Installing 64-bit Windows Vista Service Pack 1 from a 32-bit image of Vista SP1 is a move that has become possible with the latest stage in evolution of the latest Windows client. Along with a range of enhancements, Vista SP1 comes to the table with setup and deployment improvements. While end users will be only superficially impacted by the changes, IT professional and original equipment manufacturers will be able to enjoy the added benefits of the service pack.

"SP1 is great for IT Professionals because it will make your life easier around deployment and management of the technology. You will be able to maintain a single WinPE image because you can install 64-bit versions of Vista from a 32-bit OS," explained Deeps De Silva, Audience Marketing Manager, Microsoft Australia.

And in addition, Microsoft informed that Vista SP1 "improves OS deployment by supporting the installation of offline boot critical storage drivers. WinPE will automatically look to a hidden partition for drivers. It will search that partition recursively, and if boot critical drivers are present they will be loaded. Non-boot critical drivers will be picked up and staged, but not loaded prior to the OS coming online."

Microsoft business customers and partners will be able to take full advantage of Windows Pre-installation Environment 2.0, the core deployment foundation for Vista, in order to streamline deployments of Vista SP1. Microsoft is offering Windows PE 2.0, tailored to Vista, as an integral part of Business Desktop Deployment 2007.

Windows PE 2.0 "is designed to make large-scale, customized deployments of the new Windows Vista operating system notably easier. With the release of Windows Vista, Windows PE 2.0 is available to all Windows business customers to assist in deployments of Windows Vista as well as downlevel operating systems such as Windows XP. Windows PE enables users to inject drivers, configure Windows Vista offline, provide recovery solutions as well as diagnose and troubleshoot system problems," Microsoft added.