Language Packs and Windows Vista SP1

[Updated 6 Mar 3:01pm PST]  Apparently this post has created some confusion, which was the opposite of my intent.  Windows Vista SP1 is not delayed.  I repeat, aside from our having accelerated SP1 availability to MSDN/TechNet subscribers and volume licensing customers, there has been no change in the release plan Mike outlined in his post announcing SP1.

For clarity's sake, I'll reiterate our release schedule:

  • For the initial five first wave languages (English, Spanish, German, French, and Japanese):
    • We will release SP1 to Windows Update and the download center on microsoft.com in mid-March.  Customers running Windows Vista with any of these first languages installed can choose to install SP1 by visiting Windows Update.  If your PC has a language installed other than one of the 5 listed above, SP1 will not be offered.  Additionally, any system that Windows Update determines has a driver Microsoft knows to not update successfully will not be offered SP1.
    • In mid-April, we will begin delivering Windows Vista SP1 to Windows Vista customers using Automatic Update.  In other words, we will begin automatic downloads of SP1 for customers who have chosen to have updates downloaded automatically.  Note that, as Mike stated, Windows Update will *not* automatically download SP1 to any system it determines has a driver known to not update successfully.  (As updates for the problematic drivers become available, they will be installed automatically by Windows Update so that the result is that more and more systems will automatically get SP1, but only when we are confident they will have a good experience.)
    • MSDN/TechNet Plus subscribers and volume licensing customers have already been provided access to SP1 in first wave languages, as Mike stated in his follow-on post.
  • The remaining languages will be released to manufacturing (RTM) in April and availability to customers will follow.

We have some information we'd like to share in regards to Windows Vista SP1 and folks running Language Packs. Some of you may have noticed that after installing Windows Vista SP1 on Windows Vista Ultimate - the Language Packs fail to appear on Windows Update (KB947875).

We will be releasing Windows Vista SP1 in two "waves". The first wave will only provide Windows Vista SP1 to Windows Vista Ultimate PCs running the following 5 Languages: English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish. The second wave will follow shortly after - supporting all 36 languages.

For Windows Update, PCs running the 5 initial languages from the first wave only will be provided with Windows Vista SP1. PCs running Windows Vista Ultimate with any of the other Language Packs installed will not be offered Windows Vista SP1 through Windows Update until they are released. Once the Language Packs are released, Windows Vista SP1 will then be offered for installation.

When installing Windows Vista SP1 from the standalone installer, the standalone installer will only install on Windows Vista Ultimate running any of the 5 languages from the first wave. When installing Windows Vista SP1 on Windows Vista Ultimate with a Language Pack that is not one of the 5 initial Language Packs supported - you will get the following error (KB947876) when attempting to install Windows Vista with the standalone installer:

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 cannot be installed on your computer because the language of Windows Vista you have installed is not supported or you have installed a language pack that is not supported.

Windows Vista Service pack 1 can only be installed on computers running the English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish versions of Windows Vista or computers running only those language packs.

This means if you are running a Language Pack that is not one of the 5 initial Language Packs you will not be able to install Windows Vista SP1 until the other Language Packs are released.

But not to worry - the Language Packs are on their way.  We will have more information on exactly when very shortly so stay tuned!

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Comments

  1. gothboy
    Posted on: March 04, 2008 at 11:22AM  

    I have Windows Vista Ultimate and am using the English Language pack ... when will SP1 be available?  I keep hearing from other peole they have alreday got it though Windows update.

  2. Peter
    Posted on: March 04, 2008 at 12:18PM  

    As has been posted all over the web for weeks now....it will arrive via Windows Update later this month or early April.

  3. Karsten Hiemstra
    Posted on: March 04, 2008 at 1:36PM  

    Using Vista is a kick in the pants compared to XP.

    Using Vista Ultimate just adds insult to injury.  

