11 replies to this topic

[Arvy]

Well, I finally got around to it. I finally accepted Microsoft's repeated invitations, issued via Vista's "updates available" nagging, to download and install the Vista service pack. Yes, I know that puts me far behind many frequenters of this site who have been playing with it since the RC stage, or even before that, but I guess I'm just a slow and cautious type by nature.

Anyhow,the download itself went smoothly enough, if a fairly long and tedious wait over my not-so-speedy satellite internet connection here in my backwoods retirement retreat. And, somewhat to my surprise, the multi-stage "Updating Components - Do Not Turn Off Your Computer" process also proceeded to completion without apparent problems -- albeit with almost equal slowness and a few quite lengthy and slightly scary hesitations along the way. Lastly, and much to my relief, the final reboot (of several that were required) took place showing my dual-OS (Vista Ultimate and Server 2003) set-up still in place and allowed me to log in to my now "improved" Vista OS. HA!

Only then was I informed (via the event log as well as via a non-functioning IIS7) that all was not well. The first reported error was a failure to initialize the Kerberos certification process and, upon allowing that error to report itself back to its maker, I was "helpfully" informed that the "solution" was to reinstall the OS. The second reported error was the failure to initialise my IIS HTTP and FTP servers that I use locally for dev testing and that report brought no suggested "solution" whatever.

I have since discovered (yes, I know I should have looked first) that I am not alone in experiencing these types of problems with Vista SP1. The tales of other sufferers can be read in some of the responses to Tim Sneath's song of praise entitled What does Windows Vista SP1 Mean for Developers. My own reaction was similar to what one responder expressed as follows: "We tried SP1 last week and uninstalled shortly afterwards due to a few issues. We could have probably resolved these, and the upgrade is very attractive, but too risky in a live development environment at the moment without time to troubleshoot little issues."

My SP1 "improvement" is now gone too. And I felt it only proper to express my undying gratitude for WinBuilder "rescue discs" in general and for the ability to run Acronis TrueImage therefrom in particular. I guess it's just another case where one shrugs and utters Shakespeare's immortal sigh: All's well that ends well. I would only add: No thanks to Mickeysoft!

[Brito]

Today was also a field testing day for me.

First I download XP SP3 and unpacked the files using uniextract - was very interesting to see what comes inside.

Then I downloaded this Vista Service Pack 1 just to check out which files were bundled inside.

Using uniextract or 7zip was not possible but running the executable from command line with the /x switch was enough to see the package ask where all files should be extracted. (a little trick taught from thunn)

The files inside are very fuzzy - I would even say - obfuscated on a first sight.

It does not seem easy for a human without practice to understand quickly how the overall service pack is incorporated inside the Vista DVD or installed OS, guess this complicates any ideas of using these files from SP1.


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Sorry to hear about your IIS, I use xampp as personal test server - it's portable and supports FTP/PHP/HTTP/MYSQL

Maybe it can help in your projects: http://www.apachefri...g/en/xampp.html

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I won't install service pack 1 so soon because my local language is not yet supported.

Guess this also concludes my Vista rant (for now)

[Arvy]

Thanks for the xampp tip. Since my "real" host server is a *nix/Apache set-up, I've been using my own local box as an IIS compatibility tester for my applications. But I guess I could run Apache under one of my two local OSs. Doing that would certainly suit my "belt and suspenders" personality.

I agree that MS seems determined to create as much "fuzziness" as possible in their set-up and configuration processes. They no longer even provide a default ACL package, or, if they do, they've certainly hidden it well.

Actually, I found out that the IIS problem is due to the access permissions that SP1 sets on the windir\system32\inetsrv\config\schema subfolder which, believe it or not, won't allow access by NETWORK_SERVICE. I could have fixed that problem just by adding the required permissions myself, of course, but, by then, I was so ticked off by the overall stupidity that I just decided to dump it.

