If you're itching to install Windows Vista Service Pack 1 but aren't planning to be anywhere near Redmond on October 27th, all may not be lost. Some friendly hackers have posted a registry setting that will reportedly allow you to download Vista SP1 through Windows Update.

We're going to point out a couple of things here, although they should really be obvious:

1. There's no guarantee this registry hack will work for you.
2. If it doesn't, you could potentially turn your computer into an overpriced paperweight.
3. Windows Vista SP1 is still in beta, meaning you can expect some bugs even if you do manage to update your system.

If you're still willing to take the plunge after reading all that, just download the registry hack, check for Windows Updates, and you should be all set. A little "evaluation copy" watermark will show up on the bottom of your screen, but hackers being what they are, there's a fix for that as well.

While you might not be able to get your hands on it yet, Microsoft has released Windows Vista SP1 to a few thousand beta testers. And Neil Randall at PC Magazine has been playing with the update and writes up his thoughts in a thorough review.

In a nutshell, SP1 makes Windows vista a bit snappier and more responsive to requests, which we had expected. Randall reports that Vista returns from hibernation mode about 50% faster than it used to, and his system resumes from sleep mode a bit quicker as well. And it takes less time to copy files and folders.

Many of the updates in SP1 are security enhancements. That means for the most part, you'll never really notice them. Remote Desktop files can be signed and you can use BitLocker to encrypt multiple hard drives.

Windows Vista SP1 also supports Direct3D 10.1 and includes a few extra features for x64 users.

Vixta could be the Linux distribution with the smallest possible target audience ever: Linux users who love the look and feel of Windows Vista and wished their Linux desktops could look more like Windows.

Vixta is a Fedora-based distro with a custom KDE-based interface. You get widgets, a Vista-like start menu and taskbar, and evil looks from your die-hard open-source buddies. Under the hood, there's no mistaking Vixta for Windows. If you're a Linux user, that's probably a good thing, but somehow we doubt Vixta will convince many Windows users to switch to Linux.

You can't run Windows apps without the help of WINE, and while the menu system may look like Windows, all the underlying programs are Linux equivalents. That means you get Konqueror instead of Explorer, OpenOffice instead of Office, and Firefox instead of, well, Firefox. OK, maybe switching isn't really that hard, but try telling that to your grandma.

[via Tux Enclave]

You may not be able to get your grubby little paws on Windows Vista SP1 yet, but if you're itching for a few performance enhancements, Microsoft has released several new reliability and compatibility updates.

First up is a package that:

• Extends battery life for mobile devices
• Improves stability of portable computers and desktops using a uninterruptable power supply
• Improves reliability when you open the menu of a startup application
• Improves IE7 stability
• Improves wireless networking stability
• Shortens startup time
• Fixes compatibility problem with some 3rd party antivirus applications

Other updates fixe Windows Media Player 11 issues, solve USB problems, and update Windows Vista Media Center.

If you're itching to install Windows Vista SP1 but haven't been one of the few thousand beta testers to get an invitation, October 27th could be your lucky day. If you live near Redmond Washington, that is.

Microsoft is holding a Vista SP1 Beta Install Fair. What does that mean? if you've got a PC running Windows Vista RTM and a little free time on your hands, Microsoft will install a beta of SP1 on your system. You'll need a PC with a 1GHz or higher processor, 512MB of RAM, a 4X or 8X AGP video adaptor with 64MB of RAM, 6GB of free hard drive space, and a DVD-ROM drive.

Microsoft is looking for at least 100 PCs with uncommon applications and configurations so they can gather better performance data on Vista SP1. In other words, you'd best back up your data, because there's no guarantee everything is going to work.

There's limited availability, so you should sign up by sending an e-mail to vsp1reg@microsoft.com. Microsoft is offering to install SP1 on 180 desktop PCs and 20 laptops between 9am and 3pm on October 27th.

