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The "Search" link has been removed from the Start Menu in SP1  (Source: Microsoft)

Users now have the option to select a drive with Disk Defragmenter  (Source: Microsoft)
Microsoft moves ahead with Vista Service Pack 1

DailyTech reported in late August that Microsoft was on the verge of releasing a new beta of Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) to testers. The update, as described by Microsoft's Nick White, is designed to enhance features already incorporated within Vista rather than add new ones.

Testers that were selected to test SP1 should now have access to the updates via Microsoft's Connect website. Currently, the release is available in a 5-Language Standalone Package as well as an All-Language Standalone Package (contains 36 languages).

The 5-Language version is available in an x86 version (687MB) and x64 version (1,117MB) as is the All-Language version (1,308MB and 1,778MB respectively).

Beta testers will also have access to the SP1 beta through Windows Update. "When SP1 shows up in Windows Update, it does so as an "important update" and gives a size range from 51MB - 679.6MB," said Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc. "For me, the download of the service pack through Windows Update occurred relatively fast so I assume the size of SP1 is more on the lower end rather than the high."

The Windows Update feature is not currently available to testers, but Microsoft says that access will be provided within the next 48 hours.

LeBlanc also mentions that there are noticeable improvements to the performance of Vista with the SP1 update. "Improvements were also noticeable in resuming from Hibernation or Sleep on both my desktop PC and laptop running SP1," reported LeBlanc. "I discovered copying files from one directory to another is a bit faster. And on my laptop - battery life seems to be improved since running SP1. I have also noticed that transferring files to my shares on my Windows Home Server are a bit faster than they were previously without SP1. Overall performance in accessing my mapped network shares is improved as well."

Microsoft notes that beta participants must have a valid license key to install the SP1 update. Customers may also proceed with a 30-day PID-less install and are given the opportunity to re-arm the system up to three times (Microsoft provides instructions on how to re-arm the SP1 installation).

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Search feature
By archcommus on 9/24/2007 9:55:02 PM , Rating: 2
Uhh, why the hell would they remove Search from the Start Menu? I thought with the much improved search function they wanted people to use this almost primarily to find what they need. Why take it away from the one place people click the MOST? Seems stupid.




RE: Search feature
By archcommus on 9/24/2007 10:01:22 PM , Rating: 4
Ahh, I see that actually the Search link has been removed, not the Search box. This should be clarified as it's misleading.


RE: Search feature
By ajfink on 9/24/2007 10:44:52 PM , Rating: 2
I can honestly say I may have used the "Search" feature of Windows perhaps a dozen times in the past six or seven years. I guess most people don't keep their stuff organized, though.


RE: Search feature
By Spivonious on 9/25/2007 9:04:51 AM , Rating: 2
Vista's search is much improved from XP's. I use it to locate programs on the Start Menu or a document I'm looking for. Why click Start->Programs->Games->Supreme Commander when I can just type Sup and then click on Supreme Commander?


RE: Search feature
By omnicronx on 9/25/2007 11:50:17 AM , Rating: 2
Exactly, nobody used the search button in XP, there is no a point in having it, now that vista has the search bar located under all programs. It's essentially a search and run bar all in one, i use it all the time.


RE: Search feature
By Locutus465 on 9/24/2007 10:03:14 PM , Rating: 2
Well suck, I liked that too... Probably a legal issue (see google :P)


RE: Search feature
By MGSsancho on 9/25/2007 2:54:05 AM , Rating: 2
its very useful (vista search) when im looking for side bar (needed it to help a client) or looking for for a win app. or homework. oh well i like the new one. so shoot me


RE: Search feature
By MonkeyPaw on 9/25/2007 9:00:16 AM , Rating: 2
If you go to Start Menu properties, you can hide or show the search feature. I wonder if this guy just had it disabled, or if SP1 just disables it by default? At any rate, it seems like you would be able to turn it back on again with a few clicks. I don't see why MS would completely remove a hideable feature unless it just wasn't working right (Search has always worked for me).

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/7060/searchzu9....


Defrag
By Chaotic42 on 9/24/2007 11:10:04 PM , Rating: 2
Hopefully the defrag tool, and all disk tools, will become more useful. Right now the GUI defrag on Vista is a joke. It gives no real output and has no options.

I'm as excited about this as I can be about a service pack, though. Windows Vista has been nothing but wonderful for me. I'd never go back to XP.




RE: Defrag
By TomZ on 9/24/2007 11:18:33 PM , Rating: 2
Defrag is so 90's - get with the times!


