Newsletter Archives

• Vista Service Pack 1 not available on update lists

  Posted on March 20, 2009 at 07:39 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  I received an interesting message about Vista Service Pack 1 from reader DR:

  I have a Dell laptop with Vista Home Premium that was bought in April 2007.

  I have updated all drivers over the course of the last 2 years, installed KB 938371 and KB 949939, and KB 937287 (installed last month). I have Windows Update set to “notify me, but do not download”, as per your recomendation, and have applied all security updates (after checking with your website and Windows Secrets newsletter of course).

  I still have not been offered Service Pack 1. Is it because I installed KB 937287 just last month and WU needs to catch up, or am I better off dropping $4 to get the service pack CD from Microsoft?

  There are a zillion reasons why you might not be offered Service Pack 1. Microsoft Knowledge Base article 948343 goes through the high points.

  Microsoft used to offer free support with Vista SP1 installation problems, but the “free” part officially disappeared on March 18. I have a feeling that if you go to the SP1 support site, though, you might be able to get free help even though the deadline has passed. If you can’t get the suggestions in KB 948343 to work, try contacting the support site and let me know if they’re still giving it away.

  There’s rarely any good reason for paying to get a service pack. Microsoft actively discourages orders for patch CDs – for good reason. They’re a pain for everybody. Unless you have the world’s worst internet connection, you can get everything you need online.

  Windows Patches/Security KB 937287, KB 938371, KB 948343, KB 949939, Vista Service Pack 1