Well I've got a major problem with VISTA / SP1 / service packs / all of the above...
Does anyone else encounter the inability to install *UNRELATED / SUBSEQUENT*
security updates BEYOND SP1 e.g. with the error:
"The update does not apply to your system"?
Could someone with Vista x64 WITH OR WITHOUT SP1-RC installed
TRY to MANUALLY install any of the relevant Jan-2008 / Dec-2008 ,
updates e.g. KB941644 and see if it works? (* you must not have had
those patches already applied by Windows Update or manually, of course).
1) I installed Vista Home Premium *x64* English from 64 bit install disc I got about 1 year
ago just a while after Vista went RTM for everyone. I have no reason to believe it's
any different than the full retail build of Pre-SP1 x64 that's available today.
2) I installed a few of the latest Motherboard / chipset Intel P35 drivers, and the latest
WHQL official NVIDIA driver for the 8800 series.
3) I used the system for a couple of days, rebooted several times, made sure it was stable.
4) I *successfully* installed the SP1 RC as follows; it reported successful installation.
Version: 936330
Knowledge Base (KB) Articles: KB936330
Date Published: 12/14/2007
Language: English
Five-Language Standalone Package
This package supports installations on all versions of Windows Vista with one or a combination of the following languages installed: English, German, Japanese, French, Spanish.
Supported Operating Systems: Windows Vista Business 64-bit edition; Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit edition; Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit edition; Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit edition; Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition
Download Windows Vista SP1 RC x64
http://www.microsoft.com/downl...46DF-89D8-B93C248496E3
5) After it "successfully installed", I waited around 45 minutes longer for everything
to "finish updating" (just in case), then rebooted, then waited a little while longer.
6) I read the following document:
http://technet2.microsoft.com/...-4bc10ffe56ab1033.mspx
Hotfixes and Security Updates included in Windows Vista Service Pack 1
I searched the document to see if the latest several released security patches
from January 2008 and December 2007 were included in SP1. They are apparently
NOT; none of those security patches are listed as being part of SP1, apparently they
froze the code changes for SP1 at November 2007 level or so and so one must
manually apply any subsequent security patches / hotfixes after installing the
service pack 1. Ok. They could have been clear about the cut-off patch number/date,
but anyway now I have the information.
7) So I try to install all security updates listed as relevant for Vista Home Premium x64
from the monthly security patch ISOs from 2008-Jan and 2007-December.
These are NOT in the list of security updates contained in Vista SP1, nor were/are they
listed as being individually installed on my system before or after installation of the
SP1 release candidate. Hence I go to install them manually to get fully up to date as
of Dec/2007, Jan/2008.
December 2007 Security Releases ISO Image
http://www.microsoft.com/downl...3590F96&displaylang=en
January 2008 Security Releases ISO Image
http://www.microsoft.com/downl...53cece2&DisplayLang=en
These are listed as updates that should apply to Vista x64 and which ARE NOT in the
list of what's "inside" SP1-RC:
KB942624 / (MS07-063)
KB941568 / (MS07-064)
KB943078 / (MS07-066)
KB941569 / (MS07-068)
KB942615 / (MS07-069)
KB941644 / (MS08-001)
8) Each and every one of those attempts to install the latest security updates specifically
listed as being applicable to Vista X64 failed to install giving the following message:
"The update does not apply to your system".
After attempting unsuccessfully to install each of them I checked the
Control Panel / Programs / View Installed Updates list and verified that they were
still NOT listed as installed.
Here's the information from Vista after the SP1 install as to what *IS* installed:
Vista Home Premium Service Pack 1 v.668
SW licensing service version: 6.0.6001.17052
Installed Updates:
Service Pack 1 KB936330
Update KB935509
Update KB937287
Update KB937954
Update KB938371
WTF? "All your service patches are belong to us?"
The other huge problem I have with SP1 RC is this:
"Windows Vista SP1 RC is time-limited software.
Windows Vista SP1 RC will no longer operate after June 30, 2008 and should be uninstalled prior to that date. After installation your desktop will show the text ?Evaluation Copy?. This does not mean that your system is no longer genuine but that you have installed a test version of software which is time-limited. The ?Evaluation Copy? text will appear on your desktop after the second reboot after installing the service pack. Likewise, the ?Evaluation Copy? text will remain on your desktop during the first reboot after uninstall the service pack, but will disappear after the next reboot."
Ok, excuse me, looking at the list of Security Updates and Hotfixes included in
SP1 RC there are dozens and dozens of *previously released, publically available*
security updates and hotfixes included in SP1 RC. These are *already* OFFICIALLY
RELEASED updates, there's nothing tentative about them, and many are CRITICAL
security or functionality fixes. Microsoft has *NO* business *TERMINATING* usefulness
of or installation of those patches once they're installed under ANY conditions, nor
should they need to be uninstalled for any reason just to "upgrade" to the final
SP1 version which would ALSO have to include the SAME PREVIOUSLY RELEASED
security updates. If there are some other REMAINING differences between SP1 RC
and SP1, great, they can suggest that you update to SP1-final to get those minor
differences, but there's just NO EXCUSE for breaking perfectly functioning
already installed already "final version" security / functionality patches.
Given that there are several unpatched TCP/IP vector CRITICAL
vulnerabilities (e.g. the new January 2008 ones) that can cause total
compromise of your system just by connecting it to the network I haven't
done so pending local installation of all the current fixes. But it's rather
useless if the fixes won't install and of course I can't play "Windows Update"
roulette without being networked (nor should I need to -- I have all the
right patch files here if they'd only install!).
Apparently lots of people have reported
"The update does not apply to your system".
type errors (q.v. one's favorite search engine), but the reports I've read seem
to have nothing to do with my particular experience / configuration. Though given
the numerous related error message complaints, I gather that I've fallen headfirst
into another of Vista's "not quite ready for prime time" malfunctions. So much
for waiting for SP1 to use Vista; I guess I'll have to wait for SP2!
Tried Vista x64 1 year ago at RTM: Disaster.
Tried Vista x64 today at SP1 level: You've got to be kidding, right?
?????
Lost profits!
So far I consider it massively broken that apparently their flagship OS
with the latest service pack can't / won't even install the SUBSEQUENTLY RELEASED
CRITICAL SECURITY UPDATES. SP1 (RC or not) doubtlessly fixes many problems,
but it's worse than useless if you can't pick up from there to
I'm thinking the correct error dialog should not be:
"The update does not apply to your system"
...but...
"VISTA does not apply to your system; please upgrade to LINUX or maybe XP".
And WTF? Microsoft is handing out tons of ISO images right and left for things
like security updates, development tool downloads, et. al., but there's
NO official / built in way to burn ISO images to CD/DVD for VISTA? WTF?!
XP and Server 2003 have free official DVD/CD burning tools from Microsoft
but NOT shiny new vista?
Built in Movie Recorder: check.
Built in DVD movie / backup Maker: check.
Built in Live File System UDF writing to DVD: check.
Built in RIP / Burn Music CDs: check.
Can't even burn an already created ISO image in 2008? : BZZZT Massive Fail, thanks,
LINUX works 1e+09x better for like uh the last 15 years....
Can't even MOUNT an ISO image as a virtual drive in 2008? : ....ditto...