Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)

Major update: In December 2007, Microsoft made a release candidate version of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) available to the public. This FAQ has been updated to reflect that update.
While most Windows service packs are hardly worth discussing, Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) has been steeped in mystery almost since before Vista itself was completed. With Vista, Microsoft has engineered a new update deployment technology that allows administrators and power users to "slipstream" service packs and other fixes into new Vista installations in a manner that is much simpler than with previous Windows versions. But the real issue with SP1 is in how Microsoft is handling--or mishandling, in my opinion--the dissemination of information about this release. For this reason, and because there are so many silly rumors floating around, I've created a FAQ for Vista SP1 that will be updated as new information is released. If it's not in this FAQ, it's just speculation.

Q: What is Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)?
Q: Why all the secrecy?
Q: What features will Vista SP1 include?
Q: When will Microsoft release Vista SP1?
Q: But I heard that Microsoft would release the final version of SP1 by the end of 2007.
Q: Any word on when Microsoft will ship the much-need Media Center update?
Q: Why was Microsoft so secretive about SP1? They've even discussed Windows 7, an OS release that's not due until 2010
Q: Where can I learn more about Vista SP1?

Answers