Now that a few thousand beta testers have got their grubby paws on Window Vista SP1, a few more details are leaking out. One feature we hadn't heard about until now is a new utility for creating a Windows recovery disc. This isn't the same as a system restore disc you get from your computer manufacturer that will restore your system to its factory default settings. Instead, it's a disc that helps you boot into a basic version of Windows to repair problems with the operating system.

There have always been ways to create a recovery disc, but they've required jumping through a few hoops. You could probably argue that if the instructions were too complicated, you probably shouldn't be messing around with a restore disc in the first place. But even advanced users like to save some time every once in a while.

Vista SP1 makes the process about as simple as possible. Select "All Programs," from the Start Menu, then select "Maintenance," and then "Create a Recovery Disc." That's pretty much it. And since the whole thing only takes a few hundred MP, you can easily burn a CD in just a few minutes.

Once you have a disc, you'll be able to boot directly into the Windows Recovery Environment if anything happens to your PC. This will let you perform startup repairs, system restores, restore your entire PC from a backup image, check for memory problems, or pull up a command prompt.

Bowing into pressure from customers, Microsoft has decided to continue selling the Windows XP operating system in stores for another five months.

Previous versions of operating systems released by Microsoft have generally been available for up to two years after the shipment of a new OS. Microsoft had planned on cutting XP in stores just one year after the release of Vista, however, due to its slow sales and customer demand Microsoft has added a few more months and will let it stay on store shelves until mid 2008.

Many current customers have not been interested in switching to Vista, with computer giant Dell even going so far as to start up offering XP pre installed on new PC's instead of Vista early this year. Now what does that say about a new OS compared to a six year old one?

If you've switched to Vista, how is it working out for you? Do you recommend upgrading yet?

So we were standing in line at the Microsoft booth at Digital Life because we wanted to get a good look at the Internet TV platform coming to Windows Vista Media Center tomorrow. And we overheard someone asking the guy manning the booth a bunch of questions about Media Center and how to get it, and it occurred to us that a lot of people still don't know what Windows Media Center is.

So here you go: It's an interface for interacting with media on your PC from 10 feet away. And it's built into Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate. It's also included in Windows XP Media Center Edition.

The reason a lot of people don't know they already have Media Center is because while it's built into the software, they don't have the hardware to connect their PC to a television. Or if they do, they don't have the hardware to watch and record live TV using their PC. For the record, you can perform these tasks with a video-out graphics card, a media center extender, and a TV tuner card. Prices for these different devices range from $30 to $500.

Microsoft is rolling out the public beta of Internet TV for Windows Vista Media Center tomorrow. If you've got a machine running Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate, a new option should pop up inside of your media center interface, cleverly titled "Internet TV."

At launch, there will be 100 hours of programming available from MSN Video. The service is free, but ad-supported, meaning you'll have to put up with some 15 and 30 second spots here and there. YuMe is responsible for the ad.

But is there anything you'll want to watch? Here's some of the content available:

• Full length episodes of TV shows including Arrested Development
• Full length concerts by artists including Chris Cornell, Snoop Dogg, Elton John, Pink, John Mayer, and the Pussycat Dolls
• Movie trailers
• MSNBC news clips
• FOX Sports clips

Internet TV will be available from Windows Vista machines with Windows Media Center, and from Xbox 360 consoles.

One of the things that separates Windows Vista Ultimate from the versions of Vista with names like "Home Premium" and Business are "Ultimate Extras," like DreamScene, because you know, everyone needs an animated desktop on their PC.

But if visual candy is your thing, after spending most of the year in public beta, DreamScene was officially pushed out the door today. Microsoft has also partnered with Stardock to release a series of new DreamScene desktops. You can also convert your own videos into desktops.

There's no real word on any differences between the full version of DreamScene and the public beta. Let us know if you've installed both versions and notice any changes.

