Re Sticky:- Vista Hotfixes and Service Pack Update.

<p>still in beta phase according the windows vista magazine maybe 2008</p>

<p>There is quite a bit of discussion going on as to whether XP SP3 will be release before Vista SP1. This is as far as MS go -</p>

<p><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycle/servicepacks.mspx" class="bb-url">SP Road Map</a></p>

<p>^^^^^^^^^</p>

<p>So what is being conjectured in other forums is probably true.They don''t want to release XP SP3 until they have had a chance to flog some more Vistas :wink:</p>

<p>XP SP3 is only a roll up of patches available elsewhere (not all of which were automatically applied via Windows Update.</p>

<p>I don't think it effects the search box in the Start menu, only the ones on the top right of the Explorer window. This would mean a major change in how many users operate with Vista. For instance to open a Command Prompt, I press the Windows key, type cmd and hit enter. You can't do this from the Explorer Search box now, never mind with a 3rd party search engine. It would be a disaster if Google has forced them into making such a change.</p>

<p>I think MS have only been forced to allow other search engines to integrate, which they can't at present. I imagine it will make the top search box like the one in Firefox, where you can choose what search you use. The same as IE7 too, where you can <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/searchguide/en-en/default.mspx?dcsref=http://runonce.msn.com/runonce2.aspx" class="bb-url">Add Searches</a> if you want to.</p>

Back in in PC Answers (June 2007) an article was published by Dan De-Nicolo who registered a catologue of complaints about Vista.

This was shortly after I had acquired a new PC from Mesh – with Vista preinstalled. Having fallen foul of many of the issues he raised I was moved very soon thereafter to deliver a rant of my own against Vista that was printed as a Star Letter on your letters page. My own experience was incompatible hardware, incompatible software (repurchasing things like WebCams that were 12 months old and DVD burning software that was only compatible after you fudged the install routine) and so forth.

I could have lived with it if it ended there. Along came Service Pack 1 – the panacea for all ills we thought. Unfortunately, despite your big feature covering Service Pack 1 install problems and numerous telephone calls to Microsoft on their “free” support line I am now left with a crippled installation, still without Service Pack 1.  In addition to all the normal burden Somewhere in the 15+ attempts to install this software various parts of the original installation have failed whilst “Update has failed – reverting” I have lost the mirror on my Raid config repateadly (at each install attempt) I have resolution that persistently reverts to a non native resolution on my monitor and can only get it back by resetting and rebooting from scratch at every cold boot. Windows Explorer seems incapable of remembering the flash player install each time I install it - so I have to use Firefox, and now tonight – will not load Windows Media Player or play any MP3’s. I am unable to reset the Documents location and the config box for properties on this item is corrupt and will not accept any data.

Despite Microsoft’s assurances that they would give free support to SP1 upgrades is pointless if after numerous attempts and conversations with Bombay I am left with a system which clearly very flaky – and still on Service Pack 1. I realised that I was on a hide in to nothing when the Microsoft engineer suggested I downloaded a universal “fix” tool from a non Microsoft site that Vista would not even open!

I am now about to reinstall from scratch as I am going to upgrade the mainboard and processor. Good job I hung on to the licence to my old copy of Windows XP Professional!

Oliver