Microsoft Delivers Final Versions of Free Deployment Tools for Windows Vista
Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of six new deployment tools that will help expedite businesses’ migration to Windows Vista™. The recently released tools are the Microsoft® Solution Accelerator for Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) 2007, the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) 5.0, Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 1.0, the Volume Activation Management Tool, the Key Management Service for Windows Server® 2003 and Virtual PC 2007.
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20.2.2007 Free Vista SP1 Deployment Toolkit Available – Nothing for XP SP3
With Windows Vista Service Pack 1 having RTM'd on February 4, 2008, and out to the general public as of March 18, Microsoft has made available for download its free toolkit designed to streamline and automate the deployment of desktop and server operating systems.
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22.3.2008 IT Organizations: Cautious Vista Testing and Deployment
Earlier today, CDW issued the second of three reports on businesses' plans for adopting Windows Vista. While more IT organizations are evaluating Vista than the first survey, fewer number are planning upgrades.
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9.5.2007 Windows Vista OS image creation and deployment guide
Windows Vista OS setup is built on an entirely new set of technologies than previous versions of Windows, and as a result the process of creating OS images and creating and using unattend files is different than you might be used to from the past.
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29.11.2006 Windows 7 Performance Tools - Performance Tools Kit 4.1.1
Internet Explorer 8 will be not only an apex of performance, but also the next major iteration of the Windows client, according to Microsoft.
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1.9.2008 Deployment 4 Beta 3 Released
Deployment 4 is the code name for the next version of Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) 2007 and unifies the tools and processes required for desktop and server deployment into a common deployment console and collection of guidance.
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17.9.2007 Internet Explorer 7 Deployment Guide
This guide helps you to plan and carry out a deployment of Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. The guide describes the system requirements and deployment methods, as well as the techniques to maintain and support Internet Explorer 7 after deployment.
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25.1.2007 Microsoft Makes Vista Migration Tools Available
Microsoft offers six free tools for corporate users to assess, plan, test, and deploy Windows Vista.
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24.2.2007 20 Hidden Windows Vista Tools
The default installation of Windows Vista weighs in at approximately 8 GB. In fact, Microsoft's latest operating system won't even install with less than 15 GB of space available on the hard drive.
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30.9.2007 Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 for Windows 7
Moving forward with the evolution of the Business Desktop Deployment, Microsoft is now cooking the next iteration of what is at the present the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit.
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9.12.2008 12 Hidden Windows Vista Network Tools
Thanks to Steve Jobs for this article. Windows Vista delivers an impressive line up of network tools that can be used to keep the operating system connectivity on a short leash. The total of 12 command-line tools can be used to manage all aspects of Vista networking.
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4.6.2007 Fixing Windows Vista 3 - Top Troubleshooting Tools
Do you think Windows Vista is slow, crash-prone, or unreliable? Join the crowd. Over the past year, reviews of Windows Vista by mainstream media outlets, the technical press, bloggers, and ordinary users have been, for the most part, scathing.
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7.5.2008 Vista System Tools Survived into Windows 7 M1
Microsoft already confirmed that Windows 7 will have Windows Vista as its foundation. Like it or not, Windows 7 will be nothing more than an evolution of the current Windows client.
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27.6.2008 A security issue in Microsoft Windows Deployment Services?
Netanel Ben-Shushan from Israel writes: We've been talked about Microsoft's new tool for remote installation named Windows Deployment Services (or WDS), and Alex told me today that there's an important security issue in WDS.
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19.2.2007 Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools - RSAT for Vista Released
Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) enables IT administrators to remotely manage roles and features in Windows Server 2008 from a computer running Windows Vista SP1.
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25.3.2008 Automatic Windows 7 Installs via the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 RTM
Microsoft has made available for download the gold version of its solution accelerator designed to automate the deployment of its latest Windows client and server operating system released.
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9.9.2009 Download Windows 7 RTM UI Accessibility Tools and Automations for Vista SP3
Following the general availability of Windows 7, Microsoft has started backporting bits and pieces of its latest Windows client to previous releases of the operating system.
