Vista SP1 officially released

Looks like all those rumors yesterday were true -- Microsoft has just posted up the official standalone version of Vista SP1. Sure, you've been able to get it in one way or another for a while now, but if you're into silly things like "legit OS updates," the wow (SP1) is now.

Update: Here are the release notes -- as we've known for a while now, it's mostly bug fixes and performance tweaks, but the sheer volume of 'em is something to behold.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Thijs Haenen @ Mar 18th 2008 12:29PM]

Anyone got a clue as to when some more languages will become available? I.E. the Dutch version?

[superfresh @ Mar 18th 2008 12:44PM]

If this were an Apple release, Engadget would leave you with no question about anything the update adds, changes or removes.

[Andrew @ Mar 18th 2008 12:47PM]

Here we go again.

[superfresh @ Mar 18th 2008 12:50PM]

Also, don't click download on the READ link too quickly.

DO NOT CLICK DOWNLOAD IF YOU ARE UPDATING JUST ONE COMPUTER:

I guess that shouldn't matter too people. We're all IT Administrators, right?

[Allan @ Mar 18th 2008 12:52PM]

Why not click the download for one computer? It's still SP1 and will still install and update one computer as well as it would 30 of them. I prefer the standalone "administrator" packages anyway. I can download them and hold on to them if I need them again after a reinstall or something.

No need for the CAPS and freaking out...

[superfresh @ Mar 18th 2008 12:54PM]

Sorry, caps from the link. I don't like that either.

[Mike D @ Mar 18th 2008 12:54PM]

*clicks download*

[Rafer @ Mar 18th 2008 1:15PM]

A new wireless router from apple is breaking news and this isnt? Does AOL Time Warner get a big fat check from apple every month.

[Rafer @ Mar 18th 2008 1:25PM]

Aha now it is.

[Chris @ Mar 18th 2008 1:26PM]

Why wasn't I warned about the Microsoft store being down?

[dgibbon1 @ Mar 21st 2008 8:00PM]

This is from the MS What's New Page: "... Also, the language-neutral design of Windows Vista necessitates that the service pack be able to update any possible combination of the basic languages supported by Windows Vista with a single installer, so language files for the 36 basic languages are included in the standalone installer."

[Jagannath A @ Mar 18th 2008 3:35PM]

cos the update is free :p

[giantenemycrab @ Mar 18th 2008 3:37PM]

I usually don't like these anti-Engadget "bias" rants.. But, I think it's gotten to the point of ridiculous... If you look a few posts down, there's a whole list of new features with the iPhone update, which isn't even out until June.. This is out now, plus it affects far more people, but there's only a brief mention...

[ByronGman @ Mar 18th 2008 4:06PM]

Just a little personal review after installing it after updating via Windows update (yes, I know there is a changelog, my personal experience here):

> Doesn't seem to improve start-up, shut-down, or restart times.
> Memory dumped after the first restart.

> Connects to my campus network ALOT faster. (2-3 seconds, compared to 7-8)
> Video seems to load faster in my Firefox 3 Beta 4 compared to before.
> The Areo feature (Windows Key + Tab) is much more responsive and doesn't lag when I first press it like it did before.
> Seems to access and copy files faster from my SD card.

I still haven't tested it with any of my games (CoD4, World in Conflict, Crysis) but I hope I get a few gains there as well. So far it seems to play nice with Nvidia 169.44 on a 8600m GT.

[ByronGman @ Mar 18th 2008 4:15PM]

Yeah, and also I have to agree with giantenemycrab.

What is up with Engadget like orgasming over the stupid Iphone update and not putting up crap about this?

I mean that Iphone update isn't even out yet, its just something they got early, and conveniently decided needs a whole bunch of attention on the day SP1 comes out. ZOMG ZOMG ITS APPLE AND IPHONE!!!!!!!11!!

[mappyg @ Mar 18th 2008 4:16PM]

giantenemycrab: i figure windows isn't exactly a 'gadget', unlike said phone

[ByronGman @ Mar 18th 2008 4:23PM]

@ mappyg

If Windows isn't a "gadget" then neither is the firmware running the Iphone.

They fall in exactly the same category, they are both OS systems for a device.

[Andir3.0 @ Mar 18th 2008 4:47PM]

I don't have Vista, but I'm downloading it to spite... and to steal all your bandwidth.

[kiakid2006 @ Mar 18th 2008 7:10PM]

I just downloaded it and installed it. My computer is also alot faster. At first its slow that's because you have to let it retrain itself. Also I would recommend you defrag your hard drive too.

