Vista service pack fails to address compatibility

Tests on the long-awaited first service pack (SP1) for Windows Vista has raised fresh questions over enterprise software compatibility with Microsoft's latest desktop operating system

Tests of 500 core enterprise applications carried out by application testing software developer AppDNA revealed that 18 per cent will still fail under Microsoft's release version of SP1.

The tests found there is "no determinable difference for application compatibility under Vista SP1," with the same number of applications failing the test and requiring remedial action to run.

The developer made its claims after carrying out the tests using its own application compatibility testing software tool, AppTitude in conjunction with manual install testing.

Mike Welling, AppDNA founder and chief executive said application compatibility continues to be the major area of focus for enterprise customers making the move to Microsoft's latest OS.

"However," he said, "our testing clearly reveals that the release of Vista SP1 has made no significant impact on the issue of enterprise application compatibility."

Clive Longbottom, service director for analyst firm, Quocirca told IT PRO the problem lay with the application vendors who were not updating their dynamic link libraries in line with the new Microsoft OS releases.

"It's all the muck they put into the installation routines," he said. "So changes around the kernel by Microsoft aren't going to make a great deal of difference."

He added that vendors should use the RTM version and tools from the likes of AppDNA and Changebase to evaluate their software for Vista compatibility and gain Vista-compatibility certification from Microsoft.

Microsoft only last Monday released the RTM version of Vista SP1 to give manufacturers time to ready updates and signalling its imminent public release, which has been long awaited by users and businesses that have held off on deploying Windows Vista until the service pack becomes available.

"Give the slow uptake of Vista so far, I am expecting SP1 to bed down the version and not make any major changes," added Longbottom. "At the same time, I'm hoping it address some issues identified around wireless networking and speed, when coming out of hibernation, for instance."

Microsoft had not responded to a request for comment at the time of writing.

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