Microsoft's Windows Omerta is not only associated with Windows Seven, the next version of the Windows platform, but also with the forthcoming release of the first service pack for Vista. Microsoft labors to deliver Windows Vista SP1 in the second half of 2007. However, details about the refresh are scarce. Microsoft has limited the information only to reveal the fact that SP1 will be nothing more than a collection of updates and hotfixes and not a major release in the sense of Windows XP SP1 and SP2.

Nick White, Microsoft Program Manager gave an insight on the company's attitude toward Vista SP1 on the operating system's official blog: "I'm not here to discuss SP1, so please refrain from posting your questions on it in the Comments section. Windows Vista is a product that's both deep and wide and we on this blog intend to continue to delve into it while sharing with you the story of its creation. When the time comes to discuss other releases, you can be sure that we'll have plenty to say right here."

Plenty to say, but not right now. However, White did warn Windows Vista users about an alleged Vista Service Pack 1 preview available. The Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Preview Pack is applauded as containing over 100 fixes for the operating system. I will not give a link to this website, and Nick White explains why.

"A HotFix.net blogger today posted a collection of individual Windows Vista hotfixes as a supposed Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) preview. However, (...) what is posted consists of some material already available on Windows Update and some hotfixes that we give out on a case-by-case basis, along with a lot of speculation about what may and may not be included in SP1."

It is important to understand that although all the contents of the Windows Vista SP1 Preview Pack are genuine Microsoft releases, they are also meant to be installed exclusively by users that experience issues. If your Windows Vista copy works perfectly, then you don't have to apply any hotfixes.

"It's worth mentioning that hotfixes not posted on Windows Update are not intended for individual installation unless the user is experiencing the specific symptoms mentioned in the corresponding KB article. These hotfixes represent specific fixes for specific customer scenarios and typically have not undergone full regression testing. When they are integrated into a future service pack, they will receive full regression testing and beta testing. So, installing a collection of unnecessary hotfixes may cause more problems than are fixed," White added.

And the other updates and security patches included are available via Windows Update.