After refusing to let most users have Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) for
weeks, Microsoft on Tuesday finally said everyone
could have it.

Well, almost everyone.

The details of who gets SP1 now and how -- and who doesn't and why -- were
pretty Byzantine, even for Windows. Microsoft recognized that, and dedicated
one of its longer Vista blog posts to the topic.

So where will SP1 show up and when and for whom? Good questions.

We have the answers. Or at least we think so, based on the info from Microsoft.

What's the (Microsoft) plan, Stan? Simply put -- which nothing is, naturally
-- Microsoft has said that Vista users can update to SP1 via Windows Update
(WU) now by manually selecting the service pack from the WU list. Next month,
the company will toggle the automatic bit, so to speak, and begin pushing SP1
to all Vista users who have Automatic Updates set to both download and install
fixes automatically. Other users who have Automatic Updates set to download
patches but notify them before installing -- or to simply notify them that something
is available -- will get the notices regarding SP1 from Automatic Updates in
"mid-April," as Microsoft has said. David Zipkin, a Vista senior product
manager, said on Tuesday that Microsoft might flip that bit early if things
go well this month.

That's SP1 delivery in a nutshell. Except -- there's almost always an except
-- some people who want SP1 now, who don't want to wait until April, won't see
the service pack pop up on WU. In fact, Microsoft's posted a support document
that lists eight, as in count 'em, eight, reasons
why there's no Vista SP1 for you.

I stay away from Windows Update and let the OS do its own thing. I have no
idea what you're talking about. So where do I start? Click the Start menu, navigate
to "All Programs" and in the ensuing list, look for "Windows
Update." Click that. You're in WU. You should refresh the list by clicking
on "Check For Updates."

This is the list of updates offered to your PC. If you're lucky, SP1 is there.
It should read "Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (KB936330)."

Okay, I'm staring at Windows Update's list, and don't see Service Pack 1. What
do I do? First things first. If you're so eager for SP1's final bits, it's likely
that you tried one of the preliminary
versions that Microsoft released to all comers starting last December. That
has to come off. Uninstall it. Head to Control Panels, pull up "Uninstall
Programs," click on "View Installed Updates," find

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