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2.11.2009 Windows update to reduce the number of filters for Domain Isolation or Server Isolation deployment.
Install this update to reduce the number of filters that need to be authored and maintained in an IPsec Domain Isolation or Server Isolation deployment.
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8.4.2006 VOATK TOOLS V2.0 Final
Thanks to maxdata for this download. Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Business Enterprise and Ultimate for Windows Vista 32bit and 64bit.
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18.5.2007 .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 for XP SP3 and Vista SP1
Microsoft has made Service Pack 1 for .NET Framework 3.5 for Windows Server 2008 available for download. Designed to integrate seamlessly with Windows Vista SP1, Windows XP SP3, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008, .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 is now live on the Microsoft Download Center.
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11.8.2008 Ballmer: Enterprise Tools Market Ours For the Taking
It's not often that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer talks development tools. But Ballmer is all fired up about the pending Visual Studio Team System and future potential enterprise tool revenues.
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20.11.2005 Microsoft July Security Patch Tools
The Extended Security Update Inventory Tool is used to detect security bulletins not covered by MBSA including MS04-028 ..
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13.7.2006 Microsoft Delays Virtualization Tools Rollouts
In a blog posting this morning, Microsoft general manager for virtualization strategy Mike Neil revealed his company will be pushing back some milestone dates for some of its key virtualization products.
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12.4.2007 PC Tools ThreatFire 3.0.0.15 Beta
ThreatFire is an easy-to-use application designed to protect your computer against malware such as trojans, spyware, rootkits, keyloggers, and buffer overflows by intelligently detecting and blocking behavior consistent with that of malware.
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19.8.2007 Making 64-bit Vista SP1 Say It's Vista SP1
Making a 64-bit copy of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 confirm that it is actually Vista SP1 might require a minimum amount of effort on behalf of the end user, such as right-clicking My Computer and selecting Properties, but things are a tad different when an application is programmed to identify the operating system versions or the service pack releases.
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25.8.2008 Top 10 Windows Freeware tools for 2005
As we head into 2005’s home stretch, I thought I’d do a round-up of my top 10 pieces of Windows Freeware for 2005. Some of these aren’t new, but certainly what I’d consider essential. Some on the other hand, are new. I’ve tried to avoid the instantly popular ones like Firefox and Opera, although I did give way to Winamp and Konfabulator in the end. But hey, it’s my top 10. If you don’t like it, post your own.
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Google offers Web Analysis Tools for free
Google is offering webmasters full-featured, powerful analytics package from Urchin to determine how many people are visiting their sites, to view the source of referrals to your site and what they're clicking on.
In March, Google acquired Urchin Software and promptly lowered the monthly cost of the company's hosted Web analytics service, Urchin On Demand, from $495 to $199. Today, the search company is re-branding Urchin under the name Google Analytics and making it available to everyone for free.
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14.11.2005 Microsoft tools keep bad Office files at bay
Microsoft released a pair of tools on Monday that help protect computers from Office 2003 files containing malicious software code.
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23.5.2007 The next generation of Microsoft application building and Web authoring tools
What are these new tools?
The Microsoft Office and Server & Tools teams are proud to announce the introduction of two great new tools for application building and Web authoring in 2006.
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11.4.2006 Academic Resource Kit – Free Tools and Resources from Microsoft
Whether you want to build an AJAX-based web application, or a Windows game, the Academic Resource Kit is a great place to start.
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9.2.2008Microsoft Deployment Tools Smooth the Way for Upgrades to Windows Vista
Study shows businesses can achieve up to 135 percent return on their deployment investments using the right deployment methods and tools, and
Microsoft launches the Springboard Series initiative to share best practices for software migration...
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13.11.2007Microsoft Delivers Final Vista Deployment tools
Microsoft Corp. today
announced the availability of
six new deployment tools that
will help expedite
businesse's migration to
Windows Vista. The recently
released tools are:
-Solution
Accelerator for Business
Desktop Deployment
2007.
-Application
Compatibility Toolkit
5.0.
-Windows Vista
Hardware Assessment
1.0.
-Microsoft
Volume Activation 2.0
tools.
-Virtual PC
2007.
Windows Vista was built from
the ground up to simplify how
people work together, find
information, reduce IT costs,
improve security and enable
mobile environments, said
Shanen Boettcher, general
manager of Windows Client
Product Management at
Microsoft. With the
availability of these new
tools, there is nothing
holding back businesses from
making the move to Windows
Vista and immediately taking
advantage of those
benefits.
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22.02.2007Windows Vista SP1 Deployment Info
A few quick bits that are noteworthy from the
Windows Vista SP1
Whitepaper regarding deployment.
Windows Vista SP1 will support the following delivery methods:
- Express. Requires an
Internet connection but minimizes the size of the download by sending only the changes needed for a specific computer (approximately 50 MB for
x86-based operating systems).
- Stand-alone. Recommended for computers with limited Internet connectivity and for applying the service
pack to multiple computers. The download size is larger than the express package, but customers can apply a single package to any Windows Vista
version and language combination (within a platform). Distribution tools like System Center Configuration Manager 2007 use stand-alone packages to
deploy Windows Vista SP1.
- Slipstream. The slipstream version of Windows Vista SP1 is media that already contains the service pack,
which companies can use to deploy the operating system to new computers or to upgrade existing computers. Availability will be limited. Microsoft will
update Windows Vista retail media with Windows Vista SP1 slipstream media in the future. Slipstream media will also be available to Volume Licensing
customers.
As also stated in the Whitepaper, "customers cannot apply SP1 to offline Windows Vista images," meaning that the Vista SP1 update
cannot be manually slipstreamed into a Vista RTM ISO. However, a method of repacking an install.wim with Vista SP1 integrated is available using our
Vista SP1 Integration Guide which still requires a complete install
of Vista RTM in order to reverse integrate it. While this may not be the most ideal method, it is at the moment the only method if one doesn't have
access to Microsoft's fully slipped SP1 ISO since availability will be limited.
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29.08.2007WAIK Documentation for Vista SP1 Beta 3 and Server 2008 pops up
Now here's an odd one.
Microsoft today posted updated
documentation for the Windows
Automated Installation Kit
that includes support for both
Windows Server 2008 and
Windows Vista SP1 "Beta 3."
See below for the download
link if you're interested.
The Windows Automated
Installation Kit (Windows AIK)
is designed to help Original
Equipment Manufacturers
(OEMs), system builders, and
corporate IT professionals
deploy Windows onto new
hardware. The Windows AIK is a
new set of deployment tools
supporting the latest release
of Windows. This guide
describes the current methods,
tools, and requirements for
deploying Windows.
Supported Operating
Systems:
-Windows Server
2008, Windows Vista
Even though it may not be
much, it's good to see
Microsoft finally posting
something publicly regarding
Vista SP1. All we need now is
the actual SP1 Beta bits...
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07.06.2007Vista SP1 fails to spark migration
Microsoft's latest efforts to persuade customers to upgrade to its much-maligned Vista operating system have met with a cool response from users.
Historically, Microsoft's first service pack for one of its marquee products – such as Windows – provides the impetus for users to
upgrade. As Gartner analyst, Stephen Kleynhans recently noted, customers see SP1 as the sign that the OS has reached maturity and is ready for
enteprise deployment.
But even the offer of free support for using installing Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) and tools to lower implementation
cost, the user response has been one of stony indifference. Vista SP1 includes a number of fixes for bugs that have plagued the operating system, as
well as improved support for drivers. It initially became available to download from Microsoft's website and will be included as part of the
Window's Update feature from mid-April.
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28.03.2008Microsoft tweaks deployment tools for Windows 7
Microsoft officials have said relatively little about the features and functionality the company is building into Windows 7 for business (as opposed
to home) users. But a new blog post on the Windows System Deployment blog previews
some of the changes enterprises can
expect around Windows 7 deployment tools.
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21.01.2009Microsoft Releases .NET Micro Framework 2.0 Service Pack 1, Announces New Partner Deployments
Today at the Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) Boston, Microsoft Corp. announced the availability of Service Pack 1 (SP1) for the Microsoft® .NET
Micro Framework 2.0, featuring new enhancements to build more secure, attractive, innovative and globalized applications. Demonstrating further
momentum, Microsoft also announced that several partners completed ports of the .NET Micro Framework to additional development platforms and released
new products built on the .NET Micro Framework.
The new features of Service Pack 1 provide precision-engineered functionality and
tools that streamline the manufacturing process and ease the burdens often associated with the deployment of updates to devices in the field. Original
equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and original device manufacturers (ODMs) can use the new tools to create their own customized deployment software for
their unique manufacturing environments.
With SP1, developers and device-makers gain the ability to help prevent unsigned
firmware or application code from being installed on a device. SP1 also provides a new tool for generating bitmap fonts for applications, giving
application developers increased flexibility in interface design and providing increased localization support. ..
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18.09.2007Why installing Vista SP1 might fail via Windows Update
When you try to install Windows Vista SP1 via Windows Update you can get error: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is not available for installation from
Windows Update and is not offered by Automatic Updates.
To help ensure a positive update experience, Windows Update will temporarily not
offer Windows Vista SP1 to systems that have the following device drivers. In some cases, these device drivers are problematic on Windows Vista-based
computers when you update to Windows Vista SP1. By installing updated device drivers, you will resolve the issue and enable Windows Update to offer
Windows Vista SP1.
Click read more to view a list of drivers that don't work well with Vista SP1:
Read full story.....
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20.03.2008Microsoft Deployment v1.0 Available
Microsoft Deployment unifies the tools and processes required for desktop and server deployment into a common deployment console and collection of
guidance. The fourth generation deployment accelerator adds integration with recently released Microsoft deployment technologies to create a single
path for image creation and automated installation. Microsoft Deployments tools and end-to-end guidance reduce deployment time, standardize desktop
and server images, limit service disruptions, reduce post-deployment help desk costs, and improve security and ongoing configuration management.
Microsoft Deployment technologies eliminate interaction time required to install desktop and server operating systems. Interaction
at the targeted computer may take a few moments using the Lite Touch Installation (LTI) method or it can be completely automated using Zero Touch
Installation (ZTI). Zero Touch Installation utilizes Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 or Systems Management Server 2003 with the
Operating System Deployment Feature Pack. Lite Touch Installation can be used when software distribution tools are not in place.
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09.11.2007Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 SP1 Released
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) has been designed specifically to help meet the challenges of any business and the needs of all
the different groups with a stake in the messaging system. Exchange Server 2007 SP1 is a mission-critical communications tool that enables employees
to be more productive and access their information anywhere and anytime while providing a messaging system that enables rich, efficient access to
e-mail, calendar items, voice mail, and contacts. For the administrator, Exchange Server 2007 SP1 provides advanced protection options against e-mail
security threats, such as spam and viruses, as well as the tools to help manage internal compliance and high availability needs.
In
Exchange Server 2007 SP1, several new features and improvements will extend the Anywhere Access capabilities of Exchange Server 2007 to help make
employees more productive on whatever device they’re using, provide additional Operational Efficiency tools for administrators seeking a
streamlined management and deployment experience, and enable advanced Built-in Protection for more robust high availability and compliance
scenarios.
Read full story.....
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30.11.2007Windows Feature Comparison - Vista SP1 vs XP SP3
Microsoft has just released a whitepaper, which compares the following features and capabilities of Windows Vista with SP1 & Windows XP with SP3 :
Security, Management, Deployment, Mobility, and Productivity.
This Windows Feature Comparison white paper helps customers compare Windows
Vista® advancements with Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional. Using this comparison, customers can adjust their expectations for the
security, management, deployment, mobility, and productivity of either operating system. For each feature or capability, each section compares key
Windows Vista advancements against Windows XP. Presented in a tabular format, it does make an interesting read.
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23.05.2008Vista Deployment and the Windows Deployment Toolkit
Joey Snow: Today's post on
Edge is an interview I did recently with
Michael Niehaus and Jeremy Chapman regarding
Vista
deployment. These guys have done a TON of work around making deployment (not just Vista) much easier to handle. Check out the
interview. For even more good stuff on deployment, you should check out the
Deployment Guys
blog.
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13.03.2008Photos: Installing Vista SP1 beta
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes: Earlier today I downloaded the standalone installer for Windows Vista SP1 build 6001.16659 and installed it on a few systems
to see what it was like -- and I thought you might like to take a look at it.
Don't expect huge UI changes after installing SP1
-- the changes are small and subtle. In fact, if you're not familiar with Windows Vista, you might miss the SP1 changes. I've put together an image
gallery showing some of the most significant changes.
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28.09.2007Cost of Vista Business License Offset by Savings, Says Microsoft
If large businesses use tools
such as Microsoft's Solution
Accelerator Business Desktop
Deployment package (assuming
it's easier to use than it is
to say), the administrative
"best practices" those
tools will help them adopt
could save them somewhat more
per PC than what they spent
for the license, according to
a Gartner study advanced by a
Microsoft product manager who
spoke with BetaNews...
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15.06.2007Improved startup repair tool, media throttling among Vista SP1 changes
To reassure customers that it really has been addressing consumers' concerns about Vista, Microsoft has made its change log to Windows Vista SP1
publicly available early...
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11.12.2007Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 Now Available
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 is the newest version of Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, a Solution Accelerator for operating system and application
deployment. MDT 2010 supports deployment of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 in addition to deployment of Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008,
Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP.
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09.09.2009Vista SP1 Beta Next Month?
Microsoft is planning to have Vista SP1 beta ready 'in a few weeks,' with a full deployment planned for the first quarter of 2008.
Like all service packs, Vista SP1 will include a number of security, reliability, performance, and compatibility improvements, including all
that have already been released via Windows Update. Additionally, Microsoft says, the service pack will improve some administrative features and add
support for new hardware and emerging standards.
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30.08.2007Gartner report: Don't wait for SP1 to deploy Vista
Enterprises planning to deploy Windows Vista should not wait for Microsoft to release Vista's first service pack (SP1), due in early 2008, before
doing so, according to a Gartner analysis.
In the
analysis, titled śVista SP1 Is
Important, but Less So Than SPs of the Past,ť Gartner research vice president Michael A. Silver noted that "Windows client service packs are
important, but not as important as they used to be. Integrate Windows Vista SP1 if possible, but don't delay plans waiting for it."
Many organizations often wait until Microsoft releases the first service pack on its client operating system "before they test and plan
deployment,ť he explained. But Microsoft "has become adept at deploying updates through services like Windows Update, Microsoft Update and Automatic
Update, so SPs are now less important than they once were."
Another factor in play here: "Many organizations have highly
complex PC environments and would not be ready to deploy Vista before
, so SPI will not be in the critical path form them,"
Silver wrote...
winbeta.org - 07.09.2007
Changes to UAC in Vista SP1: Much less than meets the eye
A video is making the rounds showing how Vista SP1 has significantly improved Vista's immensely annoying User Account Control (UAC). But there
appears to be less to the improvement than meets the eye --- hardly any changes were made to UAC in SP1, and it remains a very big Vista annoyance.
Microsoft blogger Michael Kleef has
made a video that he says illustrates how much better UAC is under SP1 than before SP1. It very nicely shows that when you create a new folder in
Program Files, you only need to go through one UAC prompt under Vista SP1, rather than four previously.
winbeta.org - 17.05.2008
Windows Vista SP1 Application Non-Compatibility List
Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista is an important update for Windows Vista. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) contains many security, reliability, and
feature updates for Windows Vista. A program may experience a loss of functionality after you install Windows Vista SP1. However, most programs will
continue to work as expected after you install Windows Vista SP1.
This article lists programs that have been reported to
experience a loss of functionality when they are installed on a Windows Vista SP1-based computer.
winbeta.org - 19.02.2008
