14 DAY TRIAL // In the context of the imminent distribution of Windows Vista Service Pack 1, Microsoft outlined a strategy designed to deliver an as-smooth-as-possible implementation of the first service pack for its latest Windows client. This is the reason why the consumer availability of Vista SP1 was postponed to mid-March, a month and a half following the RTM on February 4, 2008. After announcing that the bits for Vista SP1 went gold, Mike Nash, Microsoft Corporate VP, Windows Product Management, revealed that, due to integration issues with third party hardware drivers, the service pack will be served through Microsoft Update, Windows Update and the Download Center starting with mid-March, and via Automatic Updates in mid-April.
In addition, Microsoft also had to serve two remaining Vista SP1 updates out of the total of three prerequisites for the service pack. It did so with the latest monthly patch cycle on February 12, 2008. Having dropped KB935509 in January, only KB938371 and KB937287 remained. But Microsoft hit a speed bump with the update for the Vista installation software feature, namely KB937287. End users reported that the operating systems on which KB937287 was delivered via Automatic Updates remained frozen in the "configuring updates stage 3 out of 3 %" stage, and then entered an infinite loop of reboots. Microsoft has finally reacted to user complaints and stopped the distribution of the update in question.
"We've heard a few reports about problems customers may be experiencing as a result of KB937287, the servicing stack update, and I wanted to provide a quick update for you. Immediately after receiving reports of this error, we made the decision to temporarily suspend automatic distribution of the update to avoid further customer impact while we investigate possible causes. So far, we've been able to determine that this problem only affects a small number of customers in unique circumstances. We are working to identify possible solutions and will make the update available again shortly after we address the issue," stated Nick White, Windows Vista Product Manager.