This article was written on August 08, 2007 by CyberNet.
Last week there were some updates leaked for Windows Vista. These updates promised to cure the problems that have plagued many Vista users, including the slow file transfer times and slow resuming from standby.
Microsoft must have decided that it would just be best if they released the updates to the public instead of holding them back any longer. So here are the links you’ll need to download these packages:
Windows Vista Performance Pack (KB938979):
Windows Vista Compatibility Pack (KB938194):
Note: You’ll notice that the direct download links still retrieve the files from Microsoft, but bypass the WGA check.
These updates are the same as the ones that were leaked, so if you had already installed those there is no need to download these. Microsoft also said that they will be distributing the patches via Windows Update, but did not give a date as to when. Many people are speculating that it will be happening next Tuesday, August 14th which is when Microsoft will unleash their Windows patches for the month.
I’ve been using these updates for almost a week now and I have to say that they make a tremendous difference in Vista’s performance. File transfer times are lightning fast, it doesn’t take forever for the "time remaining" to be calculated, resuming from standby is much more prompt, and a number of other things have been fixed. Microsoft is extremely smart for releasing these patches now and satisfying their current customers, rather than bundling the fixes with SP1 just so that they can boast a more powerful service pack.
Here’s a detailed list of what issues the individual packs address:
Windows Vista Performance Pack:
- You experience a long delay when you try to exit the Photos screen saver.
- A memory leak occurs when you use the Windows Energy screen saver.
- If User Account Control is disabled on the computer, you cannot install a network printer successfully. This problem occurs if the network printer is hosted by a Windows XP-based or a Windows Server 2003-based computer.
- When you write data to an AVI file by using the AVIStreamWrite function, the file header of the AVI file is corrupted.
- When you copy or move a large file, the "estimated time remaining" takes a long time to be calculated and displayed.
- After you resume the computer from hibernation, it takes a long time to display the logon screen.
- When you synchronize an offline file to a server, the offline file is corrupted.
- If you edit an image file that uses the RAW image format, data loss occurs in the image file.
- After you resume the computer from hibernation, the computer loses its default gateway address.
- Poor memory management performance occurs.
Windows Vista Compatibility Pack:
- The screen may go blank when you try to upgrade the video driver.
- The computer stops responding, and you receive a "Display driver stopped responding and has recovered" error message. You can restart the computer only by pressing the computer’s power button.
- The computer stops responding or restarts unexpectedly when you play video games or perform desktop operations.
- The Diagnostic Policy Service (DPS) stops responding when the computer is under heavy load or when very little memory is available. This problem prevents diagnostics from working.
- The screen goes blank after an external display device that is connected to the computer is turned off. For example, this problem may occur when a projector is turned off during a presentation.
- A computer that has NVIDIA G80 series graphic drivers installed stops responding.
- Visual appearance issues occur when you play graphics-intensive games.
- You experience poor playback quality when you play HD DVD disks or Blu-ray disks on a large monitor.
- Applications that load the Netcfgx.dll component exit unexpectedly.
- Windows Calendar exits unexpectedly after you create a new appointment, create a new task, and then restart the computer.
- Internet Connection Sharing stops responding after you upgrade a computer that is running Microsoft Windows XP to Windows Vista and then restart the computer.
- The Printer Spooler service stops unexpectedly.
- You receive a "Stop 0x0000009F" error when you put the computer to sleep while a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) connection is active.
Thanks for the tip CoryC!
Sources: All About Microsoft, Windows Now, and Ars Technica
Copyright © 2013 CyberNetNews.com
When it comes to Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) Microsoft is doing two things that almost counteract each other. First off Microsoft is easing up on the “Reduced Functionality Mode” for those users who don’t pass the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) test. As of right now if you don’t pass WGA Vista will disable premium features such as Aero Glass, ReadyBoost, games, and BitLocker. More annoyingly, however, is that it will log you out of Windows after just one hour of use.