Microsoft makes Vista SP1 beta update public

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Microsoft issued a surprise public release of the beta version of the first service pack (SP1) for its latest Windows operating system (OS) late last Friday.

The Windows Vista SP1 release candidate refresh was made publicly available on the Microsoft Downloads site, after Microsoft said it would only be made available to 15,000 pre-qualified beta testers in a limited test build release on 9 January.

Aimed at fixing bugs first identified in the initial SP1 release candidate it put out in September last year, this refresh is - like the first - not for the faint-hearted. To evaluate the pre-release software, Microsoft recommends backing up all data before installation and only running it in a test environment.

It requires previous versions of Vista SP1 to be uninstalled first, as well as that systems are fully security patched. It also involves a multiple reboot procedure, detailed in the release information on the Windows Downloads site.

Microsoft said in a statement issued to accompany the limited test build release that it was still on schedule to deliver SP1 sometime in the first quarter of this year. "The final release date is based on quality, so we will continue to track customer and partner feedback from the beta program before setting a final date," it said.

Although Microsoft had not responded to a request for comment on its reasons for last Friday's wider release at the time of writing, reports are claiming it is likely to indicate progress towards a final February release, to accompany the launch of Windows Server 2008.

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