Compatibility, Reliability, and Stability of Vista Update

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About 2 months ago Microsoft released a couple of hotfixes that improved the stability and reliability of Windows Vista, these were not made available on Automatic Updates. That aside, Microsoft has released an update to the compatibility, reliability, and stability of Windows Vista fix that further improves the reliability of your system.

The original fix improved annoyances such as file copy calculation & speed from within windows to other (local or network) drives.

This update improves the compatibility, reliability, and stability of Windows Vista. This update includes the following improvements ->

It extends the battery life for mobile devices.
It improves the stability of portable computers and of desktop computers that use an uninterruptable power supply (UPS).
It improves the reliability of Windows Vista when you open the menu of a startup application.
It improves the stability of wireless network services.
It shortens the startup time of Windows Vista by using a better timing structure.
It shortens the recovery time after Windows Vista experiences a period of inactivity.
It shortens the recovery time when you try to exit the Photos screen saver.
It improves the stability of Windows PowerShell.

This update also resolves the following issues in Windows Vista:
A compatibility issue that affects some third-party antivirus software applications.
A reliability issue that occurs when a Windows Vista-based computer uses certain network driver configurations.

Download: Update for Windows Vista x86-based versions (KB941649) package

Download: Update for Windows Vista x64-based versions (KB941649) package

Link: Microsoft Support

(5 replies) #1 Neobond on 24 Oct 2007 - 09:00

As per usual the WGA plugin for Firefox crapped out again so I had to use IE to get this update.

#1.1 +TCLN Ryster on 24 Oct 2007 - 10:22

WGA on updates like this really bugs me. I agree they should use it to protect new features and OS upgrades (like new IE and WMP versions), but not on security or reliablity patches which should be made freely available to all.

#1.2 Raa on 24 Oct 2007 - 10:44

Should use Maxthon instead, miles ahead

#1.3 richter on 24 Oct 2007 - 10:52

Quote - (Raa said @ #1.2)

What does that have to do with anything? Besides, without IE there is no Maxthon.

#1.4 buzz99 on 24 Oct 2007 - 11:39

I use alternate validation method and it works well....

#1.5 +Smigit on 24 Oct 2007 - 13:48

Quote - (buzz99 said @ #1.4)

worked for me but it always causes the browser to stop responding for a bit. That and many a time it hasn't worked. I find it quite temperamental...but the last few times it's been ok.

(1 reply) #2 DJ Prem on 24 Oct 2007 - 09:33

Will all this be inc in the SP1 for Vista as well?

#2.1 GP007 on 24 Oct 2007 - 18:13

It should, SP1s have all the hotfixes that are optional, like these inside along with all the important/critical security patches.

(1 reply) #3 g0wg on 24 Oct 2007 - 09:35

does this hotfix contain the previous stability and reliability patches (the ones mentioned in the beginning of the article)?

#3.1 richter on 24 Oct 2007 - 10:30

Right from KB article:

"Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other previously released updates."

(4 replies) #4 kev_gordon on 24 Oct 2007 - 11:39

Is this new news? I thought this was the update that causes Vista to bluescreen on startup? I'm keeping well away for the moment...

#4.1 DaViD_BRaNDoN on 24 Oct 2007 - 12:14

Quote - (kev_gordon said @ #4)

Yea, I thought this update has rendered some system inoperable. Unless this hotfix has been "hotfixed"? Anyone installed it yet? Any issues?

Last edited by DaViD_BRaNDoN on 24 Oct 2007 - 12:19

#4.2 +xiphi on 24 Oct 2007 - 12:22

The KB article was updated to include a known issue with the update.

Quote -

Known issue
A known issue was identified in which certain computers that have specific combinations of older AHCI USB chipsets and CD or DVD drives that use the SerialATA interconnection bus may not start after the installation of this package. If you are using a computer that has experienced this issue, you can restart the computer by using a bootable Windows Vista DVD and by selecting the Repair/System Recovery options. If the update is already installed on your computer, and the computer has successfully restarted, you do not have to take any additional action.

#4.3 Daimaah on 24 Oct 2007 - 14:53

I was suspicious about installing this too (although it is v2) as my system got stuck in the loading bar screen forever (stuck at crcdisk.sys on safe mode), but I made a System Restore point before applying the patch, just to be safe. Installed it, rebooted and voilá! It worked without problems. I can't say the boot time got any shorter, nor the stability better (will know after a few days of use), but at least it didn't get stuck.

#4.4 DaViD_BRaNDoN on 24 Oct 2007 - 15:11

Quote - (xiphi said @ #4.2)

Gosh! That's a turn off. Not gonna install this hofix yet. Thanks for the alert!

(1 reply) #5 Jaron on 24 Oct 2007 - 12:03

This has already been posted 2 weeks ago. Why is it on the front page?

http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?show...amp;hl=KB941649

#5.1 +xiphi on 24 Oct 2007 - 12:07

This is the second version of the update. Hense the "v2" in the filename.

(2 replies) #6 Croquant on 24 Oct 2007 - 12:41

Fixes for their fixes and patches for their patches. That's about par for the course when you're dealing with Microsoft.

#6.1 NateB1 on 24 Oct 2007 - 14:23

-As opposed to the frequent kernel updates for Linux and the 175 patches or so released this year for OS X. All OSs are like this.

#6.2 markjensen on 24 Oct 2007 - 18:07

Quote - (NateB1 said @ #6.1)

Amen!

As a Linux user, I usually will jump in when I see posts like this, too. I am used to getting many fixes. A bug patched is a vulnerability mitigated. I find the changelogs and information on patches much better for the open source world than they are for Windows. And even Microsoft seems to be much better at informing than Apple is with their patches.

#7 daniel_rh on 24 Oct 2007 - 14:30

Good news, keep coming

#8 +xiphi on 24 Oct 2007 - 15:13

So, far this update is has proven stable.

#9 soldier1st on 24 Oct 2007 - 17:52

never had problem at all you must be messing with it too hard or something.

(1 reply) #10 dL on 24 Oct 2007 - 18:26

Good news! When I first installed this update two weeks ago, I had the same startup problem and it forced me to insert my Vista disc to boot up the recovery tools to restore my system.

I took the risk just now to install it hoping Microsoft had fixed it, and viola, they sure did. Give it a try, though I don't notice much of a performance gain.

dL

#10.1 GP007 on 25 Oct 2007 - 11:57

It doesn't say it'll help peformence, though the startup times getting lower could be seen like that. It's more about compatibility and reliability updates though.

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