Not offered Service Pack 1 -Why?

[Karl]

Using a fairly new Dell PC without SP 1 installed, Windows Update does not
offer to install SP1, for some reason. Dell Tech Support said that was
probably due to the fact that my PC has all the important updates installed,
and to offer to install SP1 would be duplicative and might involve
downloading duplicative files. But does this make sense? Would I then just
keep installing routine important updates, waiting till SP 2 comes out?

In any case, I am reluctant to download SP 1 directly from the Microsoft
website, as they strongly recommend against doing so.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Karl

 

[Charlie42]

Using a fairly new Dell PC without SP 1 installed, Windows Update does
not offer to install SP1, for some reason. Dell Tech Support said that was
probably due to the fact that my PC has all the important updates
installed, and to offer to install SP1 would be duplicative and might
involve downloading duplicative files. But does this make sense? Would I
then just keep installing routine important updates, waiting till SP 2
comes
out?

You are right, it does not make sense. Security packs install even on
systems that have been kept updated all the time.

In any case, I am reluctant to download SP 1 directly from the Microsoft
website, as they strongly recommend against doing so.

Any suggestions?

The stand-alone installer works just fine, but it is a massive download
which may not be needed. First, try to figure out why SP1 is not offered
through Windows Update:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948343

Charlie42

 

[Nonny]

I thought I heard that if M$ still hasn't available a Vista driver for some
component on one's system, the service pack wouldn't be made available thru
Windows Update. Not until that driver became available. I think that's why
my machine doesn't pick it up, the particular sound driver on it has not
been updated to Vista Ready.

Actually, the problem is that SP1 uninstalls some drivers, and not all
of those are able to be automatically REinstalled.

If any of your drivers of that type (cannot be automatically
reinstalled), then you won't be offered the update.

 

[Charlie42]

I thought I heard that if M$ still hasn't available a Vista driver for
some
component on one's system, the service pack wouldn't be made available
thru Windows Update. Not until that driver became available. I think
that's why my machine doesn't pick it up, the particular sound driver on
it
has not been updated to Vista Ready.

You are correct. Search your sound card manufacturer's support site for
driver downloads. This is the best place to get the most recent drivers,
Windows Update is rarely up to pace.

Charlie42

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

However, you can use the standalone SP1 package and after the upgrade
reinstall the driver manually. if needed. The driver issue is not a matter
of bad drivers or drivers not working with SP1 but drivers that were
(erroneously) not written to permit them to be be automatically reinstalled
by SP1 after the upgrade. SP1 uninstalls all drivers, does the upgrade, and
then reinstalls the drivers. MS simply didn't want average users faced with
having to learn how to reinstall a driver.

 

[brummyfan]

Using a fairly new Dell PC without SP 1 installed, Windows Update does not
offer to install SP1, for some reason. Dell Tech Support said that was
probably due to the fact that my PC has all the important updates installed,
and to offer to install SP1 would be duplicative and might involve
downloading duplicative files. But does this make sense? Would I then just
keep installing routine important updates, waiting till SP 2 comes out?

In any case, I am reluctant to download SP 1 directly from the Microsoft
website, as they strongly recommend against doing so.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Karl

Karl,
Do not worry about SP1,it is only a cosmetic stop gap. If your PC works
without any problem its fine but if you insist go for the standalone package.
I did not notice any great improvement in my PC after SP1.