|
Get our Newsletter
Windows Vista Service Pack1
The problem occurred with customers who are running
Vista with Service Pack 1 installed and are using the
Dynamics RMS package. Microsoft isn’t going to restart
the automatic update process until they’ve figured out a
filter to work out which Vista users are running the
Dynamics software.
The package allows companies to automate everything from
cash registers to buying supplies. It’s used in around
38,000 stores and its most famous customer is the Dallas
Cowboys, who use it to manage their merchandising.
Obviously the problem had to be fairly serious to
completely freeze all updates. But Microsoft couldn’t
take any chances as the incompatibility problem ran the
risk of causing data loss in the Dynamics package, which
would be potentially disastrous for customers.
The firm says anyone using both the Service Pack 1
edition of Vista and the Dynamics RMS package should
contact Microsoft’s Customer Support Service for further
advice. The web address is
http://support.microsoft.com
The problem also affects XP users and delayed the
release of Service Pack 3, the third (and almost
certainly final) major update before XP is withdrawn
this summer.
Vista Service Pack 1 is the first major update since
Vista came out. Many users have already chosen to
download it by visiting the Windows website since it
became available in February. But Microsoft only started
distributing it through the automatic update service
last week.
Not everyone will have received Service Pack 1 before
the update service was put on hold. Rather than try to
send it out to millions of customers at once, Microsoft
distributes it in phases to make sure downloads are as
quick as possible.
If your computer hasn’t automatically updated to Service
Pack 1 yet, you can still get hold of it at
http://update.microsoft.com. Microsoft will also
continue using this site for any new updates they make
available before the automatic update service is back in
action.
Service Pack 1 doesn’t add any major new features, but
it brings together all the smaller bug fixes and
improvements Microsoft has made since Vista originally
came out. It also closes a couple of loopholes which
software pirates had exploited to run illegal copies of
the software.
Surprisingly, though, it removes a feature that means
copies which haven’t been activated only work in a very
limited fashion. Instead, such copies will now display
warning messages on the screen.
Microsoft says that’s to be fairer to people who’ve unwittingly obtained an illegal copy, though some have said it will make life easier for pirates, particularly those who don’t have to worry about other people seeing the warning messages.
John
Lister is a freelance writer from Manchester, England.
After graduating from a professionally-accredited
journalism degree course in 1998, he spent six years
running the press office for Plain English Campaign, a
pressure group working to make public information
clearer. He now works full-time writing articles and
producing summaries of newspaper reports.
His technology-writing experience includes daily
articles for the Infopackets technology newsletter. His
other specialties include the professional wrestling
industry, about which he has written two books.
Check out some more of his work at www.johnlisterwriting.com
John Lister's Articles
Friday May 29th 2008: Windows 7: Lucky For Vista?
Friday May 22nd 2008: Microsoft Pushing Vista's Green Appeal
Friday May 15th 2008: Microsoft having a tough time in British schools
Friday May 9th 2008: Vista Perception vs. Reality
Friday May 2nd 2008: Windows Vista SP1
Sign up for our Newsletter to get regular articles and updates delivered to your email box.
What do you think about John's article?
I'd love to get your feedback..
Let's hear from you.. You get a chance to respond here in front of thousands of visitors...