Vista SP1 serves up its own sets of problems
By Jonathan Schlaffer
Every technology site is full of information regarding Vista SP1, even our own. But, not everyone is happy with the way it performs, for some, entirely new problems have cropped up after installation.
While Vista SP1 will not fix existing compatibility problems with older applications and hardware, it can improve the reliability of most systems but may introduce new complications.
The Daytona Beach Journal Blog reports in its test that one laptop was upgraded to Vista SP1 without problems but the test desktop reported that Vista was no longer valid after the installation and wanted a new license key.
That’s not supposed to happen and it’s hard for me to believe that did happen, since SP1 is currently released as an “evaluation copy” it is supposed to suspend the activation system until the final version is installed, as seen below, note the “Genuine Software” label missing in the Information and Tools section. Then again I suppose anything is possible with beta software from Microsoft.
The desktop also had several other software issues involving some networking drivers.
Once SP1 beta is installed, it’s nearly impossible to get rid of so you will be stuck with it until the final version is released, not to mention if it fails at any point during the install you will have to restore your system from scratch by using the media included with it or the restore partition that may be present on the hard drive.
Vista may not be as fast as XP or compatible with older hardware or run well on it but on new systems with new hardware it is just as good.
One thing that Vista does better than XP is networking, wireless networking and bluetooth device support is far superior which I think would be essential for laptops.
Sure, Vista may have been named the worst tech product of the year by PC Mag and Mac OSX may be encroaching on Microsoft’s slice of the pie and some have even called it a “pointless product” but believe it or not, Vista does have redeeming qualities and no, I’m not just talking about Aero Glass.
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December 18th, 2007
Vista is a step in the right direction. The built in driver database is pretty good and WU deals with most of the rest.
Lots of tweaks and eye candy, but I can’t help feeling it’s more of a XP V1.1 than something new. There isn’t really anything in vista that can’t be done in XP if you are willing to spend the time and effort.
Oh yeah, WGA/Activation……Nuff said.
December 18th, 2007
I have diarrhea and it burns real bad, please make it stop!
December 18th, 2007
I’m going to have to point out a couple of errors in your blog posting.
First off, “since SP1 is currently released as an “evaluation copy” it is supposed to suspend the activation system until the final version is installed” is not true. The activation system still works as it does in the RTM build. Instead, SP1 sets a timebomb that will disable Windows at the end of six months. Start > Run > Winver. That shows you when it’ll be disabled. It’s the same as other OS Beta stuff. Remember the timebomb in the Vista Beta’s? It’s the same way. Remember the XP Beta? Same way.
“Once SP1 beta is installed, it’s nearly impossible to get rid of so you will be stuck with it until the final version is released,” - This just isn’t true. Follow these simple steps to “get rid of” SP1.
Start > Control Panel > Programs > Hotfixes > Service Pack 1 > Remove. Let it go through its motions, and there, it’s gone, no need to wait for the final. You have to do this, anyways, for each new build, or for the RTM of SP1. You almost certainly won’t be able to install the RTM of SP1 over a Beta copy, so you’ll need to uninstall it anyways.
Also, if the SP1 install fails, yeah, it’s a Beta, it might leave your system in an unusable state, but usually it just reverts the settings putting you in a pre-SP1 state.
December 18th, 2007
Sometimes it never ceases to amaze me how nit-picky the community can be, not that this is a bad thing.
It does “suspend” the activation system, for six months or until the final version of SP1 is installed, if not you can just revert back to pre-SP1… if you can. Okay, time bomb.
Maybe I should have made it more clear that I was speaking from my experience, both uninstall methods failed for me.
Once, the install failed during Stage 2 and stuck at 0% so I had to power off manually which left things a royal unstable mess, even Safe Mode didn’t quite work well so I had to restore the system.
All expected during a Beta, mind you, I can’t fault it for that.
I’m thinking that Microsoft will provide automatic routines for uninstalling any RC or beta service packs before installing the final version, so it has to be uninstalled, it might be automatic, it might not but yes, you are right on that front.
And lastly, you really think one person would be able to think of all that just for one post? Let’s agree the “suspend” argument is a technicality and it is hard to get rid of, or was for me, I almost didn’t bother with it a second time on the same system that had issues…
December 19th, 2007
The notion that Vista doesn’t perform as well as XP is false.
Vista does use a lot more resources, but it doesn’t slow down over a period of uptime, memory management is better, programs start faster, and heavy multi-tasking is much, much, much better. Directory browsing is also significantly improved.
Run each OS at 4x it’s recommended minimum, 512MB for XP, 2048 for Vista, and Vista is more than obviously a much faster OS tahn XP.
December 19th, 2007
I am an SP1 Beta tester, and have installed and uninstalled four builds at this point. Service Packs always have uninstallers, and can be uninstalled, provided it wasn’t slipstreamed into the media you installed from. If you have a SP1 slipstreamed copy of Vista, you’re out of luck, you can’t uninstall SP1. Same way in XP, though.
