There are reasons for and against installing Vista SP1 public beta (although it is in RC1 stage) but here is one good reason in the “for” category.  Vista SP1 RC has the ability to install many patches without restarting.

“Hotpatching” is the ability of the operating system to install a hotfix to a running process and dynamically update it without restarting the system.  However, the hotfix must be specifically designed to take advantage of it and Vista SP1 RC is required to use them.

ArsTechnica seems to suggested that Microsoft built this feature into Vista but left it incomplete when the “final” version released.  Vista SP1 RC (and consequently the final version of SP1) will complete and enable this feature.

Installing Vista SP1 is not for the weak hearted as it requires installing some updates and a couple restarts before you are actually able to install Vista SP1 RC and if it fails you will have no choice but to wipe the operating system and start from scratch or tempt fate and try using System Restore to undo the changes (this failed for me on two occasions).

If you make the decision to install Vista SP1 RC, make a backup of your data (or burn a bootable drive image) before attempting the update.

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Related:

Windows Vista makes forensic PC exam easier

Vista gets "prettier in pink" with OneCare bundle in Japan

Windows 7 bares it all at D6 conference

Microsoft updates Windows Vista Media Center

Microsoft tries tempting small firms with free Vista support

Entry was posted on Monday, December 17th, 2007 at 1:15 pm under Microsoft, Upgrading, Vista.  Print This Post

Read more entries by Jonathan Schlaffer.