    Not only have you defrauded your users who paid more for non-existent or extremely lame "extras", but now many users who may have installed the language packs have to wait even longer for a Service Pack that will (we hope) reduce the pain of using this problem-riddled OS.

    When presented with the meager extra lists, I'm sure many users simply installed all of the available extras just so that they could feel like they got something, anything for their extra cash.  Now they pay the price.

    You and your team should be ashamed of yourselves.

  4. Nick White
    Posted on: March 04, 2008 at 1:39PM  

    Hey dovella:  not sure I follow entirely, but for one, I cannot speak to files/images posted to torrents, as these are of course not sanctioned methods of distribution of MS products.  Your interest is likely in the Italian-language version of SP1; I can tell you that it is not yet available and will not become available until the second "wave" of languages is released, likely to occur next month.

  5. Zod
    Posted on: March 04, 2008 at 2:22PM  

    so we,italians and of course the resting languages,will get our Service Pack on Windows Update in april,won't we? Hoping it not to be in late april but early-mid april. Anyway,keep up the good work. I really hope that Microsoft in the near future accelerate the development of his products. How long will take an eventual Service Pack 2? Seriously,Microsoft Team,i understand that good stuff requires time and testing,but you should be faster with releases of service packs,ect. Of course if it comes to fix some things that require more time,there is nothing wrong with that :) bye

  6. dovella
    Posted on: March 04, 2008 at 3:26PM  

    Ok Nick Thank you very much.

    I hoped something had changed seen this file torrent.

    Thanks also wait with Vista  because normally I have no problems.

    THX 10000 and good WORK!!!

  7. jaxim
    Posted on: March 04, 2008 at 11:09PM  

    If you installed the language packs but are using English, can you download and install SP1?

    I got tired of hiding the language packs so I downloaded them but I am only using the English version. Will I be able to install SP1 or do I need to uninstall these non-English language packs that I don't even use?

    Also, any word on what new Extras may be coming? My vote is for a multi-clipboard app. Or maybe a version of windows explorer that has tabs. Or how about a user friendly interface for shadow copy to give more control over this tool?

  8. Nick White
    Posted on: March 05, 2008 at 12:50AM  

    Hey jaxim:  If you only have English installed, and provided there are no blocking driver issues identified by Windows Update, SP1 should appear as an available update via Windows Update when it is released.

    News on the Extras front is forthcoming.

  9. luminoso
    Posted on: March 05, 2008 at 5:58AM  

    this is why M$ sucks.

    delays and more delays that never ends.

    a lot of people are waiting for this SP1 to fix that stupid bugs, like copy slowness.

    two waves are so... retarded.

  10. jaxim
    Posted on: March 05, 2008 at 7:31AM  

    thanks, Nick, I look forward to it.

Trackbacks

  1. Posted by: Language Packs and Windows Vista SP1 on March 03, 2008 at 4:41PM
  2. Posted by: Windows Vista News on March 04, 2008 at 7:30AM

    Interesting point at teched.indepthtalk.net

  3. Posted by: TechBlog on March 05, 2008 at 7:40AM

    • The trouble with Steve Jobs -- Is that he really, really likes to take risks. Also Apple shareholders pepper Jobs with questions • Microsoft Develops New Operating System From Scratch -- Singularity, which I wrote about last year. •...

  4. Posted by: Bink.nu on March 05, 2008 at 9:12AM

    Vista PCs running the Ultimate edition in English, French, German, Japanese or Spanish will get the service

  5. Posted by: ups216 on March 05, 2008 at 11:32AM

    微软已经发布了Windows Vista SP1，但是兴高采烈的我在反复尝试了10次安装以后终于决定暂时放弃，其中包括从新安装我的Windows Vista Ultimate，在完全干净的系统上进行安装。

  6. Posted by: Windows XP/Vista Informations » windows vista ultimate sp1 msdn on December 10, 2008 at 1:30AM

    Pingback from  Windows XP/Vista Informations  » windows vista ultimate sp1 msdn

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