ED#81 : Confirmed Schedule Of Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 Releases

We were the first to announce that Microsoft would be releasing Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista to manufacturing on February 4, 2008; and now we will be the first to announce Microsoft's confirmed schedule for the release of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 to the world. Here's how it's going to work...

As we mentioned in our February 4 update, getting RTM'ed does not mean Windows Vista SP1 will be released to public. Release to manufacturing (RTM) means exactly that - Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is final and is now released for manufacturing, and to the OEMs for integration with their systems. Public upgrades would come later. In April, as it turns out.

On February 4, Microsoft released the following details on their release schedule :

• In mid-March, we will release Windows Vista SP1 to Windows Update (in English, French, Spanish, German and Japanese) and to the download center on microsoft.com.  Customers who visit Windows Update can choose to install Service Pack 1. If Windows Update determines that the system has one of the drivers we know to be problematic, then Windows Update will not offer SP1.  Since we know that some customers may want to update to SP1 anyhow, the download center will allow anyone who wants to install SP1 to do so.
• In mid-April, we will begin delivering Windows Vista SP1 to Windows Vista customers who have chosen to have updates downloaded automatically.  That said, any system that Windows Update determines has a driver known to not update successfully will not get SP1 automatically.  As updates for these drivers become available, they will be installed automatically by Windows Update, which will unblock these systems from getting Service Pack 1.  The result is that more and more systems will automatically get SP1, but only when we are confident they will have a good experience.
• The remaining languages will RTM in April.

The Vista SP1 Release Schedule

Today, we were able to lay our hands on their actual release schedule. This is the real deal. Check it out.

The End-User Manual Update was originally scheduled for a February 19 release but has since been rescheduled to take place on or after March 18, 2008. This RTW (Release To Web) update is based on Wave 0, which means it only comes with support for five languages - English, German, Japanese, French and Spanish. If you need support for the other languages, you will need to wait for the Automatic Update version on or after April 18, which will be based on Wave 1.

Do note that unlike the Automatic Update version scheduled for release on or after April 18, the End-User Manual Update is optional. It will not automatically download or update your Windows Vista installation even if you have already chosen to automatically receive Windows Updates. You have to head over to the Microsoft Download Center or Windows Update site and manually select the optional Service Pack 1 upgrade.

This will change on or after April 18, when the Automatic Update version is released. That release will automatically download or update your Windows Vista installation, if you have chosen to receive Windows Updates automatically. If you do not wish to automatically install Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista, be sure to disable the automatic installation of updates.

For more information on Windows Vista and Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista, take a look at these links :

• Microsoft Windows Vista Review
• Installing Windows Vista For N00bs
• Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Candidate Release Preview Details
• What's New In Windows Vista Service Pack 1?
• ED#77 : Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Out Next Week!

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