I knew this was coming, but I've not seen it shouted too much.  My machine feels more responsive and some operations as mentioned before are faster.  If you read the Windows Vista team blog Windows Vista SP1 RC now available for public download you would think it is only available to MSDN and Technet customers.  It does have some good pointers though.

We're making available today the RC release of Windows Vista SP1, found here on MSDN and here on TechNet, with an FAQ here.  I invite you to download, install and use the SP1 RC and let us know about your experience by providing your feedback here.

Before you install SP1 RC, please bear in mind the following points of advice, detailed in this short article:

• If you have a prior version of SP1 Beta installed, you must uninstall it prior to installing RC.
• This is pre-release code and will change before the final release.
• This pre-release software is provided for testing purposes only.  Microsoft does not recommend installing this software on primary or mission-critical systems.
• Microsoft recommends that you backup your data prior to installing any pre-release software.
• Windows Vista SP1 Release Candidate is time-limited software.  It will no longer operate after June 30, 2008 and should be uninstalled prior to that date.
• Support is through self-help and peer support via the Windows Vista SP1 forum.  Assisted support (phone, email and online chat) is not available from Microsoft Support for this RC release of SP1.  Support is not available via this blog.
• If you install the Service Pack 1 Release Candidate, it is strongly recommended that you also plan to install the final version of Windows Vista SP1 when it is released in the first quarter of 2008.  To do this, you will be required to uninstall this pre-release code.
• You must have a genuine copy of Windows Vista installed on the computer prior to installing the Windows Vista SP1 update.

Thanks to all of you who've expressed interest in testing the RC!

To get on the programme for Windows Updates based SP1 RE, have a look here Download details: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC Public Availability Program:

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC Public Availability Program

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC is available through Windows Update.

File Name:
SP1RC_Public_Availability_WURelease.exe

Version:
936330

Knowledge Base (KB) Articles:
KB936330

Install Windows Vista SP1 Release Candidate through Windows Update
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) Release Candidate (RC) is available through Windows Update. Please read the following instructions before you install.
Before You Install

• You must uninstall any previous versions of Windows Vista SP1 before installing Windows Vista SP1 RC
  To uninstall previous version of Windows Vista SP1
  1. Open the Programs and Features control panel and select View installed updates. In the Microsoft Windows section, righ-click Service Pack for Windows (936330) and select Uninstall.
  2. Your system will now uninstall the previous version of Windows Vista SP1 Beta and may reboot multiple times.
  3. Please wait one hour after uninstalling a previous version of Windows Vista SP1 before installing Windows Vista SP1 RC. The installer service needs to clean up and complete the uninstall prior to installing the RC. Failing to do this can result in installation errors when installing the RC version.
• Windows Vista SP1 RC is pre-release software and will change before the final release. Windows Vista SP1 RC is for individuals, organizations, and technical enthusiasts who are comfortable evaluating pre-release software and is provided for testing purposes only. Microsoft does not recommend installing this software on primary or mission critical systems. Microsoft recommends that you have a backup of your data prior to installing any pre-release software.
• Windows Vista SP1 RC is time-limited software.
  Windows Vista SP1 RC will no longer operate after June 30, 2008 and should be uninstalled prior to that date. After installation your desktop will show the text “Evaluation Copy”. This does not mean that your system is no longer genuine but that you have installed a test version of software which is time-limited. The “Evaluation Copy” text will appear on your desktop after the second reboot after installing the service pack. Likewise, the “Evaluation Copy” text will remain on your desktop during the first reboot after uninstall the service pack, but will disappear after the next reboot.
• If you install Windows Vista SP1 RC it is strongly recommended that you install the final version of Windows Vista SP1 when it is released. To do this, you will be required to uninstall this RC version of Windows Vista SP1.
• Assisted support (phone, email and online chat) is not available from Microsoft Help and Support for this RC release of Windows Vista SP1. Self-help and peer support is available through the Windows Vista SP1 forum.
• You must have a genuine copy of Windows Vista installed prior to installing Windows Vista SP1 RC.

