 to 30 minutes, and you’ll be asked to reboot your PC when the process is complete.
When your PC restarts, a message will pop up reading “configuring updates.” Your new and improved operating system is preparing SP1 for you to use it. This process also takes a few minutes.
Total installation time, from start to finish, should take less than 60 minutes. While Windows Vista might not look different after downloading SP1, since all the updates will have taken place behind the scenes, Vista will have improved performance.
Windows Update lets you set your computer to automatically go online, check for and install important updates.
“With this free download, you’ll benefit from a year’s worth of improvements including faster performance, better security, more reliable wireless connectivity and added support for connected devices,” explains Katz.
Installing SP1 won’t erase important files, but it’s always a good idea to back up documents, photos and other important data before you begin.
Click here for more info on Windows Vista Service Pack 1.
About the author
Marc Saltzman has reported on the burgeoning high-tech industry since 1996. Along with his weekly syndicated columns with Gannett News Service, USAToday.com, Sympatico MSN and CNN.com, Marc currently contributes to more than 50 prominent publications including Microsoft Home, Toronto Star, National Post, Movie Entertainment and the Costco Connection. He also hosts G3 on Global TV, two radio shows in Canada and is a regular on CNN and CNN Radio as a consumer tech expert.
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