Vista SP1 released, but I can’t download it – can you?

by Alex Zaharov-Reutt

Thursday, 20 March 2008

Page 3 of 4 It’s not just driver issues that are causing SP1 troubles. A Microsoft ‘Help and Support’ article outlines the 8 issues that could stop you from getting Vista SP1, even if you should otherwise qualify - and that hidden ninth Logitech webcam issue. You can see the 8 causes for yourself at the link above. But the cause that is affecting me is as follows: “Cause 5: A hardware device driver or device software was problematic when you updated to Windows Vista SP1. The Windows Update service can detect the small set of device drivers and software that falls into this category. The Windows Update service will not offer Windows Vista SP1 until an update for the hardware device driver or the device software has been installed.” None of the other causes apply to my machine, so it’s only driver issues. The resolution for Cause 5 problems entails getting new drivers for the following audio devices Realtek AC'97, SigmaTel, Creative Audigy and Conexant HD Audio. The two fingerprint biometric devices are from Authentec and UPEK, some Intel display devices, a TI smartcard controller, a version of a Sierra Wireless data card and software, some Symantec software and seemingly anyone with a Logitech Webcam. Specific driver versions can be seen at the support article. Regarding the Logitech webcam situation, Microsoft says that Logitech webcams which use the Lvuvc.sys driver will not be offered SP1 until (if I have read correctly) Microsoft fixes a problem with Vista’s Ks.sys file, which they are working on. If I could have otherwise installed SP1, I’d have happily removed the Logitech webcam temporarily, but there’s no point if I can’t get the updated drivers for everything else. Microsoft’s support article says: “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.” Microsoft also advises going to the manufacturer’s website of your computer to look for updated drivers. Of course I did this for my Fujitsu Tablet PC (T4210) – and the drivers aren’t there yet, although there is an updated ‘Sensor Shock’ driver which notes it is compatible with Vista SP1. The otherwise excellent Paul Thurrott states at WinSuperSite regarding these driver issues that (four paragraphs in quotes from his article): “I discussed this release with Microsoft's John Gray and David Zipkin, both of whom seemed eager to explain the events of the past six weeks or so. Amazingly, the company has also thoroughly documented which drivers were causing issues with SP1, and Gray and Zipkin expanded on that to help explain the issue further.” The article continues: “Put simply, Microsoft identified 12 specific driver issues that would, in very rare circumstances, cause issues for customers upgrading from Windows Vista to Service Pack 1. As it turns out, most of these issues were actually fixed between the last SP1 release candidate (RC) and the final build, but because they were issues with hardware drivers and not something that Microsoft could patch in SP1, the company felt it was best to hold off on SP1's GA until the problems were fixed. So Microsoft has been working with its hardware partners to get updated drivers created that it could then distribute to customers via Windows Update.” What did Thurrott say next? And why don’t I believe it? Please read onto page 4. << First page <   1 2 3 4 Next page > Last page - Post your comment >>

 

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