RE: Defrag
By GoodBytes on 9/25/2007 8:43:16 AM , Rating: 2
I use O&O defrag, works on XP and Vista. It's WAY faster then X the one from XP, gives you all the info you need, and does a faster job. The problem is that you need to purchase the program. :(


RE: Defrag
By omnicronx on 9/25/2007 11:54:50 AM , Rating: 2
Fools with their NTFS systems running defrag.. you probably format every 6-8 months and still run defrag.. Defrag was made for the FAT system, i barely even notice a difference unless its done on a computer that has not be reformatted for a year. Even worse is the defrag tool has been crippled since windows2000 and lacks major functionality...


RE: Defrag
By TomZ on 9/25/2007 12:08:25 PM , Rating: 3
I don't understand how defragmentation is less relevant for NTFS. And I also don't think Microsoft agrees with you, since Vista doesn't limit defrag to FAT volumes, and Microsoft's documentation doesn't qualify its statement of the benefits of defragging to FAT either.

In general, it seems like, regardless of the file system, fewer seeks when accessing sequential data is better.


RE: Defrag
By omnicronx on 9/25/2007 12:26:36 PM , Rating: 2
You are puttin words into my mouth, I never said Vista limits degragging to FAT volumes, I said it's almost pointless defragging NTFS volumes, not that it can not be done. Fragmentation under NTFS does not have the same effects as it does under FAT. With fat, a badly fragmented drive can really effect performance and relieve disk space, but the way NTFS is designed, although eventually a slight performance decrease will occur, you will never be able to really notice the difference, although a small loss of space can still occur.

Microsoft Even went as far as to say 'NTFS DOES NO FRAGMENT' when it first came out. Of course they had to change it 'is not effected by' and who knows what the actual term is now but you get the point.. results of defragmenting will be negligible.

Even better is technically if your drive is more than 88% full, it can not be fully defragmented.(you can go look up the details on that one yourself)

So the moral of the story is unless your install is well over a year old, you probably won't be able to tell the difference. And after a 1-1/2 years, you are probably in line for a format anyways, which happens to work much better ;)


RE: Defrag
By TomZ on 9/25/2007 12:36:27 PM , Rating: 2
From the horse's mouth, as they say:

quote:
All Windows NT® and Windows 2000 file types—File Allocation Table (FAT) and NTFS file system (NTFS)—are susceptible to fragmentation.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/Bb74258...

I agree with you that FAT volumes are less susceptable to fragmentation than NTFS volumes, however, it is a myth to say that NTFS volumes do not require defragmentation.


RE: Defrag
By omnicronx on 9/25/2007 12:55:59 PM , Rating: 2
Tomz, you went and got that quote before you read what i wrote.

Essentially what is said was'NTFS is susceptible to fragmentation but at the same time is not directly effected in the same way FAT is.'

Heres a quote from an article i came across
quote:
At the very beginning it was said that NTFS is not subject to file fragmentation. It is not exactly so and the statement was changed - NTFS prevents fragmentation. It is not exactly so either. That is it certainly prevents but... It is already clear that NTFS is a system which is predisposed to fragmentation inspite of official statements. But it doesn't suffer from it. All internal structures are constructed in such way that fragmentation does not hinder to find data fragments fast. But it doesn't save from the physical effect of fragmentation - waste disk heads motions.


So ill say it one more time, eventually over time you will feel the effects of fragmentation, BUT it takes time (at least a year before it is noticeable in the slightest) As you should probably format at about the same time frame, it is my opinion that you might as well format than defrag.

Your PC usually slows down because systems resources get bogged down, may this be by installed software, malware or anything clogging up your memory for that matter. Most of the time, your NTFS hard drive is not the culprit.

So one more time in case you scrolled: NTFS does not suffer from fragmentation like FAT32 does! period!


Cool
By Treckin on 9/24/2007 8:40:01 PM , Rating: 2
Sweet! I wish they would make more than one sidebar an option... I have blayed with various home-made batch files, yet cant seem to make more than one of the instaces show...

they also need to release freespace 2...




RE: Cool
By The Sword 88 on 9/25/2007 1:10:43 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah screw Windows we need Freespace 2 adn Freelancer 2 and Mechwarrior5


RE: Cool
By Durrr on 9/25/2007 6:12:12 AM , Rating: 2
There is a Freespace 2... (at least a space sim which owns your face) :D


RE: Cool
By drank12quartsstrohsbeer on 9/25/2007 10:14:18 AM , Rating: 2
Freespace 2 is one of the best games ever made. I want Freespace 3!!!!!!


build?
By 8steve8 on 9/24/2007 8:39:44 PM , Rating: 1
is this identical to:
6001.16633 ?

if not what build is it?




