Angry Vista SP1 users lose more control

Confused and angry users are blasting Microsoft on its own Vista blog over the requirements for downloading Service Pack 1 (SP1). But as it added Vista SP1 to Windows Update, Microsoft also spelled out numerous caveats, telling users that there are as many as eight different reasons why they might not find the update in the Windows Update listing on their PC. Among those reasons: any of 31 language packs, earlier installed versions of SP1, various prerequisite updates and a number of device drivers.

The service pack is being withheld from machines containing one or more of the listed drivers, because, as Microsoft put it in a support document, "these device drivers are problematic on Windows Vista-based computers when you update to Windows Vista SP1."

That made an industry analyst wonder about Microsoft's driver testing process. "When Microsoft said there were problems with drivers, I assumed it was some odd scanner or camera, or an ancient printer or something," said Michael Cherry, analyst with Directions on Microsoft, a Kirkland, Wash.-based research firm. "But then I saw the list. It makes me wonder what's going on with device driver testing.

"Microsoft keeps saying that there's this vast ecosystem of device drivers, but it appears there's a much smaller number of reliable, well-tested drivers. Because if these drivers [on Microsoft's list] were tested, that calls into question the testing process."

[PR0NE]

i installed sp1 and it wrecked all of my drivers i had to reinstall them, so yeah +1 for this article maybe with all this turmoil, microsoft will do smth to fix it. Gladly i have ubuntu, and OSX on the humongous one terra hdd...

[TheTerminator]

Better upgrade to XP

[Obama]

I am still using xp and I really wonder if I should upgrade to vista in the future. I really hope there's an alternative.

[TurdStationPee]

There is. Get a PC which can run Vista. Problem solved, Osama.

[gw4k]

Linux for everything and xp for games.

F******* MS!

[TurdStationPee]

I'll stick to standard Vista. Works great on my noncrappy PC.

[Jrome]

Finally someone who understands that Vista runs great on a GOOD PC. Not something you found in the bargain bin rofl.

[TurdStationPee]

lmao. Exactly. All these sony boys around here claiming they're "rich" enough to buy PSturds instead of 360s, but can't afford a PC to run Vista. Sad.

[tplarkin7]

What's with all the Vista hate? N4G is not a platform for Linux propaganda.

[Percy]

since this is a gaming site and your computer would need a os to play games it might be nice to know about os's. The two big os's for gaming are vista and xp. People looking at upgrading from xp to vista need to know the facts. Video drivers are important for video cards. Vista has problems with drivers therefore your $500 video card may be a waste with vista because it only will work with a crappy driver. It doesnt matter what kind of computer you have $5000 or $2 if you do not have the correct drivers it will not work. Most of the people that everyone seems to bash for having so called "bargin bin computers" are ones that were bought in store that said vista capable on the front and now microsoft is getting sued for lieing to them.

The guy that was overseeing vista develpment at microsoft can't remember his name but the article was on here a couple weeks ago is one of the people you guys say has a "bargin bin computer" He bought a laptop and it sucks with vista on it so he says it is now basicly just a email machine.

[gleek67]

This is what happens where there isn't any or enough competition. The consumer's opinion no longer matters.
M$ is going to ram this OS down our throats and won't blink an eye. Don't think for one second they care about the complaints. They have a product to sell and since 98% of the world uses Windows they know you'll buy it(eventually) because you really won't have a choice.
They funniest and most ironic part of this whole fiasco (and that is what it is)is that the main competition is one of their own products!
Anyway, enjoy XP while you can. The future isn't looking very bright.

[Guardian0fPeace]

for now...until Vista is perfected--if it ever is...but since its still retained huge issues far longer than XP di, I have my doubts...

[SaiyanFury]

I'll never "uprgrade" to Vista. I've been using my illegal copy of XP for about 5 years now. I recently bought an actual legal copy of XP so I could get it before MS kills it. I'll never get Vista, the lack of drivers is one of my major reasons. Hell even drivers provided for Vista by third party hardware makers don't always work perfectly. I'll stick with XP until MS can overcome it's greed and provide a better solution in the guise of an OS.

[zonetrooper5]

Wait until SP2 for Vista, XP didn't get as good until SP2 either. Also, all the OS's have their problems and I would rather not Apple take over the OS war, they try to control nearly everything, worse then MS tbh.