Official: Vista SP1 released to manufacturing -- headed your way... in March

We've been hearing rumors all morning that Microsoft would release Vista SP1 this week. Now, according to Reuters, Microsoft has just sent Vista SP1 to manufacturing. In the same presentation to investors, Steve Ballmer said that Microsoft has released Windows Server 2008 to manufacturing as well. However, the server software won't formally launch until February 27th. Now we're just waiting for the SP1 download link and/or Windows Update package. Twiddle, twiddle... ah hell, we'll just update you when we get it -- this could take a few days.

Update: Hands off the F5 key kids, Microsoft says SP1 won't be available to customers until March, starting with Microsoft Volume Licensing customers. Server 2008 will be available for purchase on March 1st.

[mattclarkie @ Feb 4th 2008 8:39AM]

I would assume it would release Wednesday then. But I will wait for 3/4 days to see whether it has major issues.

[Chebwa @ Feb 4th 2008 11:10AM]

Vista SP1 with "major issues?"

People have been using what is essentially the completed version for weeks now. Nothing but high praise. What kind of issues are you expecting to pop up from a stability/speed update?

[mattclarkie @ Feb 4th 2008 11:51AM]

I downloaded a simple update that corrupted several files on my HDD, and I had to restore back to a previous copy, and then start again. It was probably just a piece of bad luck, but I will wait a few days to make sure that there aren't some similar issues. I am not saying that the build is bad, but the installer may have a few bugs in it.

[Mark @ Feb 4th 2008 7:31PM]

@ mattclarkie:
As they say, often the problem lies between the chair and the keyboard.

[mattclarkie @ Feb 5th 2008 3:58AM]

Yeah I am the reason that Windows Update cocked up. When I clicked that install button I obviously did something wrong.

What a totally ridiculous comment.

[kr @ Feb 7th 2008 12:20AM]

PICNIC = Problem In Chair Not In Computer

[Isaac @ Feb 4th 2008 8:41AM]

Its about damn time.

[007baf @ Feb 4th 2008 8:41AM]

Maybe my laptop and desktop will start working correctly. I've had to rebuild my desktop 3 times so far. This brand new laptop is not so great and I'm convinced it's the OS. MS better get it right this time.

[Jeff Jones @ Feb 4th 2008 11:39AM]

It's probably more likely your drivers. I've had similar problems. But then I've also had two newer systems with practically flawless performance.

[Will @ Feb 4th 2008 8:47AM]

10.5.2 where are you, where are you?

[Blaktornado @ Feb 4th 2008 2:40PM]

definitely not over a year away, that's for sure.

[Liam @ Feb 4th 2008 8:49AM]

The enthusiasm you infuse in all your posts when talking about Microsoft is nigh-on unbearable! C'mon guys, can't you tone it down a bit?

[Neoprimal @ Feb 4th 2008 10:44AM]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!

oh...I mean..

yaaaaaay.

[Ty @ Feb 4th 2008 11:02AM]

I honestly think Thomas Ricker and Ryan Block have contests to see who can piss off M$ users more.

[Andy @ Feb 5th 2008 10:35AM]

What's wrong with it? Are people not allowed to be excited about specific companies?

[Kevin T @ Feb 4th 2008 8:50AM]

Finally...

[Jimmy Jones @ Feb 4th 2008 8:52AM]

@Liam, it's a sign or smell of anti-M$ and from commenters like Will who "DO NO EVIL" on the google side. Stupid pple who r always scared of competitors instead of stepping up their own games...n continue to be better

[Will @ Feb 4th 2008 9:11AM]

I have a copy of Vista Home Premium thank you very much. I don't have anything against Microsoft, just Vista. It's cliche, but Vista is both an improvement and a step back from XP.
One thing that really pisses me off about Vista, is when a movie is previewed, the date modified changes. This cost me several hours of fixing DSC movies until I figured out what was causing the problem.
Oh, and I had to jump through hoops to do a clean install with an "upgrade" copy.

