After weeks of speculation and leaked versions of
software, Microsoft has now released two vital new updates
ofWindows Vista.
The
official
release of the service packs comes as an enormous relief to
troubled users of Microsoft's flagship operating systems. Microsoft
also confirmed yesterday that Vista Service Pack 1 and XP Service
Pack 3 are now being tested.
Since the end of July, two unofficial versions of Windows Vista
updates have been in circulation, after they are thought to have
leaked via an unnamed channel. Yesterday Microsoft announced its
official release on the download centre, though it will not give a
date when it will become available via Windows Update.
Desperate users have used the unofficial channel to obtain fixes
for a long list of non-security bug fixes. One of the biggest
complaints among Vista users is the lethargic emergence from
hibernation that the operating system imposes on PCs. A
long-awaited patch is expected to help avoid the process dubbed the
"emerging from a coma" function.
Other fixed problems include difficulties in moving directories,
and compatibility differences with video drivers.
All of the fixes, said Microsoft, are new to Vista. No existing
updates are being replaced. The 10Mbyte performance update
KB938979 can be downloaded from the Microsoft download centre.
Vista's reliability update
KB938194 is also available, and takes up 2.1MB. A Knowledge
Base document, which spells out changes, is also available for
download.
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