RE: build?
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 9/24/2007 8:43:58 PM , Rating: 2
There is no Build number listed on the Connect website. This is all the information that is available regarding this build:

Windows Vista SP1 Beta 5-Language Standalone Package for X86 and X64

9/20/2007

Wave1_Windows6.0-KB936330-X86.exe
Wave1_Windows6.0-KB936330-X64.exe


RE: build?
By TomZ on 9/24/2007 8:50:27 PM , Rating: 2
Funny, filenames when I "Connect" start with Wave0_ instead of Wave1_. I assume they're probably the same.


RE: build?
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 9/24/2007 8:55:05 PM , Rating: 2
Yes, you're right. I just copied and pasted the wrong text (I had both the 5-Language and All-Language windows open).

Wave1 is for the All-Language version
Wave0 is for the 5-Language version


50/50
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 9/25/2007 1:00:42 AM , Rating: 2
Well, I just attempted to install the SP1 upgrade on two of my Vista machines. One succeeded and one failed.

On my HP Desktop (2.66GHz Pentium-D, 250GB HDD, 3GB RAM, Vista Home Premium), the install went just fine. The darn thing rebooted about 4 times and it the install seemed to take about an hour.

On my Samsung Q1 Ultra (800MHz A110, 60GB HDD, 2GB RAM, Vista Home Premium), the install failed (after about an hour and several reboots) and gave me the following error message: 0xE0000219

I'm in the process of submitting a bug report to MS and will try the install again.




RE: 50/50
By 16nm on 9/25/2007 9:03:44 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
The update, as described by Microsoft's Nick White, is designed to enhance features already incorporated within Vista rather than add new ones.


I thought that since XP SP2, MS was going to save Service Packs to add new features to the OS. Like I was hoping that SP1 would add HD-DVD support. Shouldn't this be a RollUp? Well, I guess it does not matter in the end, but I do want them to release HD-DVD support As Soon As Possible, please.


RE: 50/50
By omnicronx on 9/25/2007 12:11:28 PM , Rating: 2
what do you mean no HD-DVD support? Do you mean WMP not natively supporting HD-DVD/Blueray? Because you can buy computers with HD-DVD drives, just not oem. Also the Xbox360 drive can be modified to work in vista. A program like PowerDVD is required, but Vista does support HD-DVD


Search isn't that useful
By Ihmemies on 9/25/2007 10:34:31 AM , Rating: 2
I've used the search very few times. Usually I use dir /s. It's not as fast, because it can't pull all the data straight from a database, but at least it finds all the files physically on disk. Search sometimes doesn't seem to update when I move stuff around. Also I don't understand why it doesn't catalog program files by default, and I've been too lazy to enable it - so I use dir /s if I need to find some specific file from there.

Usually I have no problems finding the files I need without search, thanks to all the foldering I've done. Downloads, games, porn etc have all separate folders with subfolders for different types of software etc. instead of saving it all to desktop ;-)

Avoiding the hilariously crappy start menu most of the time is pretty easy too, when you make separate folders for different types of apps to taskbar, and launch them from there, like this: http://img444.imageshack.us/my.php?image=progslv8....

2-row taskbar gives enough room to keep applications open all day long. So when I start a program (like photoshop), I usually just let it be open whole day so it's available when I need it. Thanks to cheap memory keeping multiple apps open isn't an issue.




I love Halo 3...
By daftrok on 9/24/07, Rating: -1
RE: I love Halo 3...
By OblivionMage on 9/24/07, Rating: -1
RE: I love Halo 3...
By JAB on 9/24/2007 11:01:21 PM , Rating: 2
There is plenty of idiotic posts for or against Sony and Xbox that lac reason but you have hit a new low. Hurting people just to make your self feel good. Please exit the internet you are not worthy.

Mods feel free to delete this post and the thread as they are far off topic. I would recommend it as many people have looked forward to this game for a long time. No dont own a Xbox or PS3.


RE: I love Halo 3...
By duzytata on 9/25/2007 1:46:41 AM , Rating: 1
I was nine hours away from playing the game. I've managed to avoid all spoilers for months. If this is true, I'm coming back and giving you an internet bitch slapping...


RE: I love Halo 3...
By Polynikes on 9/25/2007 2:05:04 AM , Rating: 1
Just like Harry Potter does, eh?


