How To Find Which Service Pack Level PC Is Running On Your Windows Vista

Knowing what service pack is installed on your Windows Vista system is important for a number of reasons.
Some software programs may require that Windows Vista is patched to a certain service pack and may not operate correctly if the service pack is not installed.
Knowing the service pack level you’re currently running in Windows Vista can also come in handy when troubleshooting certain problems or when manually installing a service pack.
Follow the easy to follow steps below to find out what service pack is currently installed in your Windows Vista system:

Here’s How:

1. Click on Start and then Control Panel.

Tip: In a hurry? Type system in the search box after clicking Start. Choose System from the list of results and then skip to Step 4.

2. Click on the System and Maintenance link.

Note: If you’re viewing the Classic View of Control Panel, you won’t see this link. Simply double-click on the System icon and proceed to Step 4.

3. Click on the System link.
4. In the Windows edition area of the View basic information about your computer window you’ll find your Windows Vista edition information and the service pack level. See the screen shot on this page for an idea of what you’re looking for.

Note: If you don’t have any service pack installed, you won’t see “Service Pack 0″ or “Service Pack None” – there will be no reference to a service pack at all.

Find Which Service Pack Level Is Running On Your Windows XP PC

Determining the latest service pack that is currently installed on your Windows XP PC can be important for a number of reasons.

Some software programs require that Windows XP is updated to a certain service pack and will not operate correctly if the service pack is not installed.

Knowing the service pack level you’re currently running in Windows XP can also come in handy when troubleshooting certain problems or when manually installing a service pack.

Follow the easy to follow steps below to find out what service pack is currently installed in your Windows XP system:

Here’s How:

1. Click on Start and then Control Panel.
2. Click on the Performance and Maintenance link.

Note: If you’re viewing the Classic View of Control Panel, you won’t see this link. Simply double-click on the System icon and proceed to Step 4.

3. In the Performance and Maintenance window, click on the System Control Panel icon at the bottom of the window.
4. When the System Properties window opens it should default to the General tab. If not, choose it manually.
5. In the System: area of the General tab you’ll find the Operating System version and the service pack level. See the screen shot on this page for an idea of what you’re looking for.

Note: If you don’t have any service pack installed, you won’t see “Service Pack 0″ or “Service Pack None” – there will be no reference to a service pack at all.

Service Pack

Definition: Often abbreviated as SP, a service pack is a collection of updates and fixes, called patches, for an operating system or a software program. Many of these patches are often released before the larger service pack, but the service pack allows for an easy, single installation. Service packs also often include new features in addition to fixes.Checking to see what service pack is installed on your Windows operating system is really easy:

• How To Find What Service Pack Level Your Windows XP PC Is Running
• How To Find What Service Pack Level Your Windows Vista PC Is Running

Also Known As: SP

Examples: “After installing Service Pack 3 (SP3) for Windows XP, my computer finally started shutting down normally. There was a patch in SP3 that fixed a problem I was having.”

Management Utility in Windows Vista

Accessing Device Manger from within the Computer Management utility couldn’t be simpler. You won’t find Device Manger in your list of programs in the Start Menu because it’s not really a program like the other software on your computer.

Every edition of Windows Vista, including Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows Vista Home Premium and Basic, Windows Vista Business, etc., comes with Device Manager included as part of the operating system.

Follow the steps below to access Device Manager from the Computer Management utility :

Note: See my tip at the bottom of this page for some other ways to access Device Manager.

Here’s How:

1. Click on Start and then Control Panel.
2. Click on the System and Maintenance link.

Note: If you’re viewing the Classic View of Control Panel, you won’t see this link. Simply double-click on the Administrative Tools icon and proceed to Step 4.

3. In the System and Maintenance window, click on the Administrative Tools link near the bottom of the window.
4. In the Administrative Tools window, double-click on the Computer Management icon.
5. When the Computer Management utility opens, click on Device Manager on the left side of the window, located toward the bottom of the list under the System Tools heading.Device Manager should now appear on the right side of the Computer Management window.

Note: If you don’t see Device Manager listed, you may need to click on the |> next to System Tools.

6. You can now update device drivers, view system resources your hardware is using, or do whatever else you need to do in Device Manager.

Tips:

Is the Computer Management utility not an option for you as a way into Device Manager? Device Manager can also be accessed a few other ways too :

1. • Access Device Manager From a Command Prompt
   • Access Device Manager From the Control Panel System Applet

System Applet in Windows Vista

One way to access Device Manger in Windows Vista is from the System applet found in the Control Panel.

The System applet contains advanced information and configuration options for much of your computer so it’s natural that Device Manger is accessible from this area of the Windows Vista operating system.

