Download Windows Feature Pack for Storage 1.0 RTW for Vista SP1 and XP SP3

New storage features have come to Windows Vista Service Pack 1, Windows XP SP3 and releases of the Windows Server platforms. Windows Feature Pack for Storage 1.0 was released to web (RTW) and is now available for download and integration with the supported operating systems. This is the finalized version of Windows Feature Pack for Storage 1.0, with Microsoft cooking the pack since 2008. In fact, in August 2008, the Redmond company was dropping a pre-release version of the solution via Microsoft Connect.

“The Windows Feature Pack for Storage 1.0 includes the following features: Image Mastering API Update for Blu-Ray Media - this feature enables the Windows platform to do master style optical burning on Blu-Ray media. Smart Card Driver - this release provides support for new form factors, such as ICCD,” Microsoft revealed.

“The following system requirements are necessary to install the Windows Feature Pack for Storage 1.0 - the system must be running one of the following operating systems: Windows XP SP2, SP3; Windows Server 2003 SP1 and above; Windows Vista RTM, SP1; Windows Server 2008. Smart Card Driver is not supported for Windows Server 2003. Operating systems that do not have the required service packs will not be supported,” the company added.

Microsoft is offering Image Mastering API Update for Blu-Ray Media for both the 32-bit and 64-bit flavors of its Windows client and server operating systems with the exception of Windows XP 64-bit, which is stuck as SP2 level. In the same manner, the Smart Card Driver is not available for x86 or x64 Windows Server 2003, and neither for x64 XP. Provided that they are running one of the supported operating systems, users need only to download and run the installers available from Microsoft in order to add the features to the platforms.

Windows Feature Pack for Storage 1.0 is available for download here.