SP2: Definitely Yes!

Finally I decided to install the Service Pack 2 into my flawless Windows Vista system. While the installation, in three stages, took less than an hour with no hiccups, this upgrade does not seem to change or worse, alter, anything already in SP1, and, unless I decide to roll up my sleeves and take a peek under the hood, all I care about at this point is that my Vaio machine continues to run as reliable as always. Actually this Service Pack, which includes a compilation for both Vista and Windows Server 2008, includes 838 updates for 22 types of components: Applications, Base Technologies, Computer Management, Core Virtualization, Data Services, desktop shell, Desktop Technologies, Development Tools & Processes, Documentation and Help, Drivers, Feedback and Supportability Platform, Localization, Multimedia, Networking, OS Deployment, Printing & Imaging Technologies, Security, Server Technologies, Storage, Tools, Windows Installer and Windows Portable Devices. I will try and post the list (have Excel 2007 ready or corresponding Excel reader), broken down as indicated above, of all the the knowledge base articles and links, hotfixes and security updates, many of which are available to the public on the Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update, while others are only available to specific customers or partners. There are other updates in Service Pack 2 which have not been released as updates and therefore are not presented in this list. Get the latest Windows Vista Service Pack. You may also need the Deployment Guide.

What's with the SMB 2.0 (advisory 975497)?

Microsoft, upon investigation of new public reports of a possible vulnerability in the Server Message Block (SMB) implementation, has released an update (dated 18 September 2009) that includes information on the easy way to disable SMB 2.0, a first exploit for code execution released to small number of companies, ways that help prevent attacks, and the status of fixes. The original advisory 975497, published 12 days ago, warned about vulnerabilities in SMB that could allow remote code execution, which could indeed happen only with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, BUT NOT with Windows 7, as it was wrongfully reported (not surprisingly by a "security evangelist" working for an Internet security company. I can't help but wonder, is this just the first time?). SMB 2.0, of which CIFS—Common Internet File System is a "dialect"—is the file sharing protocol used by Windows-based computers and this new version is included in Windows Server 2008 and Vista as part of core networking improvements.

To SP2 or not to SP2?

If it's not broken don't fix it, right? Well in the case of Windows Vista SP1, a new service pack may be a good thing to have or may be not. I'm not sure myself. For a complete list of hot fixes and security updates in Windows Vista SP2 (and Windows Server 2008 SP2, both came at the same time) you need to have Excel 2007 to download the file with that information (the file is in xlsx format); details here. At any rate, if you decide to go for it, don't forget to review how to obtain the latest Windows Vista service pack...

Last days of summer

Enjoying luminous September, on a Saturday afternoon in New York, temperature 82° Fahrenheit...

The future of Windows Vista? Widespread use

...unbeknownst to the user, though. In fact, news of the demise of Windows Vista, after the welcome-by-a-majority Windows 7, have been greatly exaggerated in what seems to me like wishful thinking coming from Vista haters. What is most likely to happen is that Microsoft might offer a discounted version of Windows Vista with a future update to Windows 7 attached, so Windows Vista will not be stockpiled in a corner while Windows 7 takes all the accolades and all the buyers. The first misconception about Vista was born of a less than a stellar performance in 2007 before the release of SP1 and a lot of would-be buyers/adopters stuck to the perception (that is "buggy" or "slow" or "incompatible") rather than to the reality: that Windows Vista is indeed a good, a very good, rather, OS, SUPERIOR to XP. The second misconception circulating around now with the advent of Windows 7 is that it is not necessary to "go through" Vista when upgrading from XP or Windows 2000 (yes, there are still folks out there using that 10-year old OS) and that the "recommended way" is to skip Vista altogether and jump into Windows 7. I predict that companies that will follow this path will be involved in a painful process tantamount to upgrading from Windows 95/98 to Windows XP. Big jump!

REAL users of Vista never complain

...because they know that this operating system is superior to Windows XP. Only those who failed to make it work, mostly because of lack of knowledge and/or appropriate hardware whine and complain to the point of throwing tantrums. After using Windows XP for more than 7 years, and Windows for more than 16 years, I believe my switch to Vista was worthwhile. Oh, and it was installed in an "old" Sony VAIO desktop computer. I stopped listening to people who don't know what they're talking about especially when their "opinion" is fed by the rumor mill and media mantras. I was so well impressed by Vista's performance, features and a nicer user experience that I decided to create this blog.

A year with Windows Vista

'Twas in the spring of 2008 when I first laid my hands on Windows Vista a little bit doubtful, I should confess, by paying too much attention to the misinformation on the Web and mainstream media always hungry for tabloid headlines. Yet, when I was pleasantly surprised by the elegance, agility and the whole user experience provided by Windows Vista I decided to charge against the rumor mill and this blog was born! Installed on a Sony Vaio ("Yes, you can run a lot of new—and old—software") it has been running smoothly and efficiently, considering that I only have 3.67 GB free on the primary partition where I'm running this great OS, proof that Vista handles very efficiently whatever resources are available. I can run everything I used to run in Windows XP (for 6 years) and, unless I buy another PC with Windows 7, I believe I will stick to Vista for a long time to come. For starters, Windows 7 is to Windows Vista what Windows XP was to Windows 2000.