Windows Vista SP1 (release candidate) publicly available

You've heard about it, you know what it's got, you want it like crazy -- and about 11 months after launch Microsoft delivers on Vista's first service pack (in release candidate form, anyway). Go crazy!

P.S. -How big is this download really? The installer's under 400k, but we're still trying to find the big kahuna offline update package. Hit us up in comments.

[Thanks, Michael]

[Billy Fiul @ Dec 12th 2007 2:22AM]

Big deal; who cares?

[DAZA @ Dec 12th 2007 4:16AM]

Reply abuse, but these are the filesizes for Vista SP1 (at least estimates from MS for the final)

Standalone Package: About 450 MB (5 Language package) About 550 MB (Full 36 language package)

Windows Update: About 65 MB

Source: Notable_Changes_in_Windows_Vista_SP1_ Release _Candidate.doc @ http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e71f0083-1013-4f9c-a3f9-c56e7120a5e9&DisplayLang=en

[Kamokazi @ Dec 12th 2007 8:34AM]

Reply abuse also on file sizes. That document is correct for 32-bit, but not 64...here are the sizes listed in TechNet (have to have an account to log into see them)

32-bit Eng,Ger,Fren,Jap,Span: 436MB
32-bit Multilanguage: 549MB
64-bit Eng,Ger,Fren,Jap,Span: 733MB
64-bit Multilanguage: 879MB

There are already full ISOs available too with the SP pre-installed.

[Maff @ Dec 12th 2007 11:14AM]

Billy Fuil, you can't be serious can you??

[Matt @ Dec 12th 2007 1:50PM]

People with Vista care. If you don't care, don't comment.

[Tony @ Dec 12th 2007 1:51PM]

Billy, first the worst.

[gpgirard @ Dec 12th 2007 6:24PM]

People who don't live in their parents basement and subscribe to a million RSS feeds to sites like this so they can be the first, after 2 a.m., to post a comment devoid of any information.

[Michael Chiang @ Dec 12th 2007 2:23AM]

This is just the Release Candidate though

[Nick @ Dec 12th 2007 3:20AM]

Engadget should probably post these notes from the "Before You Install" document for users reading the site that don't know better:

• This is pre-release code and will change before the final release. Windows Vista SP1 Release Candidate is for individuals, organizations, and technical enthusiasts who are comfortable evaluating pre-release software. This pre-release software is provided for testing purposes only. Microsoft does not recommend installing this software on primary or mission critical systems. Microsoft recommends that you have a backup of your data prior to installing any pre-release software.

• Windows Vista SP1 Release Candidate is Time-Limited software. It will no longer operate after June 30, 2008 and should be uninstalled prior to that date. Note: After installation your desktop will show the text “Evaluation Copy”. This does not mean that your system is no longer “Genuine”. It means that you have installed a test version of software which is time-limited.

• If you install the Service Pack 1 Release Candidate, it is strongly recommended that you also plan to install the final version of Windows Vista SP1 when it is released in the first quarter of 2008. To do this, you will be required to uninstall this pre-release code.

[James Cameron @ Dec 12th 2007 3:33AM]

Bah, I just wasted 1gig of bandwidth. The waiting continued until next year.

[mushrooshi @ Dec 12th 2007 2:23AM]

But will it...

Whoops, software can't blend!

[Joel @ Dec 15th 2007 7:20AM]

Metaphorically speaking, you could, of course.

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Dec 12th 2007 5:49AM]

Well, Halo3 did blend!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIakPZ0DJjg

And btw - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NeR2LyILWQ - Vista blends well in "IT infrastructure" ^_^

[Garst @ Dec 12th 2007 6:33AM]

Technically, it didn't. It just shattered. In order for it to blend, it would have to be able to mix with something to a point where you cannot distinguish the separate parts. The only way to do that is to put it in something that will mask the CD's physical properties or mix it with similar properties. And that's not technically blending. So no, it did not blend.

[Andir3.0 @ Dec 12th 2007 7:34AM]

Are you kidding? For one, Microsoft wouldn't allow it's software to blend with anything else. Where's the money in that? Monkey boy still doesn't have as much money as Bill and he wants to get paid.

[Andune @ Dec 12th 2007 11:42AM]

A "certified for Windows Vista" blender maybe?

[Alex @ Dec 12th 2007 2:25AM]

yea, is this the actual SP1 or just a release candidate?

[lolec @ Dec 12th 2007 2:35AM]

Windows Vista SP1 !!!!!(release candidate)!!!! publicly available


not that hard ha?

[Luis @ Dec 12th 2007 2:27AM]

Will it make Vista play DOOM?





... or anything else for that matter... *shakes head*

[bald_gye @ Dec 12th 2007 4:48AM]

yes

[atrain @ Dec 12th 2007 2:40PM]

wait, will it MAKE vista play doom?
I can understand allowing vista to play doom, but does this service pack force the doom engine to keep running in the background, behind the desktop?

[Seether @ Dec 12th 2007 3:10PM]

Doom keeps on playing on the taskbar!! It better dang it!! It is the least Microsoft can do after a year of shoddy driver support.

DOOM 4 EVA!

[Richard @ Dec 12th 2007 2:35AM]

Now I might get it. IMHO, never upgrade a Windows OS until SP1 and an Apple OS until 10.X.3+.

[David @ Dec 12th 2007 3:20AM]

crikey you fruit loop. Its a home PC not an MOD missile controlling mega computer..

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Dec 12th 2007 5:51AM]

MS was caught many times releases SPs just to make look that its software would run OK.

Was a case (and experienced firsthand) for some releases of M$Office.