Oh, and OS X does spell checking in comments forms. Don't be afraid of it.

[torqueo @ Feb 4th 2008 9:14AM]

Don't you mean Safari checks spelling? Firefox does, too... even on Vista. ;>

[Will @ Feb 4th 2008 9:16AM]

Yes, thanks for clarifying. Safari, the default browser does.

[torqueo @ Feb 4th 2008 9:19AM]

Oh, it's default. I'm relieved - it's super hard to type www.getfirefox.com. Agh wait, I just did!

[Andy D @ Feb 4th 2008 9:24AM]

1. Your upset because you had to jump through hoops to install an OS that is meant to be used as an upgrade? Isn't it your own fault for buying that version?

2. Not sure what you're talking about with change in modified dates for video files. I see the same modified date for my old videos before and after it's watched. Now if you moved to another drive, then that's a different story

[Will @ Feb 4th 2008 9:32AM]

Andy,
In all previous upgrade versions of Windows, you could do a clean install, and provide a previous version's disc in order to verify eligibility. There is no mention of this procedure having changed on the packaging.

The date modified issue doesn't happen if you use WMP or another video player to playback the files. However, if you are in a directory where you have both pictures and videos (from a digital camera in my case), and you move between video files with the preview application, the dates will be modified. I've only observed this with .mpg files, but as these from my digital camera, the date stamp is rather important.

[Jason Cox @ Feb 4th 2008 9:01AM]

Now to start F5'ing the Microsoft Download site...

[Tony @ Feb 4th 2008 6:21PM]

Doesn't your browser have an auto refresh function?

[torqueo @ Feb 4th 2008 9:07AM]

It was planned for release today, so this isn't really news. Well, maybe to Engadget it is. :P

[Daza @ Feb 4th 2008 9:18AM]

Yay. Will download the RTM as soon as it leaks. Now, to spilstream it with the install DVD or to just upgrade.. hmm!

[Andy D @ Feb 4th 2008 9:25AM]

I thought slipstreaming of service packs is no longer possible with Vista? Isn't that the reason why it's not possible to do so with vlite?

[Daza @ Feb 4th 2008 9:31AM]

Yikes, just reading up on it now, looks like only post SP1 updates (such as SP2) will slipstream properly. Guess I'll have to download the MS slipstreamed version or just use automatic updates. No biggie I guess!

[NNTPgrip @ Feb 4th 2008 9:26AM]

Server 2008 comes out March 1, and March 31 is when the upgrade exams for MCSA/MCSE 2000 to 2003 go away. Just FYI. I procrastinated and am now in the thick of reading Test Kings. I know 2000 and 2003 were so similar most did not up their MCSE or MCSA, but in the event that 2008 does not suck like Vista, I would sure like to only take two tests instead of the full load to up to that. There is no upgrade path from 2000 to 2008.

As for Vista, wake we up around midway between SP2 and SP3, I might take my users to that then. Exchange 2007? try SP3(It's interface must have been designed by the team from ISA 2000).

[Neal @ Feb 4th 2008 11:00AM]

I love 2008 server, about the only thing missing is the ability to share a common DHCP database so you can have a true fault tolerant and distributed DHCP service. Been using 2008 Server since RC1 and I am extremely impressed with both stability and speed, the VM aspect rocks too.

[jd @ Feb 4th 2008 9:30AM]

did they finally remove those annoying pop up and security crap?

i wont upgrade unless they do that.

[Don @ Feb 4th 2008 9:38AM]

You CAN disable User Account Control...

[chris @ Feb 4th 2008 9:41AM]

popups and security crap? wow you mean something that's meant to protect you from viruses and rogue software trying to silently install in the background... thats like linux people saying they want the guru's to do away with the SU password requirement... i mean MS went even further makinga virtual secure desktop for the password window to thwart programs from trying to click "ok" themselves with macros ... but thats just showing how much they were dedicated to proper security this time they through everything at it.