[Sukhminder @ Mar 19th 2008 5:01AM]

This was just a post letting us know it was out. Engadget is probably going to do a follow up "Hands on" feature for SP1 like they do with anything important... right?

[Segulah @ Apr 3rd 2008 3:44PM]

According to http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/pages/windows-vista-service-pack-1-beta-whitepaper.aspx,
"The standalone service pack will include all languages. It can update all PCs running Windows Vista -regardless of language."

[SirPasta117 @ Mar 18th 2008 12:29PM]

neat

[Flashpoint @ Mar 18th 2008 1:06PM]

This damn patch is 435 MB.

My God.

[srw985 @ Mar 18th 2008 2:08PM]

my god
that will take a whole 10 minutes to download, and thats on one of our crappy UK broadband connections.

[srw985 @ Mar 18th 2008 2:20PM]

it seems to think its goin to take over an hour to install

[tc @ Mar 18th 2008 3:12PM]

the update is 67MB over Windows Update

[Matsu @ Mar 18th 2008 4:55PM]

The update size depends on what updates you already have on your system. On mine it was less than 100 meg for SP1 and downloaded in just minutes!

[iofthestorm @ Mar 18th 2008 9:44PM]

The 435MB update includes 5 languages, don't do this if you've only got English. Use Windows Update. (personally, I don't see it in WU yet but I'm sorting things out from http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/03/18/windows-vista-sp1-released-to-windows-update.aspx )

[iofthestorm @ Mar 18th 2008 9:45PM]

I take that back, checking a second time made it show up. But that blog post might be useful for others.

[Baluki @ Mar 18th 2008 11:05PM]

Oh my god, 438mb. That's like half an hour of HD video.

Honestly, I'm a little surprised it's so small.

[gareth @ Mar 18th 2008 12:29PM]

nothing to see here move on

[tom @ Mar 18th 2008 12:55PM]

+1 Agree! I don't think there will be any earth shattering difference with the beta version floating around

[Framit @ Mar 18th 2008 1:36PM]

You're both idiots.

[Ryan Pierce @ Mar 18th 2008 12:30PM]

Why do I see two versions? Theres a 726MB and a 434MB one...

[Casper42 @ Mar 18th 2008 12:33PM]

The bigger one is x64 (64bit) and the smaller one is x86 (32bit)

[Ryan Pierce @ Mar 18th 2008 12:34PM]

Ah yes, thanks.

[Carey @ Mar 18th 2008 1:04PM]

I need to get the 64 bit version, do you mind telling me the link?

I can only find the 32 bit version... Thanks in advance

[Allan @ Mar 18th 2008 2:18PM]

x64 version:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=874A414B-32B2-41CC-BD8B-D71EDA5EC07C&displaylang=en

[Ryan Pierce @ Mar 18th 2008 2:18PM]

In case you havent found it yet, here's the x64 version:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=874A414B-32B2-41CC-BD8B-D71EDA5EC07C&displaylang=en

[Ryan Pierce @ Mar 18th 2008 2:18PM]

Weird, we both posted it at the exact same time...

[giantenemycrab @ Mar 18th 2008 3:26PM]

is there some other tech site that actually is reporting on this? Engadget's brief mention leaves much to be desired.

[Ryan Pierce @ Mar 18th 2008 5:05PM]

The only difference I saw on the two was that once you start the download of each file, you can see in the file name that there is an 'x86' and 'x64' respectively.

[Casper42 @ Mar 18th 2008 12:30PM]

Kind of old news no?

This article from Ars is almost a month old.
http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2008/02/20/vista-sp1-rtw-coming-march-18

[Eric @ Mar 18th 2008 12:32PM]

Uh yeah people knew it was most likely coming out today, but the fact that it came out today is still, in fact, news.

[Rex @ Mar 18th 2008 3:19PM]

If it were from Apple, we would have heard about it several times before it comes out as a rumor, then we would have several different posts about it actually coming out, and then a follow-up or two. A draft-n router that most people can't use yet and which might not work once 802.11n is ratified gets more details and posts then SP1 for Vista.

[JohnTitor @ Mar 18th 2008 12:31PM]

Is it Vista certified?

[Rob @ Mar 18th 2008 12:43PM]

No, it's "Vista Compatible." There's a difference. lol ...

[Wisam @ Mar 18th 2008 2:33PM]

No, you are both wrong. It is Made For Windows Vista ! lol

[Brian @ Mar 18th 2008 12:32PM]

Let the MS hating commence...

[lonecow @ Mar 18th 2008 12:35PM]

I hate Vista....


There. Happy?