RE: I love Halo 3...
By Etsp on 9/25/2007 12:19:23 PM , Rating: 2
That was the saddest part of the book =/


RE: I love Halo 3...
By omnicronx on 9/25/07, Rating: -1
Does SP1 make Vista not suck?
By retrospooty on 9/24/07, Rating: -1
RE: Does SP1 make Vista not suck?
By codeThug on 9/25/07, Rating: -1
RE: Does SP1 make Vista not suck?
By essjae on 9/25/2007 1:15:37 AM , Rating: 2
Wow, an article that bashes Microsoft on ./
That's unheard of!


RE: Does SP1 make Vista not suck?
By codeThug on 9/25/2007 12:25:56 PM , Rating: 1
No...

The actual article was from the telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/m...

And it wasn't the paper's opinion, it is FACT that many PC retailers, Dell included, are demanding a, shall we call it, upgrade path from Vista to XP.

But it has come to my attention that there are many Microtologists here on DailyTECH who seem to ignore the facts surrounding this issue.

If no one told the king (L. Ron Ballmer) that he has no clothes, the King would not change his behavior, and the product would remain substandard.

I've seen this behavior in some of my employee's from time to time when code is produced that is too fragile or incomplete for release. "It sorta works most of time" is not good enough.

Look at it this way:

ELWOOD (Dan Aykroyd): You don't like it?
JAKE (John Belushi): No, I don't like it. (Elwood floors it and jumps over an open drawbridge)
JAKE: Of course, it's got a lot of pickup.
ELWOOD: It's got a cop motor, a 440-cubic-inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters, so it'll run good on regular gas. What do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile, or what?
JAKE: Fix the cigarette lighter.

After critiquing software, I often use Jake's last line and my coder's understand. It means their code is 95% great, just knuckle down and fix the last 5%.

People ARE telling Microsoft that Vista is not quite yet ready for prime time, and Microsoft seems to be listening, otherwise MS would not be allowing retailers to downgrade to XP. This is a good thing.

This "to hell with the facts, my mind is made up attitude" regarding glorious Vista is actually hurting the adoption of the product. When, not if, Microsoft makes it better, then I will use it along will millions of other folks who have held off until now.

If you don't understand this, then go find a suitable pile of sand and insert head.


RE: Does SP1 make Vista not suck?
By omnicronx on 9/25/2007 2:00:50 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
And it wasn't the paper's opinion, it is FACT that many PC retailers, Dell included, are demanding a, shall we call it, upgrade path from Vista to XP.
How does that make it fact? because manufacturers demand it? Well i will tell you something, dell wanted the downgrade solely because they could not sell entry level systems while taking full advantage of all of vista's features.

For example my sister bought a dell laptop 6 months ago, it came loaded with the aero interface which i noticed was a bit slow. Low and behold the integrated graphics card just could not handle Aero, or atleast was a bit slower than with it turned off. This is not 'Proof' its customer/manufacturer stupidity thinking they can run all the bell's and whistles on cheap hardware. And because Manufacturers like dell have to deal with the customer backlash of their systems not performing as advertised they demanded the possibility of a vista downgrade.

So this is no fault of Microsoft, you can not blame them for thinking about the future, meanwhile vista explicitly states it needs a DX9 card to run aero, with recommended hardware being at least in the radeon9600 area. So the only real FACT here is that Dell and other manufacturers figured they could get away with a fast one, and it failed, miserably.

Vista is more than ready, as people have previously said the same things were said about windows xp when it came out. I have been running it for months now and i would not go back to XP. It may not be ready for the corporate world (until SP1 hits the streets, xp was the same way) but its more than ready for everyone else.


RE: Does SP1 make Vista not suck?
By codeThug on 9/25/2007 4:03:41 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
How does that make it fact?

Put the bong down and read the article or go to Dell's web site: http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/w...

quote:
Low and behold the integrated graphics card just could not handle Aero

So.... that's your sisters fault?, or perhaps Dell's for not knowing what to turn on or off based on unknown customer expectations for performance.

quote:
until SP1 hits the streets, xp was the same way

I was there, not even close...

quote:
Dell and other manufacturers figured they could get away with a fast one

phfft: Laughable response. Dell, Acer and others didn't have much of a choice as MS was jamming it down their throats. However, MS quickly backpedaled after the backlash of problems and abysmal system sales. Let's not forget who is responsible for the newly released code running on Existing state of the shelf hardware. Yah, must be the hardware guys...
quote:
It may not be ready for the corporate world (until SP1 hits the streets, xp was the same way) but its more than ready for everyone else.

