Microsoft has published a detailed preview list of Vista fixes that documents several hundred fixes and patches that will be included in the Vista SP1 update.

Some of the items on the list are available right now, and can be downloaded individually. Others items will be added and available as part of the official release of the Vista SP1 in it’s final version, which is slated to be released to the public sometime in the next few months.

Recently Microsoft made available a Windows Vista SP1 Release Candidate (RC). This RC doesn’t change most features but is more about improving reliability and performance for a better user experience of both stability and speed.

The most interesting fixes, which actually do have an effect upon the interface, are the changes being made to the desktop search function. The Windows Vista SP1 will:

• Add changes to desktop search
• Enable third-party search applications of your choice to integrate into Windows

The purpose of the Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Release Candidate (RC) is to enhance the original edition and provide new features to its users.

What can you expect then from SP1?

Over 300 Hot Fixes

Microsoft has just released a white paper discussing the different kinds of fixes that will soon be out together with Windows Vista SP1. These patches are intended to improve the protection of your data as well as foster better video capability of your PC. For one, it hopes to improve streaming of videos from Internet Explorer. There shall also be no more loss when one tries to save data to its USB from the PC. Another data-loss patch involves the transfer of one huge file from one computer running Windows Vista to another of similar setup within a network.

If you have been eagerly waiting for this, you should also know that there’s definitely more to come. Some of these hot fixes are already available on the website, though majority or all of them will only be included during the release of SP1 sometime in 2008. You can also download the white paper, which runs to 47 pages, at the Microsoft Center.

Launch of SP1 Release Candidate

A beta of SP1 was released for the new year, and it’s aptly called as Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC (Release Candidate). This is to give the potential PC users a general feel of what they can possibly expect from SP1.

Anyone who is running a valid license of Windows Vista can grab the program as the update is embedded into Windows Update. This also shows that Microsoft has also expanded its beta testers. A few months ago, testing was done by invitation only. The company hopes that by increasing its beta users, it will enable to garner a more comprehensive feedback and perform much-needed revisions before SP1’s official release.

The Changes

SP1 has two critical areas that it wishes to address. First is the issue of desktop search. There are still numerous people who are going for the application of Google, which, unfortunately, doesn’t yet work perfectly with Windows Vista. With the soon-to-be-released SP1, the problem will now be settled.

Another concern involves the recent security APIs. This is to further strengthen the performance of anti-virus programs, which are currently depending on kernel patching.

How to Download SP1 RC

For you to download your SP1 RC, you need to read a document that has been uploaded in the Support Center. To give you an overview, you still have to update your Windows at least 3 times before you can actually set up your SP1. This way, the system will be able to determine your computer’s configuration and provide you with pre-requisite components that are suitable to your computer.

You should also download a script. This script, which is a registration key, helps Microsoft in identifying your run of original version of Windows Vista and that it will feed your Windows Update with the RC update. Once you have installed the script and runt it, you also have to perform 2 more updates, with a reboot right after each update. It’s only at this time that you can possibly download the RC. After all, by this time, the servers of Microsoft have already determined that your PC is suitable to receive SP1.

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