The Windows Update Experience
Windows Vista SP1 RC requires the installation of either two or three prerequisite updates prior to installing the service pack itself. These prerequisite updates will be delivered to most users over Windows Update as part of regularly scheduled monthly updates prior to the release of the service pack. This will help ensure that reboots required by the prerequisite updates occur with other updates that require a reboot. However, because these prerequisite updates have not been released, installing Windows Vista SP1 RC will require 3 to 4 separate installations over Windows Update. Please note that the instructions below are primarily required for the RC installation and will not be required for most users using Windows Update to install the final Service Pack.
The prerequisite updates consist of two updates which service specific Windows components prior to the installation of the service pack and a third update which services the installation software built into Windows Vista. The following are the prerequisite updates.

• KB935509 This updates is only required on Windows Vista Enterprise and Windows Vista Ultimate editions (which have Bitlocker capabilities). This update is required prior to installing KB938371, the second prerequisite update and is required to prevent potential loss of data on Bitlocker encrypted systems during updating.
• KB938371 This update consists of fixes for several components (including the TrustedInstaller), increases the success rate for installing the service pack and enables the service pack to be uninstalled successfully.
• KB937287 This is an update to the “Servicing Stack” or the Windows Vista component installer technologies built into Windows Vista. This update enables the built-in installer to properly and successfully install the service pack.

Installing the Sevice Pack
There are two ways to install the service pack, first, as a pop-up notification that the service pack is ready to be installed (this is the method in which most users will install the service pack) and using multiple manual installations from Windows Update. The first method is the simplest, but may take up to four days for the Windows Update Automatic Update feature to deliver each of the 3 prerequisites and the service pack. Windows Vista SP1 distributed through Windows Update will be applicable to Windows Vista machines that are running on any of the 36 languages supported by Windows Vista RTM.
Method 1: Automatic Update
You can install Windows Vista SP1 RC using the Automatic Update process by following these steps.

1. Save the included SP1cppRK.cmd script to your machine.
2. Right-click on the script and select Run as administrator. The script will set a registry key on your machine that allows Windows Update to offer Windows Vista SP1 RC to your machine.
3. From the Windows Update control panel, select Change settings.
4. Verify that Install updates automatically (recommended) is selected. This enables the Automatic Update feature to download and install the prerequisite updates and service pack automatically.
5. Windows Update Automatic Update will automatically update your machine over the next several days with the prerequisites updates. When the service pack has downloaded a pop-up notification will inform you that updates are ready to be installed. You must click on this notification and choose to install the service pack at this point. The service pack will not silently or automatically install itself.

Method 2: Manual Installation using Windows Update
To intall Windows Vista SP1 RC as quickly as possible, follow the steps below.

1. Save the included SP1cppRK.cmd script to your machine.
2. Right-click on the script and select Run as administrator. The script will set a registry key on your machine that allows Windows Update to offer Windows Vista SP1 RC to your machine.
3. Windows Update Automatic Update will automatically update your machine over the next several days with the prerequisites updates provided you have the Windows Update Automatic Update feature enabled. When the service pack has downloaded a pop-up notification will inform you that updates are ready to be installed. You must click on this notification and choose to install the service pack at this point. The service pack will not silently or automatically install itself.
4. To manually install the service pack, start by installing all Important updates applicable to your system and the prerequisite updates. You may have to repeat this several times to fully update your system by opening the Windows Update control panel and selecting Check for updates. Note: If your system is managed by a administrator and has a Windows Server Updates Services (WSUS) server for updates, you need to use the Check online for updates option of the Windows Update control panel. If this option is not available, your administrator may have disabled this functionality.
5. If you have Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows Vista Enterprise, Update for Windows Vista (KB935509) should be in this list. If you have any other version, Update for Windows Vista (KB938371) should be in this list. Install these updates and reboot your machine when prompted.
6. If you do not have Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows Vista Enterprise Update for Windows Vista (KB938371) should be in the list first and Update for Windows Vista (KB935509) is not required. Note: If you reboot and immediately check for updates you may not see all updates. This may be caused by the installer service completing the installation of the prior update. Please wait 5-10 minutes and check for updates again.
7. Install Update for Windows Vista (KB937287). Update for Windows Vista (KB937287) does not require a reboot.
8. Wait for 10-15 minutes before checking for updates again to enable the installer to complete its installation.
9. Check for updates again and install Service Pack for Windows (KB936330).

ttfn

David