[Tony @ Dec 12th 2007 1:56PM]

@Ihar

I like your use of the dollar sign where it replaces the 'S'. Very clever. Did you think of it all by yourself?

[Phil @ Dec 12th 2007 2:35AM]

ITS OVER NINE THOUSAND!!!!! kbs that is... its under 600mb though.

[Mark Richardson @ Dec 12th 2007 8:58AM]

Funny.

[Ryan Pierce @ Dec 12th 2007 2:38AM]

Whats a "release candidate?"

[leoklank @ Dec 12th 2007 2:44AM]

Pretty much like the brain YOU got, it is a Release Candidate, not the actual brain...

[Phil @ Dec 12th 2007 2:54AM]

I'll not be a jerk and actually tell you, its a version of the software that has no major bugs and is likely to be the final release unless anything big turns up, as far as I understand it.

[mike @ Dec 12th 2007 3:05AM]

It wasn't about being a jerk, it's just that his brain is still in beta....

[RedBull Runner @ Dec 12th 2007 3:16AM]

Phil? No major bugs? We ARE talking Microsoft here aren't we?

I have a strong feeling that Vista RTM is actually the true RC1, and Vista SP1 will bring it up to a RC2.

Once we get to SP2 it will be in an actual, final, state. Just like XP.

[Hax Or @ Dec 12th 2007 9:42AM]

No it is not 'just like the final version'.

The final version of SP1 won't make you uninstall it at anytime (unless you don't want it).

The RC1 version of SP1 *SHOULD* be uninstalled before applying the final SP1. It's test software.

AKA not for the wife's computer, I really don't want to have to figure out the new bugs they added.

[Arneh @ Dec 12th 2007 2:42AM]

The offline 5 language update packages are available here:

5 Lang x86: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2fa54665-7716-47d9-b9b7-5cfdf71198cb&DisplayLang=en

5 Lang x64: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=88128a77-6107-46df-89d8-b93c248496e3&DisplayLang=en

[James Cameron @ Dec 12th 2007 3:13AM]

Cool, thanks.

[Arneh @ Dec 12th 2007 2:42AM]

And the offline All language update packages are available here:

All Lang x86: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=be34577a-e925-48fb-9d6d-50fe9461f808&DisplayLang=en

All Lang x64:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=c21c3978-3b7d-4d64-873b-3c9d26982d7a&DisplayLang=en

[storino03 @ Dec 12th 2007 2:43AM]

So if I update now, will it affect SP1's official release or is this the same exact software?

--James

[Nick @ Dec 12th 2007 2:52AM]

Anyone know if this will effect my activation"
I'm not running a legit vista but i managed to get it activated

[Eto @ Dec 12th 2007 3:10AM]

It's supposed to fuck up installs using the OEM hack or the Timerstop hack.

[James Cameron @ Dec 12th 2007 3:12AM]

Lol for being too honest. I guessed you will have to wait and see.

[James Cameron @ Dec 12th 2007 3:22AM]

Windows Vista SP1 to Disable Activation Exploits
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2227513,00.asp

[IndiaTech @ Dec 12th 2007 6:21AM]

I can see all the Apple Fanboys going nuts over this...
"See I told you M$ (Note how Microsoft is spelled) copies everything from Apple"
"Ummm, Like how?"
"You know Apple really got back to all those numbnuts who "illegally" unlocked their iPhones by bricking their iPhones with update 1.1.1 Well Microsoft just copied this feature. Now they are bricking all the PCs where users are "illegally" activating their Vista"

[Victor @ Dec 12th 2007 8:21AM]

Go ahead, give it a shot... what have you got to lose, right? Money spent on the OS? Oh right...

[They @ Dec 12th 2007 9:25AM]

(Double posted, for clarity.)


Also coming with SP1 but not in the current release candidate, we
will also be including updates that deal with two exploits we have
seen, which can affect system stability for our customers. The OEM
Bios exploit, which involves modifying system files and the BIOS of
the motherboard to mimic a type of product activation performed on
copies of Windows that are pre-installed by OEMs in the factory. The
Grace Timer exploit, which attempts to reset the “grace time”
limit between installation and activation to something like the year
2099 in some cases.

via http://www.istartedsomething.com/20071208/vista-sp1-changelog/

Transcribed from:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e71f0083-1013-4f9c-a3f9-c56e7120a5e9&DisplayLang=en

So you kids with the OEM hack are safe with this release. Just not
once the final rolls around.

[Paul Barwick @ Dec 12th 2007 10:04AM]

My legal department will be contacting you soon.

[Fescen9 @ Dec 12th 2007 2:57AM]

To answer a couple questions:
1) The 5 language offline installer (at least what I downloaded from MSDN a few days ago) is 1.14 GB.
2) Yes, this will break the Paradox OEM BIOS hack

[Arneh @ Dec 12th 2007 3:01AM]

1. No it isn't. Combined they may be, but split up, depending on the architecture, x86 is 436.3MB (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2fa54665-7716-47d9-b9b7-5cfdf71198cb&DisplayLang=en) and x64 is 733.5MB (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=88128a77-6107-46df-89d8-b93c248496e3&DisplayLang=en).

[Fescen9 @ Dec 12th 2007 3:09AM]

@Arneh
Man, you really want credit for posting those links don't you?
I gave my point of reference, which was an ISO download from MSDN. But your assumption is correct, the ISO contains both...
Hope someone thanks you for posting the links though, I'm sure it'll make you feel better.

[Arneh @ Dec 12th 2007 3:17AM]

I was just pointing it out based on what's actually available to the public and not what only MSDN subscribers can see. Sorry.