For the record, I’ve never had an SP1 install or uninstall fail on me.
December 20th, 2007
“Run each OS at 4x it’s recommended minimum, 512MB for XP, 2048 for Vista, and Vista is more than obviously a much faster OS tahn XP.”
What kind of voodoo Microsoft test is that? Are we handicapping like there’s a jockey involved? How about we run XP on the 2 gig and Vista on the 512 meg since it’s obviously a much faster OS, if you really like handicapping? Most benchmarking is based on trying to keep the testing environment neutral so you can compare tasks as head to head. Take both and test them on 2 gig, or/and 512 meg then we’ll talk about head to head speed winners.
January 7th, 2008
Time to clear up a few things.
Vista resource hog..yes
Programs start faster..no most actually start slower with a few exceptions.
memory management better..yes it is seems they got that one right.
Multitasking better..same actually but memory as mentioned above is handed out better
Doesn’t slow down over time..yeah right every os does this over time to to imperfect drivers and coding and its the nature of the game.
Is vista doomed..Yes for many reasons.
First there is no need for it
Drm crippled and in a time when drm is going by the way side.
Many Many issues and ms showing lack luster support and little interest in fixing vista.
Ms focusing on windows 7 to the point its all thats talked about and only 2 to 3 years away
But the biggest problem is there is very little in vista that can’t be done in xp and for the most part better and faster.
Its another windows me just a bigger mess.
March 19th, 2008
magnuss33, your clearly useless. i installed vista ultimate and it runs extremely well. Aside from the copy\paste speeds (which apparently have been seen to in the SP1 now which im not sure about as i only just installed it) it runs excellent. I have had absolutely no problems with it at all. Dont get me wrong, i think m$ is fairly useless to be honest, and i think xpp is a great OS and probably better than vista for a business environment. That doesnt make it as bad as ME in any standard. If anything, id call it xp in a new suit.
March 26th, 2008
Been there, seen it, done that.
Yes i am one of the “lucky” ones that have Vista home premium. In les then a week i bumped into so much problems i resized the harddisk and installed ubuntu.
first noticed problems on vista home premium (no-sp1):
1. Getting an ip adress by DHCP takes ages, it takes so long that you start wonder if the ipadress is transferred by a 3bps handycaped morse typist.
2. Acessing network shares.
What shares? Either it cant find them or it cant read them. (some workarrounds available).
3. File copy.
It is so slow that again you start wondering if that 3bps handycaped typist is doing the copy.
4. Try running your old software(s). And then call your bank, you will need a lot of cash to replace all your old software for new.
5. Tried to install or de-install something?
Again that 3bps handycaped typist at work. I have had programs that could install on XP in a few minutes. The same programmes can take up to a hour now to get installed on vista.
6. I am a programmer myself and let me tell you this: anny ocx will give you a shit time b4 it works. (several reasons)
7. Try replacing the mediacenter for nero’s and you get stuck in the install, stuck in the de-install, and stuck allover when playing media.
8. For years users are screaming to MS to get the monkey mode out (are you sure / yes no) or at least put in the option “i am a professional dont nag me with monkey y/n questions [X]”
Since vista now has UAC (user account controll) you get the monkey questions on almost anything you do.
Ok, the first problems encountered i switched to ubuntu waiting for vistas-SP1.
Well its on it now, and i am still crying…
1. DHCP looks resolved, it gets its ip adress a lot quicker.
2. SMB (network shares) now gets detected, and can be acessed read / write, but do not transfer a big file over your network you end up with LSP errors. 2 out of 3 attempts to copy a 1.7 GB file from a networked smb share to vista over a partly wireless network broke down 2 times with LSP errors.
3. Filecopy
When you do copy a file over the network remember burning it on a cd and walking to the other computer would have been faster. Since they still did not fire that 3bps handycaped morse typist that does the copy.
For localdisk to localdisk copies they hired a 2nd 3bps handycaped morse typist. It seems to go somewhat faster then without the servicepack.
4. Your old wares still dont work.
5. As an IT specialist i love those long install times, i just charge the customer 2 hours more for doing nothing. Even after installing SP1 it can take a LOOOOOOOOOONG time to get something simple installed / deinstalled.
6. I am a programmer myself and let me tell you this: anny ocx will give you a shit time b4 it works. (several reasons) This still stands after SP-1.
7. Still stuck with a %50 install of nero and unable to get it of the system.
8. A lot of work arround fixes can be done by simply turning the UAC (user account controll) off. This is again a very MS-way in resolving their leaky software problems. Turn of the entire security system so (lowlevel) security problems are resolved. By taking out your own brain you will also prevent headackes….
Bottom line: VISTA WITH STILL SUCKS!!!
I would not even think of migrating a whole company to it.