I guess they were just too eager to get the damned thing out the door as the lack of full multi-language support seems to suggest. Heaven knows that Vista does need a service pack, but maybe, by the time they catch up with the "other languages", they'll also iron out at least some of the glitches in their rush job. Until then, I'll wait with you.

[paraglider]

I took the opportunity with sp1 to reformat and reinstall the original vista immediately followed by the install of sp1. I have seen zero problems so far. I always do that when installing a final version of an os service pack.

[Arvy]

Well, I'm very surprised if that particular installation sequence would make a difference to its ACL settings for the IIS schema subfolder, but I suppose anything's possible in Microsoft's topsy turvy world. Are you currently running IIS7 under Vista SP1? And what about Kerberos? No red flags at all in your system event logs? If not, you have my hearty congratulations.

On the other hand, I would have to say that reinstalling the operating system entirely seems like a strange prerequisite for ensuring the proper installation of a service pack. I seriously doubt that most users would anticipate that necessity. Even the feeble apps that I develop myself aren't that bad.

[was_jaclaz]

Vista SP1 - A Tale of Woe and Thanksgiving, or - How Not to "Improve" a Working OS

@Arvy
It is generally considered a serious logical error to have in the same sentence the word "Vista" and verbs like "running" or "working".


jaclaz

[Arvy]

@Arvy
It is generally considered a serious logical error to have in the same sentence the word "Vista" and verbs like "running" or "working".

Point taken.

Strangely, however, I had been experiencing almost no recent problems with it prior to the service pack fiasco. But, with all of the "hotfixes" that had already been installed up to that point, it could hardly be considered any longer as being the original Vista RTM version. In the beginning, it and my ATI HD2900XT video fought like cats and dogs on a daily basis.

[paraglider]

Late on in the Vista SP1 beta and with the final version I saw instability in network access - I would randomly loose access to the internet. Ipconfig /renew would restore access. However since doing the clean install followed immediately with an sp1 install I have not seen any network access issues or any other issues.

[Arvy]

Just the same, I'll bet you a jelly doughnut that you can find some problem flags in your event logs. Have you looked at any of those supplemental event records lately. Try the DPS and Performance (Boot/Shutdown) categories.

I'm again trying an "experimental" SP1 set-up on a third drive after doing a full backup and fixing its silly ACL permissions on the inetsrv schema subfolder. So far, it seems mostly okay, but I sure don't see any of those promised improvements. If anything, it's actually slower booting than my "hotfixed" RTM original. I've still got that Kerberos error and, every now and then, I have to "reawaken" my desktop from a state of total unresponsivness, even 'though I've set no "go-to-sleep" timeout on it.

[MichaelZ]

Actually, I found out that the IIS problem is due to the access permissions that SP1 sets on the windir\system32\inetsrv\config\schema subfolder which, believe it or not, won't allow access by NETWORK_SERVICE. I could have fixed that problem just by adding the required permissions myself, of course, but, by then, I was so ticked off by the overall stupidity that I just decided to dump it.

Quite interesting that you had a problem with your IIS 7 and SP1. I use Vista Ultimate and only had the problem with SP1 install that McAfee Security Center not only had to be deactivated but uninstalled so that upgrade to SP1 was successfull.

My folder inetsrv\config also has no ACE for network_service, but IIS is working with the two default installed application pools running as network_service.

Many Greetings
MichaelZ

[Arvy]

I'm not sure that the permission needs to be explicit for that particular service. Just adding the Administrators group also worked for me and, given all the possible set-up permutations and combinations, I'm sure there are others who will experience no such problem at all. Presumably, if it were common to all, it would have been caught.

I can only say for sure that, in my own case, the application pools couldn't function properly until I manually altered the SP1 permission settings for the schema. Or, more accurately, the event logs said that they couldnt and IIS itself totally refused to function.

[phox]

I have just downloaded SP1 and slipstreamed it with vLite into RTM.

After clean installation, I didn't experience any problems with
my new Vista Ultimate SP1!

VistaPE 12 beta is happy to use this new source, slightly increasing build size.