14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is slowly opening up the availability of the final bits of Windows Vista Service Pack 1. As it released Vista SP1 to manufacturing on February 4, 2008, together with Windows Server 2008, Microsoft informed that the service pack would be initially delivered only to its original equipment manufacturing partners and would go into production of DVDs aimed for retail outlets. Next in line to get the gold bits were the 15,000 Beta testers that have participated in the testing process associated with the development of Vista SP1. Then, Microsoft backpedaled on the availability dates for its Volume Licensing customers, as well as the MSDN and TechNet subscribers.
As far as end users are concerned, things have not changed in any manner. The consumer launch of Vista SP1 will start in mid-March via Microsoft Update, Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center, and in mid-April through Automatic Updates. But on February 14, the Redmond company has released Vista SP1 RTM to MSDN and TechNet Plus subscribers. Microsoft is essentially offering Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (x86, x64) - DVD (English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish); Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (x86) - EXE (English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish) and Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (x64) - EXE (English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish).
"Feb 14 0900 (PDT) - NOW LIVE. The SP1 patch is located in the Top Downloads list on the MSDN Subscriptions Home Page. To access it go to the page and sign in to the site (top left of page). The Top Downloads list is on the left side of page below headline articles. If you just click the link on the page and are not signed in, you will be required to sign in before the download will be initiated," stated a member of the MSDN Subscription program.
In order to download Windows Vista SP1 RTM via MSDN, you will have to go to the MSDN Subscriptions Home Page and then to Top Downloads. Vista SP1 is ready for download HERE.
"We have posted the SP1 Update release for download through the Top Downloads section on the Subscriptions Default Page. To use the Top Downloads , you will need to install the Akamai Technologies Download Manager Browser add-on to access these files and will need to allow pop-ups (at least temporarily). The files are on the Top Downloads rather than Subscriber Downloads & Product Keys to load balance the with the download activity related to Windows Server 2008," stated Kathy Dixon, TechNet Plus subscriptions.
As far as TechNet is concerned, you won't find the bits on the main page. Instead they will be HERE (also look for the Vista SP1 downloads HERE and HERE) in the top downloads section of the Subscriber page.
"Now that the SP1 Update is available for subscribers on Top Downloads, there are some people having trouble finding the Top Downloads or seeing the bits available. Top Downloads is not in the usual location for accessing downloads. (...) If you are signed in with a Windows Live ID linked to an active TechNet Plus subscription that can access other downloads from Subscriber Downloads & Product Keys but see no files in the Top Downloads control please know we are actively troubleshooting this with a few subscribers who raised it earlier today. I will let you know once we have a resolution," Dixon added.