Follow these simple steps to access Device Manager from Control Panel’s System applet :

Note: See my tip toward the bottom of this page for some other simple ways to access Device Manager.

Here’s How:

1. Click on Start and then Control Panel.
2. Click on the System and Maintenance link.

Note: If you’re viewing the Classic View of Control Panel, you won’t see this link. Double-click on the System icon, followed by the Device Manager link under Tasks, and then proceed to Step 4.

3. In the System and Maintenance window, click on the Device Manager link near the bottom of the window.
4. You can now use Device Manager for whatever you needed it for – updating device drivers, viewing a piece of hardware’s system resources, etc.

Tips:

Having problems working with the System applet in Control Panel ? Device Manager can also be accessed a few other ways so don’t worry :

• Access Device Manager From a Command Prompt

• Access Device Manager From the Computer Management Utility

How To Update Drivers in Windows Vista

Updating drivers for a hardware device is necessary when Windows Vista doesn’t install a device automatically, when the hardware is having some kind of problem, or as part of some other troubleshooting with the hardware.

Updating a driver is often times the solution to a Device Manager error code. Updating drivers for a piece of hardware will also sometimes enable additional features for the hardware.

Follow these easy steps to update drivers from within Device Manager in Windows Vista :

Here’s How:

1. Download the latest drivers from the hardware manufacturer’s website. Drivers from the manufacturer will be the most current but there are several other driver download options.

As part of this driver update process, you can choose to update drivers from a hardware installation disc or from Windows Update but updating drivers manually (as described below) is usually more effective.

Note: Many drivers come integrated with software that automatically installs the driver. The manufacturer’s website will tell you if the driver download is packaged this way and if so, the steps below aren’t usually necessary.

2. Open Device Manager from the Windows Vista Computer Management utility.

Note: There are also several other ways of opening Device Manager.

3. With Device Manager open, locate the hardware device that you want to update the drivers for.

Note: Navigate through the categories of hardware devices by clicking the [+] icon. Specific hardware devices are listed under the major hardware categories.

4. After finding the hardware you’re updating drivers for, right click on the hardware’s name or icon and choose Properties. In this Properties window, click the Driver tab.
5. Click the Update Driver… button.

Note: The Update Driver Software wizard will begin.

6. On the How do you want to search for driver software? window, click on Browse my computer for driver software.
7. In the next window labeled Browse for driver software on your computer, click on Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer, located at the bottom of the window.
8. Click the Have Disk… button located under the text box.
9. Click the Browse… button on the Install From Disk dialog box that appeared.

In the Locate File dialog box that appears next, navigate to the folder that you extracted as part of the driver download in Step 1 above. There may be multiple folders within the extracted folder so be sure to work your way to the one for Windows Vista if it exists. Don’t worry if you don’t find one labeled for Vista.

10. Click the INF file that displays in the file list and click the Open button.

Note: INF files are the only files that Device Manager accepts for driver setup information. See the tips at the bottom of the page for some INF file troubleshooting.

11. Click the OK button back on the Install From Disk dialog box.
12. Choose the newly added hardware in the text box and then click the Next > button.

If you’re prompted with a message warning you about how the device driver may not be compatible with your hardware, click the Yes button to continue installing the driver. Many drivers are not Windows Vista certified but are still perfectly safe to install.
Important: If you’re installing a driver obtained from anywhere other than the manufacturer of the hardware, click the No button instead and obtain drivers from the manufacturer directly.

13. The Windows Vista Update Driver Software wizard will now use the instructions provided in the INF file from Step 10 to install the updated drivers for your hardware.
14. Follow any additional instructions on screen to complete the driver update.
15. You may be prompted to restart your computer after the driver update is complete.

Note: Not all driver updates require a restart of your computer. Even if you’re not prompted, I always recommend restarting anyway. The driver update process involves changes to the Windows Registry and other important areas of your computer and restarting is a good way to confirm that updating drivers hasn’t negatively impacted some other area of Windows.

Tips:

• Couldn’t find an INF file in a folder from your driver download ? Try looking in another folder.

• Couldn’t find an INF file in any folder from the extracted driver files ? The driver download itself may have been damaged. Try downloading and extracting the device drivers again.

• Find multiple INF files in a folder from your driver download ? Try each file until the drivers for your hardware are properly installed.

How To Access Device Manager From a Command Prompt in Windows Vista

A really quick way to access Device Manger in Windows Vista is from the command prompt. Just type a quick command and Device Manager starts right up !

Follow these simple steps to access Device Manager from a command prompt :

Here’s How:

1. Click on the Windows Vista Start button.
2. Type the following command in the search box, and then hit the Enter key.

devmgmt.msc

Device Manager will display immediately.

3. That’s it! Now you can use Device Manager to update device drivers, view the system resources your hardware devices are using, etc.

