Neowin.net - Microsoft Releases 2 "Fix Packs" for Windows Vista

Microsoft Releases 2 "Fix Packs" for Windows Vista

Posted by Steven Parker on 09 August 2007 - 11:54 · 30 comments & 18604 views

Microsoft released a pair of "fix packs" for Windows Vista, which are targeted to improve performance and compatibility.Among the reported fixes are improvements for speeding up Vista's hibernate and resume performance, improved compatibility with printers, tweaking Vista's memory management capabilities, better HD DVD/Blu-ray playback, and improvements in file transfers.

Perhaps the most noticeable fix for gamers is an update that cures an issue with graphics cards using Nvidia's G80 (8800) GPU. When firing up a game, the 8800 takes a little time to ramp up—too much time for Vista, which thought the card was hanging. So the game would quit, and you'd typically see the "Windows has recovered from a serious error" message, which would point to the Nvidia-based card.

Also fixed are performance issues with high definition disc playback (both Blu-ray and HD-DVD), file copy performance improvement and improvements to compatibility with Canon cameras and HP printers.

Both updates are currently downloadable from the Microsoft knowledge base. Fix KB938194 is about 2MB, while update KB938979 is about a 10MB download. The patch files are available for both 64-bit and 32-bit Vista.

Download: Windows Vista Fix Pack KB938194

Download: Windows Vista Fix Pack KB938979

View: Full Article @ ExtremeTech

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(1 reply) #1 Posted by OPaul on 09 Aug 2007 - 12:22: Quote -
When firing up a game, the 8800 takes a little time to ramp up

Why does an 8800 require "a little time to ramp up?"

(1 reply) #2 Posted by MrCobra on 09 Aug 2007 - 12:26: Quote -
tweaking Vista's memory management capabilities

I might just have to put Vista back in to see if that fixes the out of memory issues I was having while copying files.

(3 replies) #3 Posted by JiveMasterT on 09 Aug 2007 - 12:46: Do these patches make Vista more acceptable? Usually I'm the last to upgrade but this Vista disc is burning a hole in my desk here.

(2 replies) #4 Posted by phiberoptik on 09 Aug 2007 - 12:56: Now the question is, has anyone compared these to the ones released last week or so, to see if the hash is different?

I am wondering if any changes were made since then to the final release?

#5 Posted by rnvrajagopal on 09 Aug 2007 - 13:05: Both are same - http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=577362

(3 replies) #6 Posted by mattv63 on 09 Aug 2007 - 13:24: I get errors when applying each "fix pack":

Installer encountered an error: 0x8007177f
This machine is disabled for file encryption

Any ideas?

(7 replies) #7 Posted by Nexx295 on 09 Aug 2007 - 13:32: Vista seems now a little faster and more stable, however, it's always been this way for me.

In my option the performance and reliability also depends on the crap which you install on your machine. My Vista installation still feels fresh and smooth after almost an year because I install only what I really need from companies which I can trust.

#8 Posted by GP007 on 09 Aug 2007 - 15:34: So, the general talk is that these 2 patchs do help things. I haven't been reading about any major problems after installing them. So it seems that if you have Vista installed, go get these two patches.

They'll probably be pushed through Windows Update though, later maybe. If not, they should be in SP1.

#9 Posted by RatherLargeBear on 09 Aug 2007 - 17:23: Quick heads up for x64 users.
The file sizes are ~3mb and ~14mb respectively.

#10 Posted by astrokat on 09 Aug 2007 - 18:05: The Outlook / Firefox bug appears to be fixed.

#11 Posted by Markodan on 10 Aug 2007 - 00:09: I have found file copying and general stability to be better but it has not fixed the problem with IE7 and Objectdock Plus (as one the fixes was for third-party toolbars) and the photo screen saver still has problems when a black screen apprears instead of a photo and you have to use ctrl+alt+del to get back to the desktop. If this doesn't happen photo screensaver does go back to desktop quicker. All in all though this is worth installing.

#12 Posted by kronix2 on 10 Aug 2007 - 02:40: I get an error when I try to install KB938979 (the 10mb one); "the update does not apply to your system". I can't install it. The smaller patch installed without problems. I'm running Vista Ultimate x86.

And here I was, relieved that MS had released these fixes early...

#13 Posted by JohnBfromMemphis on 10 Aug 2007 - 20:51: I'm running Vista Ultimate X64 and after installing these 2 vista packages I've noticed a drop in cpu usage at idle ..programs are running more smoothly. ..audio playback has improved on my X-Fi platinum and speeds for large file copies has improved as well. I haven't tried hd-dvd playback ..no hdcp compliant monitor but everything else is running so much better.

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