As expected, the Microsoft Windows Vista Team has released an early version of Vista Service Pack 1 to a selected group of testers. Brandon LeBlanc at the Windows Vista Blog has been running SP1 for a little while already and shares these thoughts:

• The update will show up through Windows Update, and will show a size range from 51MB to 680MB. Because the update includes a number of hotfixes and compatibility packs that you may have already downloaded and installed, we're guessing your download will be on the lighter side if your PC is pretty much up to date.
• There's also a standalone installer for IT administrators who don't want to download the same file 400 times.
• LeBlanc reports that his updated computer is more responsive when logging into a network.
• The updated Disk Defragmenter will let you choose which volumes to work on.
• Vista Enterprise and Ultimate users will be able to choose which hard drives to encrypt using the BitLocker Control Panel.
• LeBlanc says his computer is a bit more responsive overall.
• Copying files from one directory to another is better.
• His laptop battery lasts longer.
• His PC performs better when resuming from Sleep or Hibernation modes.
• Windows Vista SP1 also lets users change their default desktop search provider. If you like Microsoft's desktop search product you'll have to reenable it. But you can also set Google Desktop as your default desktop search engine.

We don't expect to see a full release until early next year, but it's possible a public beta might be released before that time.

Windows Vista is pretty. Nobody disputes the fact that the Aero interface is pretty, and in some cases even useful. And there are a lot of security measures built into the operating system. But many users have reported software they rely on isn't compatible with the latest operating system from Microsoft. Power management features often don't work the way they're supposed to. And sometimes too much security isn't a good thing (for example when your computer asks for your permission to perform what seem like the most basic tasks.

It turns out Microsoft has not turned a blind eye to all these complaints. And while most computer makers are offering Vista on their new PCs, Microsoft has made it easy for PC manufacturers to offer a downgrade option to Windows XP.

The downgrade option is only available for Windwos Vista Business and Ultimate editions. And PC makers get to decide if and how to offer the downgrade. Fujitsu has begun including an XP disc in boxes of computers it ships, while HP offers customers the ability to configure business models with XP. Lenovo will be selling XP "recovery discs" to customers who buy Vista Business or Ultimate until July 31, 2008. Hopefully by then Windows Vista Service Pack 1 will be out and will address most, or at least some of the major complaints.

[via Engadget]

Every version of Windows from 3.0 to XP used the same type of help file format. HLP files were basically modified RTF documents that could be viewed using the WinHlp32.exe application.

But Microsoft decided to leave that application out of Windows Vista to encourage developers to use more up to date help file formats. There's just one problem. When you buy a new computer or a new operating system you don't buy all new software. So there's probably more than a few applications you run that were designed for Windows XP or earlier. And you can't read their help files using Windows Vista. Not out of the box, that is.

It turns out there are two pretty simple ways to add support for HLP files to Windows Vista. First up, you can download and install an "update" from Microsoft. It weighs in at a hefty 601KB, so I can see why the company left it out.

If you've got an XP machine lying around, or if you're running a dual boot system, you can also just copy WinHlp32.exe from the Windows directory. When putting it on your new machine, you should probably stick it in Program Files or another directory, not Windows. In order to associate HLP files with the application, you'll need to find an old one, right click it and select "open with" to select the default program.

[via CodeJacked]

Jim Louderback leaves PCMag and Ziff Davis after 16 years as an editor and on his way out tells us what he really thinks of Microsoft Vista. In his words, "The litany of what doesn't work and what still frustrates me stretches on endlessly."

Need new computers for your small business but are unsure what OS to put on them? Take a hint from Dell. For a while, Dell pushed Vista but after hearing customer feedback, is now offering XP machines again. The sound and fury of Microsoft ceasing support of XP in early 2009 may make you quake in your virtual boots; however, that seems to be myth and support will continue until at least 2014. See Microsoft's Support Lifecycle Policy and their backtracking on short-support for Windows XP Home (XP Pro is in a different product category and enjoys longer support).