This is too easy: So... corporate folks wanting to run Excel or Word or the usual mix of MS office apps are now power users that Vista is not ready to handle. Cuz maybe it's not ready? Cuz maybe everyone else haven't identified all of the bugs and incompatibilities that immature code like this sports?

Like I said, I'll use it when it's ready.


RE: Does SP1 make Vista not suck?
By omnicronx on 9/25/2007 4:29:12 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Put the bong down and read the article or go to Dell's web site:
Once again, Dell's word is far from the truth. You dont go to say the Dell, or Microsoft website and believe everything you read do you? ATI's site will probably say they have the fastest video cards in the world, amazingly go to Nvidia's site and it will say the same. A manufacturers word on something is not proof, far from it in fact....quote>So.... that's your sisters fault?, or perhaps Dell's for not knowing what to turn on or off based on unknown customer expectations for performance. .No, that would make it Dell's fault, for putting Vista on a machine that can not support it. Microsoft clearly stated what the minimum specs would need to be to run aero. So Dell put exactly that if not less in their laptops and PC's and this is Microsofts fault? If the hardware can't cut it, don't have an option of having windows vista for that model.
quote:
I was there, not even close...
Good rebuttal, oh wait, once again we are suppose to take your 'word for it'. Companies did wait for sp1, I upgraded a large number of machines machines myself, i was there too.
quote:
Dell, Acer and others didn't have much of a choice as MS was jamming it down their throats.
How did they not have a choice? All manufacturers have different lines of products that cater to different people. In cheap low end products, if they were not fast enough to run vista aero, they shouldnt have had vista available, or as you said automatically have aero turned off by default. I don't see how you don't think its the manufacturers fault for not doing the R&D on the products they sell. If you are telling me these setups were not tested to see how fast they would perform, and that Dell did not know in advance you are kidding yourself.
quote:
corporate folks wanting to run Excel or Word or the usual mix of MS office apps are now power users that Vista is not ready to handle.
What are you talking about? Would you like to post a link or some sort of proof showing performance issues with office? Office 2003 ran fine on my computer with only 512 ram, and office 2007 runs fine on the very same machine my sister bought that when aero was turned off, worked perfectly.

I find it funny how you have nothing to say about all the 'features' that you say don't work. It sounds to me like you just don't know what you are talking about.


RE: Does SP1 make Vista not suck?
By codeThug on 9/25/2007 5:40:05 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
Once again, Dell's word is far from the truth. You dont go to say the Dell, or Microsoft website and believe everything you read do you?
uhhh...ok, I can tell where this conversation is headed.

quote:
Good rebuttal, oh wait, once again we are suppose to take your 'word for it'.
Having dealt with both, it's my experience and opinion that moving from 2000 to XP was much easier. You had a different experience and thus a differing opinion.

quote:
If the hardware can't cut it, don't have an option of having windows vista for that model.
That's what people were asking for, you know, XP remember?

quote:
How did they not have a choice?
They had to petition MS to relax the rules to replace Vista with XP for those that wanted/needed it.

quote:
What are you talking about? Would you like to post a link or some sort of proof showing performance issues with office? Office 2003 ran fine on my computer with only 512 ram, and office 2007 runs fine on the very same machine my sister bought that when aero was turned off, worked perfectly.
...and previously...
quote:
It may not be ready for the corporate world (until SP1 hits the streets, xp was the same way) but its more than ready for everyone else.
Never claimed it didn't work with office, you said it wasn't ready for the corporate world...

quote:
In cheap low end products, if they were not fast enough to run vista aero, they shouldnt have had vista available, or as you said automatically have aero turned off by default.
Never mentioned aero either. Not being your shrink or your bartender, but are you hearing voices in your head?

quote:
I find it funny how you have nothing to say about all the 'features' that you say don't work. It sounds to me like you just don't know what you are talking about.
I'm sorry, are you talking to me? Nothing to say about features that I say don't work? I need a beer.

**clicks ruby heels together**
there's no place like home...
there's no place like home...
there's no place like home...


RE: Does SP1 make Vista not suck?
By TomZ on 9/25/2007 7:37:25 PM , Rating: 2
It's too bad that Microsoft, Dell, etc. have to cater to XP sissies like you. Oh well, I guess that's what fear can do to a person.


By codeThug on 9/25/2007 5:45:23 PM , Rating: 2
Yeah, you are right about that one. Some of the articles do contain factual data or at least links to factual data.

And some are pure troll bate...


"Intel is investing heavily (think gazillions of dollars and bazillions of engineering man hours) in resources to create an Intel host controllers spec in order to speed time to market of the USB 3.0 technology." -- Intel blogger Nick Knupffer

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