Windows Vista Service Pack 1!
For installing Windows Vista Service Pack 1 you need to do several steps first. I've had a couple of unpleasant experiences doing the update. On the second one I finally called Microsoft. Because of the very advanced configuration of a RAID array on the computer I was updating, I was put through to the higher tech support than you would normally get. The person I talked to was extra helpful. I have to say that as a tech, I've had to call a number of tech support centers. But this was a good call. My support agent, Anand Joshi, was easy to understand, even for a non-tech person he would have been understood, and stayed on the phone until I was satisfied that the install went well. He gave me a couple of tips that I hadn't already learned before the second bad or slow install. All of these will be listed in the order that I've used since then and had good luck.
There are several updates to try to install before the big one. In Microsoft terms these are the “Prerequisites”. If these updates are needed they'll install, and if not then you'll get a dialog box saying that it doesn't apply to that computer or is already installed. The ones that I'm linking to are “stand alone” installers just for Vista. I'll link to ones that you can download from my site until I get busted by Microsoft and I'll also link to the page that you can download right from Microsoft.
Update Name |
Download from my site |
Download from Microsoft |
Update for Windows Vista (KB935509) |
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Update for Windows Vista (KB937287) |
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Update for Windows Vista (KB938371) |
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Update for Windows Vista (KB949939) |
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Update for Windows Vista (KB950127) |
If you have installed any of these updates, I would reboot the computer between each one that is installed. This will give you more restore points should something go wrong with the update.
After you do the those updates you need to look to see if you have any language packs installed, especially if you have Vista Ultimate. They'll be listed with the rest of the Windows updates. You check your previous history. If you do have a language pack installed you have to remove it and then reinstall it after Service Pack 1 is installed.
Next is a step that is recommended often, but I've never had to actually do it before. Remove your security software, especially your antivirus program. For those of us AVG users, this is not a big deal since it is pretty small and installs quickly. Also, I like to have already downloaded the same software for the reinstall later. If you are using programs that you've paid for, then you'll want to find your product key BEFORE you remove your software. Often the only way to find the key is in the program itself or from the program's folder in the “Program Files” directory of Windows. You may even have to contact your vendor. For example if you have AVG Free and the Spyware Doctor free version that you get from the Google Pack, then just open the Google Updater and click on the “remove” link next to Spyware Doctor. Reboot and then go the the AVG program folder from the start button and then programs and use the uninstall link there. When AVG asks if you want to remove the personal data, two unchecked boxes, then leave the boxes unchecked and proceed with the removal.
Now that the security software is gone, go to the start menu and in the search box type “MSCONFIG”. I'm not normally a fan of this utility because too many people turn off items that are really needed for their systems to run correctly. In this case it is exactly what is needed. When MSCONFIG opens, choose the selective startup and uncheck the programs box and then go to the “services” tab. There is a checkbox toward the bottom to “hide all Microsoft services”. Check that box and then to the right there is a “Disable All” button. Click the disable button and then the OK button to close MSCONFIG. Once that closes, you should get a new dialog box to reboot now or exit without rebooting. Go ahead and reboot the computer one more time.
Once the computer restarts, you should have only the Microsoft services running and none of the normal startup programs. You are now finally ready to install Vista Service Pack1. If you've downloaded the standalone service pack listed below, just open it and follow the instructions. You also have the option to use the Windows update. I'm convinced that using the standalone installer is a bit faster, because I could swear that during the update there may be files being downloaded anyway. The standalone installer is LARGE, 434MB! But if you have a highspeed connection, that won't take all that long and may be just as fast as the Windows Update that downloads only about 70MB. I've done both and the download for the standalone was only a couple of minutes longer, I guess that server is faster and has less traffic. Also you can use a download manager like “down them all” with firefox.
Update Name |
Download from my site |
Download from Microsoft |
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone (KB936330) |
This link will take you to the Microsoft page where you can choose either the x86 or the 64bit version you need depending on the version of Vista you have. This same page has information on other methods. |
When the installation is over you will want to right click on “computer” and choose “properties”. On the page that comes up you will see the version of Vista should have changed to reflect Service Pack 1, and at the bottom of that same page there is a dialog that says that Windows is “Activated” or something like that.
If all that is good then go back to the MSCONFIG and change it back to “Normal Startup” and reboot the computer. Now you need to reinstall your security software. Hopefully you've already downloaded it, and if it's the Spyware Doctor from Google, then just open the Google Updater and choose the “get more software” and click on the Spyware Doctor box and start the download and install as normal. You will have to double check the settings for this one. The reinstall for AVG should only require you to do a manual update once it's installed.
You should be done now. Hopefully you'll notice the little bit of speed boost that I've seen on the machines I've done so far. It's not a huge speed boost, so don't get your hopes up too much, but they have “felt” faster.
OK, so good job. Run along and play!
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Disclaimer - This site is meant as a help site and I won't be held responsible if you screw up your computer or someone else's computer. I won't be responsible for any of the programs listed anywhere on this page or anywhere on VicLovan.com. I didn't write any of the programs listed so if it messes up something you'll have to see the people that wrote it (and most likely you agreed to some sort of EULA not to blame them either when you installed that program). What all this will boil down to is this, BACK UP YOUR DATA, anything that is important to you, should be backed up to multiple locations, and if it's that important to you then you should take at least one copy off the premises. FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD IT'S A COMPUTER IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO SCREW UP AT SOME TIME AND YOU'LL HAVE TO START OVER ANYWAY! OK, enough of the soap box, just use some common sense and you should be fine.
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