But what if you need machines now? Which OS can you choose and be safe?

Dell's new business machine, the Vostro line, is offered with either XP or Vista operating systems (talk about listening to your customers!). Offered for businesses who don't want Vista – or for whom Vista doesn't work with their required software applications – Vostro boasts not what is on it but what was left off: trialware. It comes with a 30-day money back guarantee with no restocking fee, a 1-year online backup system and North American telephone tech support [some features cost extra]. It sounds like someone is reading those Dell consumer surveys we fill out and good for them.

You can make your hardy XP machine Vista-like with cool cursors and enjoy the experience without upgrading. After doing a Vista Business upgrade on a pretty darned fast Windows Home machine and watching the % meter for 20 hours inch forward, I am pretty against upgrading at all; do a clean install because you're going to have to reload a bunch of software anyway (hey, Adobe/Macromedia, what IS it with Dreamweaver 8 running under Vista?).

When clients inquire about Vista (often when staff starts buying home computers with Vista and want it at work as well), we dissuade them unless the entire office moves to Vista and MS Office 2007, which is, I guess, what Microsoft wanted in the first place. For many customers, we're planning 2008-2009 tech upgrades for everything, including operating systems, office apps, and yes, server software (SBS 2007 has to come out some day!). Because many computers need upgrades to handle the new OS, the cost is significant, especially for small businesses.

We have a short list of guidelines for small businesses moving toward Vista:

1. Take an inventory of your machines and determine which have to be replaced and which can be upgraded to use Vista.
2. Seriously consider not buying OEM copies of Office or Vista from the hardware manufacturer and buy managed licenses instead. If your current old computer has Office 2003 OEM from, say, Dell, you can't install it on a new computer. It's considered part of the machine. Your lawyer may vary; check into it.
3. Upgrade all machines to at least 1Gb of RAM. Consider more. Check out the video card at the same time: does it work with everything Vista offers?
   
4. Will your current network software support Vista machines? (Trust me, we have NT networks that we still work on.)
5. Do you NEED or WANT Vista now? What are you going to do with (or what will it do for you) that makes the pain of cost and planning worthwhile?
6. Don't try to push a doorstop of a computer onto the receptionist so turning the machine on takes 12 minutes and opening Word takes another 15. That's not a technology plan.
7. Got any Macs in the house?
8. Office 2003 works fine under Vista. Office 2007 is way cooler (but doesn't create .doc files unless you've got a savvy user so sharing files is a daily frustration). It takes a good long time to upgrade from 2003 to 2007 so consider formatting all machines and then clean-loading Vista and Office 2007 and wait for all those users to complain about their missing software, license codes and other crying-jag inducing moments.
9. Have a technology upgrade plan. Hire a professional. This isn't your father's upgrade.
10. Lock 'em down. Don't let small business users start tweaking or you won't be able to support the mess of machines on your network. The business owner owns the computers. Let folks change colors but that's enough for a while.

Small businesses facing a technology upgrade should proceed with caution, take their time and consult professional computer engineers who do this every day. You'll learn a lot (and save unexpected costs) from their experience.

It looks like we might be one step closer to an official Windows Vista Service Pack 1. Microsoft seems to have released an updated beta of Vista SP1 to a select group of testers, and at least one of the less trustworthy beta testers appears to have allowed the file to find its way onto your usual suspect shady BitTorrent trackers.

The previous version of Vista SP1 included a complete installation disc. There was no way to upgrade an existing Windows Vista installation. it appears that the latest build is a 684MB executable file that can be used to upgrade your existing system.

Of course, we probably don't have to remind you that this is pre-release beta software. On the one hand, it might be incredibly tempting to grab the update and install it as soon as possible to see if it addresses problem's you've been having with Windows Vista. On the other hand, Windows Vista itself offers a good demonstration on why you might want to let others test out new Microsoft software for a while before installing it on your computer.