Why SP1 may not be available for you and how to get it

Hello everyone,

If the final Vista SP1 did not show up for you in your Windows Update in the Control Panel (Classic View), then this may help explain why and how to get it to.

Why you may not have it in Windows Update:
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is not available for installation from Windows Update and is not offered by Automatic Updates


You can get the SP1 standalone installer here:
NOTE: To see what bit version you have of Vista, open the Control Panel (Classic View) and click the System icon, or right click Computer in the Start Menu and click Properties. You will see the bit version under the System type section.

32 bit (x86) Vista:
Download details: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone (KB936330)
NOTE: For English (US), French, German, Japanese, or Spanish (Traditional) only.

OR

Download details: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 All Language Standalone (KB936330)


64 bit (x64) Vista:
Download details: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone for x64-based Systems (KB936330)
NOTE: English (US), French, German, Japanese, or Spanish (Traditional) only.

OR

Download details: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 All Language Standalone for x64-based Systems (KB936330)

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks, Brink. Its good to have that in one place. The frustrating thing for me is that none of that applies to my laptop at all (Home Premium) but it still does not show up in Windows Update. Grr. On my desktop i realized i had allowed the language packs (all of them) to be installed back in the fall and i'm in the process of uninstalling them before i expect to see SP1 there (Vista Ultimate). Oh well, i guess i'll keep clicking "check for updates" periodically...

I read this KB bulletin a hundred times and I still cannot figure out why Win Updates does not offer SP1 when I check of updates. I mean I went through it with a fine tooth combe and didn't see any reason why it isn't offered (got new bios, new drivers, new evryting just to meet the requirements... still nothing).

I wish MS Update could give out a small diagnotic message indicating why it isn't being offered when it runs. I guess it would be too much to ask MS to do that for major releases like SP!

Hi Ronpou,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

I'm not sure why you are not recieving it through Windows Update yet.
Have you tried downloading and using the standalone SP1 installers yet?


You might see if you can find out why in this link. It is the Microsoft Vista SP1 forum.

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) - TechNet Forums

Shawn

What About vista x86?

Hi Samboread,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

Have you already tried installing the 32 bit (x86) standalone download to see if it will work for you?

Shawn

No I haven't... I will try later..

Cheers

I believe all my drivers are up to date. I do however, have an unofficial driver for my nVidia GeForce 8700M GT from LaptopVideo2Go. Would using an unofficial driver prevent SP1 from being available via the automatic updater?

Do all my hardware drivers need to be up-to-date to get the service pack, or just the critical ones like video, sound, etc.?

Is it best to use the updated drivers provided by Windows Update, or to download from the original manufacturer's site? I've read horror stories about some bad drivers being downloaded through the MS updater.

Hi OmegaWolf,

Having unsigned or unofficial drivers could prevent the SP1 from showing up in Windows Update. While you should always have the latest driver version, I believe that as long as it's not to out of date and is signed, then it should be fine. You might try the standalone version of the SP1 to see if it will install for you. There have been a lot less problems reported with using that version than through Windows Update.

I always found it best to get the drivers from the original manufacturer's site for the correct and latest versions.

Hope this helps,
Shawn