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Microsoft has released Windows XP SP3 to the masses and also re-added Vista SP1 as an automatic update. After having some recent compatibility issues, Microsoft had delayed SP3 for XP and although SP1 for Vista remained available, it had to be manually downloaded.

It seems everything has been fixed and both updates are now available and waiting to be installed. Simply wait for Windows Update to kick in, or if you feel like you cannot wait any longer lunch the Update get the satisfaction on having an up to date system, at least for a little while.

Via [Engadget]

It turns out that April 29 was not the day for Windows XP SP3 to be officially released. However it was not just SP3 that was delayed, all of the updates for both Windows XP and also Vista have been stopped temporarily. The issue is due to another product called Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System, which was causing some incompatibility issues. In addition to XP’s SP3, the SP1 for Vista is also being affected. The update for XP was put on hold, while the update for Vista is still available, its just not available as an automatic item. Microsoft is encouraging anyone who is running Microsoft Dynamics RMS to not install Vista SP1.

Via [CrunchGear]

Microsoft is offering free support to Vista users who have encountered problems when updating their installations to the recently released Service Pack 1. What was normally offered free by Microsoft to those who purchased the retail product is now also available even for users who have OEM copy installations of the operating system.

The free support was caused by the numerous complaints from users who have installed the Vista SP1 update on their machine and then later on experienced endless reboot cycles and struggled with broken Vista application. Under the support plan, Vista users will have three options to get the free support. Users can either send an email and Vista support staff will reply within one business day, chat online with Vista customer support, or call the customer support hotline. The last option though is applicable only to Vista users who have software assurance agreement, professional contract, TechNet subscription or MSDB subscription or for those who belongs to the Microsoft Partner Program.

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Following yesterday’s round of rumors about SP1, it’s now officially available for download courtesy of the Microsoft web site. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone is the fancy name that it goes by, and it’s supposed to address “specific reliability and performance issues”, and has added support for new types of hardware (Blu-Ray drives?) So if your PC needs some serious updating, your are now free to do so.

Product [Microsoft]

Microsoft’s Windows Vista SP1 OS gets an “unofficial” release date via Amazon’s Windows Vista comparison page. Though Microsoft has failed to issue an official statement concerning the said release date, Amazon had this to say:

You can pre-order Windows Vista with SP1 or Windows Vista with SP1 Upgrades now to get SP1 included in the box. Or buy the current versions of Windows Vista now, then update to SP1 online--free of charge--when the new versions are released on March, 18, 2008.

Well, it was bound to be released someday, and it’s already past mid-March so this news shouldn’t come as as a surprise. It always proves interesting to see when another company leaks a release date, lets see if this one holds true.

Read [Amazon] Via [Engadget]

Microsoft is planning to roll out Service Pack 1 for Vista, which has been a highly anticipated update that is expected to fix some speed and compatibility issues, but may also cause some additional trouble. Sadly it seems SP1 may be a problem for a good number of users as it is expected to either break, limit or disable some commonly used programs. Microsoft has released a list of affected programs that could fall into one of three categories.

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Microsoft has announced the release to manufacturing for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) with a general availability to begin in March. Once available the update will begin with Microsoft Volume Licensing customers first. Current home Vista users should expect the update to be available during mid-March through Windows Update and have it become an automatic update in April 2008. According to Microsoft, Windows Vista SP1 will address key issues that customers have identified, as well as improve performance, reliability and compatibility.

Read [Windows Vista Team Blog]

Microsoft declared to end support for Windows XP Service Pack 1 and SP1a on this Tuesday, leaving users no choice but to upgrade their OS into either SP2 or upcoming Vista. While 50% of windows user still using SP1 the move to drop support for SP1 is in line with Microsoft’s stated strategy for support. According to its guidelines, Microsoft guarantees to provide “mainstream support” for a full product for five years, but will only guarantee to support a service pack for 12 months after the launch of the next version of that pack. So legally Microsoft is clean for ending support for SP1 - since SP1 was started to shipped in September 2002...and SP2 was released in September 2004.

Users can check which version they are running by right-clicking on the My Computer desktop icon and then selecting properties. The decision to end support for SP1 will help Microsoft to clear the decks for the arrival of Vista, which is expected to be released to business customers next month and to consumers by the end of January.

This will definitely put a spark on growing unrest on Microsoft’s product policy. For example Mac OSX let their user upgrade with little or no cost at all, on the other hand Microsoft charge a very handsome amount even if it’s just an upgrade. Shouldn’t Microsoft be concerned that MAC OSX-Leopard is due to release around the same time as Vista?  Which we probably don’t need to remind you, but it will support both PC and Mac platform (platform independent) and cost $60 less than Vista’s basic edition.

Could this be another mistake for Microsoft?

Read [ZDnet]