14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is not only hard at work on the evolution of Windows Vista by building Service Pack 2, but also hammering away at previous releases of the operating system, namely the RTM and SP1 builds. In this regard, the December 2008 Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Application Compatibility Update is designed to make Windows Vista RTM/SP1 play nice with Internet Explorer 8. According to Microsoft, when it comes down to the integration between IE8 and Vista, the refresh will kick the user experience up a notch.
“The Windows Vista Application Compatibility Update is a software update that addresses common application compatibility issues in Windows Vista. Microsoft regularly releases Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Application Compatibility Updates,” Microsoft revealed. “This software update is a prerequisite for Windows Internet Explorer 8. This update helps improve reliability when you install and use Windows Internet Explorer 8.”
Nevertheless, while taking care of the reliability issues involving Internet Explorer 8 and Windows Vista, the December 2008 Application Compatibility Update also focuses on the Zune software and Kaspersky Internet Security or Anti-Virus 7 and earlier. Both Zune software versions and Kaspersky security solutions incompatible with Vista are hard blocked when the users perform an upgrade from Windows XP.
A hard block implies that versions of Zune software and Kaspersky security products that have been flagged as incompatible will not be allowed to run on the operating systems. Kaspersky has given its permission for version 7 and earlier of its Internet Security or Anti-Virus solutions to be blocked.
“Applications that are included in the December 2008 update: Windows Internet Explorer updated to improve functionality; Microsoft Zune Software - hard blocked when you upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista; Kaspersky Internet Security or Anti-Virus versions up to version 7 - hard blocked when you upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista,” Microsoft added.
Download the Update for Windows Vista (KB957388) package.
Download the Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB957388) package.
Download the Update for Windows Server 2008 (KB957388) package.
Download the Update for Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems (KB957388) package.
Download the Update for Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition (KB957388) package.