Microsoft affirms that the Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista is not just a patch collection, but extended the operating system with new features, greater reliability and higher performance.

In this article I would analyze the service pack 1 for Windows Vista to show you if you are ready for SP1 or you should wait till April when Microsoft the automated update for service pack 1 for Vista releases.

Microsoft has worked in last 12 months hard on SP1 for Windows Vista 32-bit and 64-bit. They has fixed many bugs and added some new features. Actually you cannot call them new features but we can call them upgrading for the existing features in Windows Vista.

The most important new features (upgrading of existing functions) of the final version of SP1 for Windows Vista include:

1.    Faster copying and pasting of files in the same network and hard drive

2.    Faster opening of large files

3.    Reduced Functionality disappearance of modes on a non-activated systems

4.    Disk defragmentation through the graphical user interface

5.    New features for BitLocker

6.    Support for additional media files for Media Center

7.    Support for Media Center Extender

8.    Possible  integration of alternative desktop search engines

9.    Option of a bootable rescue DVD

10. Full support of the Wi-Fi standard

11. Improving the energy-saving mode

12. More power for gamer because of Direct X 10.1 integration

13. More security with a better “PatchGuard”

14. Faster system start

These 10 upgrades are important for everyone, because every private and business user have had many problems with Microsoft Windows Vista performance.

Service pack 1 for Windows Vista has some upgrades for administration too:

1.    Better administration for enterprise systems

2.    BitLocker drive encryption for all partitions in the system

3.    Improve the print function for terminal server sessions

4.    Administrative overview if hard drives require a defragmentation

5.    Improve the Network Diagnostics

6.    New tools for group policy management

7.    Introduction of Extended File Allocation Table (FAT ex), a file system for flash cards.

8.    Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP)

9.    Integrated Direct X 10.1

10. Booting over the network via Extensible Firmware Interface

After the description of the most new features in the service pack 1 for Windows Vista 32-bit and 64-bit, it is time for installation of SP1 for Vista.

Microsoft compares SP1 for Vista with the SP2 of Windows XP, what the value again underlines. The service pack will come in several variants on DVDs but the standard version will be as a complete package with all the features and languages. For Vista 32-bit with SP1 you need 7GB space on your hard drive and it will be 16GB for Microsoft Windows Vista 64-bit with service pack 1.

There are 3 different ways of installation for SP1 for Vista:

A.    Windows Update downloads automatically SP1 and installs it on your computer. This variation will be able to do in April. It is good for private users with slower internet connection because Windows Vista Update will download files, what your computer needs and that will be only on one language, because private users are using usually only one language.

B.    Stand-alone installation runs on a separate file that the user downloads and installs. The download includes about 550 MB for Vista 32-bit systems, and 850 MB for Windows Vista 64-bit, because the file contains all 36 languages. Right now there is SP1 for Windows Vista only in five languages such as English, German, Spanish, French and Japanese. This method offers advantages in the absence or limited Internet connection and in-series installations with the help of deployment tools such as Systems Management Server 2003 (SMS) and System Center Configuration Manager 2007 (SCCM).

C.    Integrated installation means that SP1 integrated into an operating system, and both files are installed at the same time, when you buy the Windows Vista DVD.