Tips:

If you don’t like running commands manually, Device Manager can also be accessed a few other ways:

1. • Access Device Manager From the Control Panel System Applet
   • Access Device Manager From the Computer Management Utility

How to Buy Windows Vista

There are several ways you can buy Windows Vista after it’s release to consumers on January 30, 2007.

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Microsoft

Buy Windows Vista

There are four ways you can buy Windows Vista:

• Pre-installed on a new computer
• A full-package CD or DVD set from a local or online retailer
• An upgrade CD or DVD set from a local or online retailer
• Download Windows Vista direct from Microsoft

Whether you buy a new computer with Vista already installed or upgrade a computer you already have, it’s important you understand the difference between Vista Capable PCs and Premium Ready PCs. Capable PCs can run Vista, but only Premium Ready PCs can take advantage of certain Vista features, including Windows Aero. Other applications, like Windows Media Center, will perform much better on Premium Ready PCs because of their faster processors and increased RAM.

Before you buy Windows Vista, you need to determine what edition of Vista you want. The editions available are:

• Windows Vista Home Basic: $199 (full package), $99.95 (upgrade)
• Windows Vista Home Premium: $239 (full package), $159 (upgrade)
• Windows Vista Business: $299 (full package), $199 (upgrade)
• Windows Vista Enterprise: not available for retail purchase
• Windows Vista Ultimate: $399 (full package), $259 (upgrade)

If the price is significantly below the suggested retail prices, the software is probably pirated or counterfeit. If Windows Genuine Advantage determines that the software is pirated, Vista will enter a reduced functionality mode rendering it nearly useless until you buy a legitimate copy.

If you buy Windows Vista and later decide you want a different edition, you may be able to take advantage of the Windows Anytime Upgrade program. All five editions of Vista are included on the DVD you’ll receive when you buy Vista in a retail store. Windows Anytime Upgrade lets you buy a license for the higher edition online, then upgrade your Vista edition without having to install new software. The Anytime Upgrade prices are:

• Home Basic to Home Premium: $79
• Home Basic to Ultimate: $199
• Home Premium to Ultimate: $159
• Business to Ultimate: $139

Windows Vista Requirements

Learn about the Windows Vista requirements, plus get information to help you buy a PC that can get the most out of Vista.

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Windows Vista Requirements

The Windows Vista requirements are outlined in the Windows Vista Capable PC specifications. New computers that meet the requirements are eligible to carry the Windows Vista Capable designation. In order for a computer to meet the Windows Vista requirements, it must have:

• a 800 MHz or faster processor
• 512 MB of RAM
• A DirectX 9 capable graphics processor

Although Vista Capable PCs can run Vista, they don’t meet the requirements for Windows Aero, one of the Vista features. Windows Aero is a new interface and visual style that includes live taskbar thumbnails, transparent window frames, and Flip3D. In order for a computer to run Windows Aero, it must meet the Vista Premium Ready requirements:

• 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1 GB of RAM
• Support for DirectX 9 graphics with a WDDM driver, 128 MB of graphics memory (minimum)2, Pixel Shader 2.0 and 32 bits per pixel
• 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space
• DVD-ROM Drive
• Audio output capability
• Internet access capability

Not all the Vista Premium Ready requirements relate exclusively to the needs of Windows Aero. The faster processer, greater RAM, larger hard drive, higher-end graphics procesor, and audio output and Internet access capabilities simply ensure the computer will have the hardware needed for you to enjoy a premium computing experience.

Although Premium Ready PCs will deliver faster computing and Windows Aero, you shouldn’t be reluctant to upgrade to Vista simply because you only have a Capable PC. Capable PCs can run Vista without a hitch; I’ve been using Vista on a Capable PC for months.

Productivity & Mobility Applications

There are a number of productivity applications included in Windows Vista, including Windows Mail, Windows Calendar, and more.

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Windows Vista productivity applications give you tools to better manage your email, contacts, calendar, and more.

Windows Vista also includes a number of applications to improve your productivity and mobility. Some of the applications included are:

• Windows Side Show – laptops can include an auxillary display on the outside of the notebook for quick access to information like contacts and appointments
• Windows Meeting Space – lets users in the same room open a private session to share information easily
• Windows Contacts – store contacts for use in Windows Mail or other applications
• Windows Calendar – manage your appointments, invite people to events, and publish portions of your calendar for others to view
• Windows Mail – replaces Outlook Express for email use
• Sync Center – makes it easier to keep data synchronized across multiple computers, networks, and devices
• Snipping Tool – provides more options when taking screen shots than the Print Screen method in Windows XP
• Internet Explorer 7 – tabbed browsing lets you get more done online in less time