Microsoft last week started distributing an initial beta of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) to around “12,000+ private beta testers.” This is anticipated to be the first step toward a long awaited final release, expected sometime during the first quarter of 2008.

According to the Microsoft white paper and subsequent blog postings on the official Vista blog, Vista SP1 will feature a roll-up of fixes released so far and security improvements, like upgrades to BitLocker drive encryption. DreamScene is not available in the Windows Vista SP1 Beta; however, it will be made available with a later release of SP1.

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Microsoft has finally announced through Windowsultimate.com the release of the RTM version of Windows DreamScene as an Extra for Windows Vista Ultimate.

Windows DreamScene is Video wallpaper allowing a full motion picture instead of a static image as the desktop background and is available as a download under Windows Ultimate Extra in Windows Update.

After installing the RTM version of Windows DreamScene. You can download Windows DreamScene favorites and the Content Pack which will add four new DreamScene for your Desktop.

Dreamscene is one of the ‘Ultimate Extras’ promised to buyers as an inducement to pay a premium price for Vista Ultimate edition as opposed to lower-priced options.

Since Vista was released early this year, five extras have become available, these include an upgrade to BitLocker Hard Drive encryption, a security tool called Online Key and a poker game

Barry Goffe, Director of Windows Vista Ultimate stated:

“As implied throughout most marketing materials including the official website and even Window Vista’s own control panel, Ultimate Extras were supposed to be frequent and free premium products and services delivered to the customers who “wanted it all”. And the truth is, customers are getting near to nothing.”

“While I can understand how community sites and bloggers may have read the new definition and assumed that Microsoft is not shipping any more Extras, in reality the opposite is true. In addition to the remaining Language Packs, we plan to ship a collection of additional Windows Ultimate Extras that we are confident will delight our passionate Windows Vista Ultimate customers.”

No deadline has been given for the release of these additional new Extras

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Microsoft last week announced through its Windows Server Division Weblog the availability of the first release candidate (RC) for Windows Server 2008. This can be downloaded as part of the customer technology preview (CTP) program.

Along with Windows Server 2008, the first public release of Windows Server virtualization (WsV, formally codenamed Viridian) will be available. WSV allows multiple operating systems to be run on a single server, which has a host of benefits for an enterprise shop.

Ward Ralston, senior technical product manager for Windows Server is reported as saying:

“Not only does this milestone indicate that Windows Server 2008 is ready to march down the path to RTM (Release to Manufacturing) and readied for shipping ….but it also is the first time WsV will be part of the code base and available to everyone,”

Windows Server 2008 is scheduled to be part of a “Launch Wave” of Windows Server products 27 February 2008

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Windows slipstreaming enables service packs to be incorporated into the Windows setup files, allowing the updates to be installed alongside Windows this is particularly useful when a Network Administrator must undertake large deployments of the operating system.

For this article I will use Windows XP with Service Pack 2

First extract all the files from the existing Windows Installation CDROM into a distribution share held on the server (for example C:\WINXPCD), and then extract the latest service pack into a separate location (for example C:\XPSP2.EXE)

To combine the service pack and the Windows setup files from a command line type

C:\XPSP2.EXE -S:C:\WINXPCD
The following screen shot shows the integration update screen

On completion the integrated installation completed successfully screen will be displayed

All new installations of the Operating System can now be deployed with the integrated service pack from the distribution share point, in this example the C:\WINXPCD shared folder

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Scott Dunn of the Windows Secrets Web site recently reported that the Windows Update service made changes to nine files on both Windows XP and Vista, without prompting the user for permission using the usual dialog box to alter files.

Dunn quoted a poster on a Microsoft communities forum detailing the patches. The poster said:

“In Vista, the following files are updated:

1. wuapi.dll
2. wuapp.exe
3. wuauclt.exe
4. wuaueng.dll
5. wucltux.dll
6. wudriver.dll
7. wups.dll
8. wups2.dll
9. wuwebv.dll
 

In XP, the following files are updated:

1. cdm.dll
2. wuapi.dll
3. wuauclt.exe
4. wuaucpl.cpl
5. wuaueng.dll
6. wucltui.dll
7. wups.dll
8. wups2.dll
9. wuweb.dll”

 
The updates are upgrades to the Windows Update service itself, and are not harmful to a system, but it does confirm that Windows Update can bypass user-defined behaviour

Dunn stated: “For users who elect not to have updates installed automatically, the issue of consent is crucial. Microsoft has apparently decided, however, that it doesn’t need permission to patch Windows Update files, even if you’ve set your preferences to require it.”

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I was recently contacted by one of my former students asking me about reinstating a Windows Vista upgrade which he was having problems with. To help others I have posted his question and my answer in this post

“Hi, my name is Dave Goodwin, I have been using Windows Vista for some time after upgrading my computer from Windows XP. I have just purchased a new Hard Drive after the one I was using failed, I need to reinstall Windows Vista, however it is an upgrade version and it will not let me install from DVD without an existing operating system – can you help?”

Hi Dave. Yes unlike previous operating systems, such as Windows XP, Windows Vista will scan the Hard Drive to find any existing operating system and in this case being a new drive no operating system exists.

You have two main options available to you:

Option 1

If you have a copy of the original Windows XP CD you can install this on the new Hard Drive then on completion boot from the Windows Vista DVD and enter the Product ID when prompted, which should install without a problem as an existing operating system will be detected

Option 2

If you purchased the computer new, it is possible that you were never provided with a copy of the original Windows XP CD. As an alternative you can install your copy of Windows Vista from the DVD as a “Trail Version” to do this boot from the DVD but DO NOT enter a product licence key when prompted. (leave this option blank) the operating system will then function as a 30 day trial copy.

Once installed, boot again from the Windows Vista DVD and install Windows Vista as an upgrade version providing the product ID when prompted

There is a third option available and that is to reinstall a drive image from third party software if you created one previously, but I have assumed this is not available

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Prometric has recently announced through its web site that starting on 15 September 2007 for a limited time all Microsoft MCP or Dynamics exam takers will be able to register for a FREE second chance to retake their next Microsoft IT Professional, Developer, or Microsoft Dynamics certification exam

Of course you will pass first time and will not need this, but just in case here is the link to the Prometric. Web site

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Microsoft recently released more detailed information about Windows Vista SP1, Nick White stated on the Vista Team Blog “We’re targeting releasing SP1 to manufacturing in the first quarter of 2008, but as always, we’re first and foremost focused on delivering a high-quality release, so we’ll determine the exact release date of SP1 after we have reached that quality bar.”

SP1 will be a large download — large enough that some businesses may want to get a DVD copy instead. - A large service pack is needed for all the changes and upgrades needed, Microsoft has identified three key areas of improvements: security, reliability and performance. Also coming are improvements to application and device driver compatibility, and administration enhancements involving deployment, management and support enhancements. Some of those upgrades have already been released but will form part of SP1. 

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