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Important Information for Upgrading to Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 1

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This document contains important information about upgrading Windows Vista with Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1).
The major benefit of Windows Vista SP1 is to provide users of Windows Vista with a better Windows Vista experience. Specifically, Windows Vista SP1 will provide improved reliability, performance, and security. These improvements include faster file copying, large file handling, faster file decompression, and support for emerging technologies and standards introduced since the debut of Windows Vista in January 2007.
Before upgrading to Windows Vista SP1
Before upgrading to Windows Vista SP1, the following steps are recommended:
  1. Optimize the performance of the computer as described in the HP support document, Increasing System Performance without Adding Memory in Windows Vista (in English).
  2. Backup your files as described in the HP support document, Backing up Your Files in Windows Vista (in English).
  3. Create a restore point as described in the HP support document, Using Microsoft System Restore in Windows Vista (in English).
  4. If you have previously downloaded and installed the Windows Vista SP1 Beta Version (or preview version), uninstall it using the steps described in the HP support document, Uninstalling Software in Windows Vista (in English). Neglecting to uninstall the preview version results in the error message “Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is already installed.”
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Requirements for Windows Vista SP1
The installation requirements for Windows Vista SP1 are the same as those for installing Windows Vista. These requirements are described in the Microsoft Help and Support article, System Requirements for Windows Vista (in English). Computers with multiple language packs, these requirements increase.
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Installing Windows Vista SP1
For home and small business users, the best way to download and install Windows Vista SP1 is by using Windows Update (in English). There are three files from Microsoft that need to be installed before SP1 is installed: KB935509, KB938371, and KB937287. These files are automatically installed before SP1 when Windows Update is used.
NOTE: For some users, it may be necessary to engage Windows Update mulitple times, to be assured that all necessary Windows Vista SP1 prerequisite files are present on the computer, before installing Windows Vista SP1.
A full install of the entire Windows Vista SP1 package that includes all files, including the prerequisite files, is available from the Microsoft Download Center for Windows Vista 32-bit (in English) and Windows Vista 64-bit (in English). Microsoft recommends using the full installation package when there are several computers that need to be upgraded or when a computer has a limited/low-speed Internet connection (download the full download from another computer and install it from a disc).
Computers maintained by an IT function, should adhere to the guidance of their local IT function regarding Windows Vista SP1.
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Known issues after upgrading to Windows Vista SP1
The following table lists some of the known issues that can affect HP and Compaq computers after they are upgraded to Windows Vista SP1.
NOTE: Known issues are alphabetically listed in the table below, otherwise the order is not significant.
Known Issues after Upgrading to Windows Vista SP1
IssueSuggestion
Driver/hardware issues . A device driver is not installed, or a hardware device does not function correctly after installing Windows Vista SP1.Reference Microsoft Help and Support article: A device driver is not installed, or a hardware device does not function correctly after you install Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (in English).
HP TouchSmart . Webcam not detected. Get application update SP37306 (in English) from HP Support.
Intel . Intel driver fails to support RAID drive configurations.Get driver SP37503 (in English) from HP Support.
Intel . Issues of system entering Sleep Mode when screen resolution is 1920 x 1200, or system displays a blue screen when resuming from Hibernate Mode.Get Intel Express Chipset graphics driver update SP37443 - for Windows Vista 32-bit (in English), or SP37444 - for Windows Vista 64-bit (in English).
nVidia . nVidia driver fails to support SATA and RAID drive configurations.Get driver SP37247 - SATA IDE (In English) or SP37248 - SATA RAID (in English) from HP Support.
Software/application functionality . Software or applications known to experience a loss of functionality after installing Windows Vista SP1.Reference Microsoft Help and Support article: Information about programs that are known to experience a loss of functionality when they run on a Windows Vista Service Pack 1-based computer (in English).
Sound . Sound problems after installing Windows Vista SP1.Reference Microsoft Help and Support article: You experience problems with sound after you install Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (in English).
Windows Movie Maker . The publish location is changed to “This Computer” in Windows Movie Maker when double-clicking a publish location.Reference Microsoft Knowledge Base article 946735 (in English) for a workaround (to publish at Windows Vista SP1 release).
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Related information
Other related information is available at the following resources:
Microsoft: Windows Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (in English).
Microsoft Technet: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) (in English).
Microsoft: Overview of Windows Vista SP1 (in English). Download the reference document, Overview of Windows Vista® Service Pack 1 (in PDF) from this Web site.
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NOTE: One or more of the links above will take you outside the Hewlett-Packard Web site. HP does not control and is not responsible for information outside the HP Web site.


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