[Naveed @ Feb 4th 2008 9:40AM]

you can disable that

[Chebwa @ Feb 4th 2008 10:21AM]

You can disable them already with a SINGLE CHECKBOX in your user settings. Just take a few seconds to look for it. It took longer to write that comment than it does to disable the security boxes.

Click the little picture of the fish or whatever other awful thing you were forced to use for an icon in the top right of the start menu. Browse from there and disable it.

[Dale @ Feb 4th 2008 10:35AM]

You can turn UAC off, sure... but knowing it's UAC causing all those stupid messages in the first place is not apparent to someone who is new to Vista.

And while I appreciate that the average computer user really benefits from having their hand held through everything they do on their computer, it should be an option that you are made aware of from the start.

[Don @ Feb 4th 2008 10:39AM]

@Dave

Are you kidding me? How would you like to be "made aware?" Maybe in the user guide? http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=bbc16ebf-4823-4a12-afe1-5b40b2ad3725&displaylang=en

[Ty @ Feb 4th 2008 11:07AM]

"You can turn UAC off, sure... but knowing it's UAC causing all those stupid messages in the first place is not apparent to someone who is new to Vista."

Pretty sure when messages come up it says USER ACCOUNT CONTROL. But what do I know, I only use Vista every day!

Idiot.

[Jeff @ Feb 4th 2008 11:52AM]

Actually most of the UAC problems come from the fact that XP was so relaxed on the Admin/User status. Because of that, programmers got into the bad habit of expecting Admin status (since everyone ran that way). So when Vista changed to running the user as a user, it messed up the old applications and forced developers to rush to fix all their stuff. Hopefully most of them have been fixed by now.

[tcc3 @ Feb 4th 2008 2:56PM]

Actually Jeff, devs have been sloppy about their programs "needing" Admin status for no apparent reason since NT4. probably before. Just because devs cant be bothered to implement correct multiuser security policy doesn't make it a Windows problem.

[Erick @ Feb 4th 2008 9:38AM]

http://www.geocities.com/rutherk1/imvista.jpg

[Steffen Jobbs @ Feb 4th 2008 5:02PM]

Security is great in Vista. You're fully protected.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfetbidVUYw

[DustoMan @ Feb 4th 2008 9:49AM]

According to the Windows Vista Team Blog. SP1 won't be on Windows Update and the Microsoft download site until Mid-March. Customers that select to have updates auto-installed via Windows Update won't get automatically pushed until April. I guess there's some issues with device drivers so that's why they are doing this staggered rollout.

More here:http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/02/04/announcing-the-rtm-of-windows-vista-sp1.aspx

[Dale @ Feb 4th 2008 10:36AM]

Hold the phone, driver issues? On Vista? Crazy talk!

[Neal @ Feb 4th 2008 11:03AM]

Yea, you would think the manufacturer's would have learned from when Vista shipped that they should have the drivers ready, but noooooo.

[Ty @ Feb 4th 2008 11:13AM]

I'd rather them wait and get whatever kinks are left sorted out than push the release now. But this is coming from someone who actually has to use the service pack, not someone who thinks they write really awesome one liners on Engadget comments. There are literally millions of possible hardware combinations that need to be tested and Vista runs on a completely different architecture than XP did.

All I'm saying is: C'mon, give M$ a break. It's a whopping 26 days. My Vista PC runs fine now so I'm not really hampered by it running fine while I wait 26 days for it to run better...

[NHAnimator @ Feb 4th 2008 10:01AM]

It has to be manufactured? Would be nice to have in downloadable form.

[Jeebus @ Feb 4th 2008 12:26PM]

Maybe it's a hardware upgrade?

[JAmerican @ Feb 4th 2008 10:10AM]

What's this Vista SP1 you talk of. I am only interested in XP SP3!