Article ID: 935791 - Last Review: December 15, 2011 - Revision: 30.0

How to obtain the latest Windows Vista service pack

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Methods to download the latest service pack

Method 1: Turn on Automatic Updates

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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
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    Start button
    , 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. If you are not sure which setting to select, follow these guidelines. Otherwise, go to step 4:
    • Automatic (recommended) Automatically download recommended updates for my computer and install them: Click for details
    • Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them: Click for details
    • Notify me but don't automatically download or install them: Click for details
    • Never check for updates (not recommended):
      Do not select this option.
  4. Click to select the Include recommended updates when downloading, installing, or notifying me about updates check box, and then click OK.

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    User Account Control permission
    If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
If the latest Windows Vista service pack was not installed successfully, try

Method 3 .

Note Before you can install Windows Vista SP2, you must install Windows Vista SP1. If you have not installed Windows Vista SP1, Automatic Updates will not install Windows Vista SP2. Click here to download SP1.
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Method 2: Check for updates on Windows Update

Although Automatic Updates can automatically install updates for you, you can also do this manually.

To manually check Windows Update for updates, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start
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    Start button
    , 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. Click to select the check boxes for the updates that you want to install, and then click Install.

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    User Account Control permission
    If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or provide confirmation.
If the latest Windows Vista service pack was not installed successfully, try Method 3.

Note Before you can install Windows Vista SP2, you must install Windows Vista SP1. If you have not installed Windows Vista SP1, Windows Update will not install Windows Vista SP2. Click here to download SP1.
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Method 3: Obtain the latest Windows Vista service pack from the Microsoft Download Center


Important
Before you install Windows Vista SP2 from the Download Center, follow these steps:

  • Make sure that you have installed Windows Vista SP1. 

    SP1 is a prerequisite for SP2. Click here to download SP1.
  • Recommended: Install the latest updates for Windows from the Windows Update site or click here (https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/results.aspx?pocID=&freetext=950127) to install the update for Ks.sys from Microsoft Web site.
  • Check whether your computer is running the 32-bit version or the 64-bit version of Windows Vista. If you know this information, go to the " Downloads " section. If you are unsure about which version is running on your computer, click Start, right-click Computer and click Properties. The system type is listed under System

Downloads

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.

Click to download different versions of Windows Vista Service Pack 2

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
119591  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/119591/ ) How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services
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.

Click to download different versions of Windows Vista Service Pack 1

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
119591  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/119591/ ) How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services
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 Windows Vista SP1
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:
959064  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/959064/ ) Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) Frequently Asked Questions

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:
948343  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948343/ ) Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is not available for installation from Windows Update and is not offered by Automatic Updates
The current service pack for Windows Vista is Service Pack 2.
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For the advanced user

This information is primarily intended to help IT professionals and corporate helpdesks support and maintain company computer systems.

Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Vista SP2 include previously released hotfixes and security updates. For more information about the previously released hotfixes and security updates that are included in these service packs, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
936332  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936332/ ) How to obtain information about hotfixes and security updates that are included in service packs for Windows Server 2008 and for Windows Vista service

APPLIES TO
  • Windows Vista Ultimate
  • Windows Vista Enterprise
  • Windows Vista Business
  • Windows Vista Home Premium
  • Windows Vista Home Basic
  • Windows Vista Starter
  • Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Service Pack 1
  • Windows Vista Service Pack 2
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