With Windows Vista SP1 available in all 36 languages supported by the operating system as of April 15, Microsoft has taken the necessary measures to ensure that the RTM build of its latest Windows client will play well with the service pack. The Redmond company published an extensive list of reasons why some Vista RTM copies are not able to upgrade to SP1. But at the same time Microsoft failed to mention that there are additional issues that might prevent SP1's integration into Vista. One such problem is inconsistency and was found in the Windows servicing store; in order to deal with it Microsoft has made available for download the System Update Readiness Tool.

"System resources, such as file data, registry data, and even in-memory data, can develop inconsistencies during the lifetime of the operating system. These inconsistencies might be caused by various hardware failures or might be caused by software issues. In some cases, these inconsistencies can affect the Windows servicing store, and they can cause software updates not to work. The System Update Readiness Tool tries to resolve these inconsistencies," Microsoft explained.

But even though the System Update Readiness Tool is offered for download, the utility is also delivered through Windows Update. Designed to perform a onetime scan for inconsistencies, the System Update Readiness Tool will sniff out the glitches that prevent the deployment of Service Pack 1 on Windows Vista, but also of generic updates and software.

"Microsoft released the System Update Readiness Tool to resolve certain conditions that could cause installing updates and other software not to work. You do not have to manually run this tool. This tool is offered automatically through Windows Update to computers that have a condition that the tool could resolve," the Redmond company added.

The System Update Readiness Tool is available for download here.