Microsoft released Service Pack 1 for Vista this week. Some people want it right away others want to keep it from showing up just now. I will show you how to get it...or not.

Also, I have some tips for XP users and for Vista users who want to hold off on the update. Read on!

Finally! At last!

Yes, Vista SP1 is now available for end users. (It was released to manufactures last month.) Before you install it, I strongly recommend reviewing a web page from Microsoft called "Things to Know Before you Download Vista SP1" available here:

Things to Know Before you Download Vista SP1

SP1 will break certain security applications and leave others in a "reduced functionality" mode. You can read more about that here:

Vista Service Pack Incompatibility Issues

You will find the complete list here:

loss of functionality

SP1 will be offered via Microsoft Updates, according to the Windows Vista Team Blog, beginning mid-April. If you want to install SP1 before then visit Microsoft Updates (Start Menu All Programs Windows Update) and grab it.

If mid-April comes and goes and you don't see SP1 in your Updates, the Windows Vista Team Blog (http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/03/18/windows-vista-sp1-released-to-windows-update.aspx) lists the most likely causes:

You have a pre-release version of SP1 and need to uninstall it before installing SP1

You already have it...

We released SP1 in these 5 languages: English, French, Spanish, German, and Japanese. If you have any other language installed, SP1 will not yet be offered to you...

Windows Update will detect drivers that we know may be problematic when updating to SP1 and will not offer the service pack until an update has been installed.

The whole list is here:

Service Pack 1 not available

So proceed with caution! Make sure you have your important data backed up, and make sure your drivers and security applications are up to date before you dive headfirst into Service Pack 1. In the meantime here are some tips to make your Vista and XP experience more enjoyable.

Faster File Transfers

If you were used to Windows XP and migrated to Vista, you might find file transfers are actually slower in Vista. Microsoft calls this "feature" Remote Differential Compression (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_Differential_Compression), and fortunately you can turn it off. Here's how:

Start Control Panel Programs and Features

Select "Turn off Windows Features"

Scroll down to "Remote Differential Compression" and clear the check box

OK your way out

If you want things to go faster still, whether you're using Vista or XP, try TerraCopy from Code Sector. It speeds up the copy/move process, let's you pause and resume copying, and much more. A paid version adds more features. Both versions are available here:

TerraCopy from Code Sector

Both versions work with XP or better.

Another Tweak

By default, Vista will try to defragment your hard drive about every fourth time you start up your computer. That really slows things down.

You should defrag your hard drives from time to time to improve system performance overall. But you do not need Vista to defrag every fourth time you start your computer, and while you are doing something else.

Here's how to make it stop doing that:

Right-click on the Computer icon

Select "Properties"

Click on "Tools"

Select "Defrag Now" (I know that sounds wrong, but bear with me.)

Clear the check box next to "Run on a schedule"

OK your way out

Once a month or so, go back in there and let it defrag. It's going to take a long time!

You can use a free tool called Defraggler (http://www.defraggler.com/) instead. Defraggler will defragment individual files, rather than having to defrag an entire drive. (You can still defrag the entire drive if you want to, but it's no faster than doing it with Windows.) It is Beta software, so the usual warnings apply! Defraggler will work on XP, too.

Thank you everyone, for your questions and comments. Please email me at cate@rlis.com if you have anything to ask or tell. You can also always browse the column archives at

Archives

Have a happy and safe holiday!