Windows Vista updates are distributed in service packs. Service packs help keep Windows Vista current, and they can extend and update the functionality of your computer. This article describes the step-by-step methods that you can use to obtain the latest service pack for Windows Vista.

This article is intended for a beginning to intermediate computer user. You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.

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Method 1: Turn on automatic updating

The best way to make sure that you receive the latest Windows Vista service pack is to turn on the automatic updating feature.

To turn on the automatic updating feature, follow these steps:

1.	Click Start , click All Programs, and then click Windows Update.
2.	In the navigation pane, click Change settings.
3.	Select the Windows automatic updating setting that you want.
4.	Enable the Include recommended updates when downloading, installing, or notifying me about updates check box, and then click OK. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or provide confirmation.

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Method 2: Check for updates on Windows Update

Automatic Updates can automatically install updates for you, or you can manually run Windows Update. To manually check Windows Update for updates, follow these steps:

1.	Click Start , click All Programs, and then click Windows Update.
2.	In the navigation pane, click Check for updates.
3.	After Windows Update has finished checking for updates, click View available updates.
4.	Enable the check boxes for the updates that you want to install, and then click Install. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or provide confirmation.

For more information about a problem that may occur when you use this method, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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Method 3: Obtain the latest Windows Vista service pack from the Microsoft Download Center

Important Before you install Windows Vista Service Pack 1 from the Download Center, we recommend that you install the latest updates for Windows from the Windows Update site or that you install the update for Ks.sys from the following Microsoft Web site:

Download the latest service pack

If the computer on which you want to install the latest Windows Vista service pack is not connected to the Internet, download the latest Windows Vista service pack from the Microsoft Download Center onto another computer that has an Internet connection. Then, transfer the service pack to the computer that does not have the Internet connection. You can also download the service pack and then install it later.

Windows Vista Service Pack 1

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) was released on March 18, 2008.

How to obtain the service pack

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Note If your language version of Windows Vista is English, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish (Traditional), install the Five Language Standalone package. The Five Language Standalone package is smaller than the All Language Standalone package and therefore is faster to download. If your language version of Windows Vista is not English, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish (Traditional), you might want to install the All Language Standalone package.

Windows Vista, 32-bit versions Five Language Standalone package for English, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish (Traditional)Windows Vista, 32-bit versions All Language Standalone package for all supported Windows Vista languagesWindows Vista, 64-bit versions Five Language Standalone package for English, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish (Traditional)Windows Vista, 64-bit versions All Language Standalone package for all supported Windows Vista languages For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Release notes for the service pack

For more information about what is fixed in Windows Vista Service Pack 1, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

What the service pack includes

Windows Vista SP1 includes previously released hotfixes and security updates. For more information about the previously released hotfixes and security updates that are included in Windows Vista SP1, visit the following Microsoft Web site:Note This information is primarily intended to help IT Professionals and corporate helpdesks support and maintain company computer systems.

How to verify that you have the latest Windows Vista service pack

1.	Click Start , click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click System Information.
2.	The Value element of the Version item will indicate which service pack, if any, you have installed. For example, the Value element of the Version item displays text that resembles the following if you have installed Windows Vista SP1: VersionNumber Service Pack 1 Build BuildNumber The version number will vary if you install other updates to Windows Vista after you install Windows Vista SP1.

The current service pack for Windows Vista is Service Pack 1.

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