Vista update 'slows down PCs'

2008-03-20 07:19

San Francisco - Microsoft released its first major update to its Windows Vista operating system on Wednesday, prompting a flood of complaints from users who said the service pack fouled up their computers.

Microsoft made the free update available via its Windows Update website and said the software improved the stability, security and performance of the Vista.

However it also warned that the service pack could clash with some security software and other programs customers may have installed on their machine.

Numerous people who downloaded the software pack complained that it had interfered with the smooth operation of their computers. Reported troubles ranged from a simple inability to download the software from Microsoft's Windows Update site to sudden spikes in memory usage.

"I downloaded it via Windows Update, and got a blue screen on the third part of the update," wrote "Iggy33" in a comment posted on Wednesday on Microsoft's Vista team blog.

"SeppDietrich" said the update had uninstalled all his Nvidia drivers while "Bikkja" said that the update had drastically slowed down the computer.

The reactions matched the initial criticism incurred by Microsoft when it first released Vista. Corporate and home users complained about its resource requirements and its lack of compatibility with existing applications.

Vista SP1 was released initially in only five languages - English, French, Spanish, German, and Japanese. Another 31 languages will follow in mid-April when the software will be distributed to those users signed on for Microsoft's automatic updates.

Microsoft recommends that Vista users go to Windows Update to get the service pack rather than use its download service, saying that the Windows Update could diagnose driver problems before installation. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA