Test Results: Does SP1 Fix Vista?

[Capper]

When it comes to Vista, the fix is in. It's just not the fix many mainstream users are looking for.
Last fall, Microsoft announced that Vista Service Pack 1 would improve the operating system's performance. The company claimed that SP1 would rev up Vista in the areas of file copying (see "Microsoft Details Plans for Vista SP1--Beta 'In a Few Weeks'"), waking from sleep or hibernation, and adding or extracting files from compressed folders (see "Closer Look: Beta Windows Vista Service Pack 1").
Microsoft also anticipated that SP1 would strengthen system reliability, broaden support for new hardware and emerging standards, and introduce improvements for IT administrators. We didn't attempt to gauge the validity of those claims following Microsoft's mid-March release of Vista SP1 (see "Windows Vista SP1 Available Now--Do You Need It?"). Instead we tested systems configured with and without Vista SP1 to see whether the promised performance gains would materialize.

Test Results: Does SP1 Fix Vista?

[Stormcrow]

I had no problems at all with Vista, aside from crappy Nvidia drivers, until trying to download and install the prerequisite files for SP1. It took two days, a complete reformat from a corrupted kernel, 14 failed and stopped downloads/installations (I counted), 4 times running chkdsk to clean up corrupt files, and countless crashes from the Windows Update utility itself just to get it on my system. And yeah, I don't notice any changes other then hibernate takes longer to come out of.

[Tyreal]

I've had absolutely no problems running vista on my machine at all. I don't have SP1 installed and I don't plan to install it until my next reformat. I'm perfectly satisified with Vista Ultimate. Why fix something thats not broke.

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Tyreal

I've had absolutely no problems running vista on my machine at all. I don't have SP1 installed and I don't plan to install it until my next reformat. I'm perfectly satisified with Vista Ultimate. Why fix something thats not broke.

'Cept it's broke for everyone else. :P
I saw no improvement in final SP1 so far when comparing to RC1. *shrugs*

[Tyreal]

What problems have you had?

[halutzparilla]

i never had problem with Vista Ultimate, other than the Sleep&Hibernate Issue so i never put the comp to it just let it Run 24/7....

[screwballl]

unofficial benchmark comparison testing coming soon!!!

[Quakindude]

SP1 has been no different than RC1. Was a seamless transition for me.

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Tyreal

What problems have you had?

Firewire driver crapping out after plugging a camera, VPN not working half the time, totally unable to install Office 2007 (tried Student Edition) and Office 2003 (missing cab all the time, on both, which is more than suspicious since I could install both fine on XP).
Though I haven't tested Firewire because it's with a camera that I don't own and have at the moment, I can safely say VPN works half the time and Office still won't install.

[Stormcrow]

I'm reinstalling all my games now, and I've had several problems. Turning Point Fall of Liberty won't even install, throwing up that "data1.cab is missing or corrupt" error. Since I just bought it, the disc could be bad. Returning to China Mart for a new copy.
COD4 installed fine, as did Crysis. SupCom threw up several of the copy corruption errors, however I was able to ignore those no problem. I'm trying SupCom Forged Alliance, see if that does it too. Never had these error problems when installing before SP1, I've STALKER to throw on too to see if it keeps happening.