@webwbr: He probably just made a error when writing the name. uxtheme is correct.

chris-mcc

I do use the Vista search a lot, I've got all my emails in Outlook .PST format going back five years.
It helps a lot to have all that information on my fingertips, although the Vista search interface kind of bugs me (why didn't they stick to the little box on the Taskbar like on the XP version of WDS????) I always type something really fast and it jumps to the wrong item.
Anyway, this update does make copying go a lot faster. I'm just worried about what MS broke with it!?!

seneschal

@xxdesmus:

What do you mean "cracked uxhtheme.dll"? My Google skills only find "uxtheme.dll" as a theme crack for XP not Vista.

webwbr

Installed this 2 days ago-- and it's definitely fixed a lot of the slowness with network file transfers. It's finally a "comfortable" procedure to transfer large (200MB+) chunks of data to and from my apartment's server. The system as a whole feels just slightly snappier as well--though that could be my wishful thinking. No crashes yet! *knock on wood*

@kakashisan: I agree with Brad, definitely try and disable indexing. The search features tend to be quick enough for most uses without the index. My laptop has a 5400RPM drive in it and it starts to lag significantly with the combination of indexing and superfetch (I happen to have superfetching disabled in addition to indexing--though that seems to be a controversial issue!)

Shmoo

If you're only looking for the improved disk performance, and don't want to install beta software, there is an update with just that component. See [itsvista.com] for details...

Joe

@SilberDrachi: I heard January

Brad Isaac

@kakashisan: That could be indexing or some other unnecessary service running in the background.

I'd start by turning off indexing (Unless you rely on Search a lot). By right clicking your hard drives choosing Properties and unchecking "Allow indexing service to index this disk..."

Brad Isaac

@SilberDrachi: Q1 2008 ...so likely February-ish.

Running pretty well here for me. No problems, I just need to get the cracked uxhtheme.dll going again...can't stand the default Vista theme. :)

xxdesmus

@radink: yes, you are right about the file copy. I forgot about that one (how could I?) It used to take 3 minutes to copy a 10 kb text file. Maybe not THAT long but sure seemed like it.

Brad Isaac

does anyone know when the real sp1 is going to drop? i mean if they have the beta-type-thing going they must be getting close right?

SilberDrachi

I went ahead and installed it. Biggest difference I've been able to reliably repeat:

Before, if you had all windows minimized and simply moved the cursor around the desktop, you could max out CPU usage. I have absolutely no idea why, you don't even have to highlight any icons, just move the mouse in circles on the desktop. Since I've upgraded, this has gone away, though it still uses 20% CPU.

Why the hell this uses ANY cpu is beyond me...

kakashisan

The only problem I have had with Vista thus far is that it needs an MTU setting of 1500 for something internet apps to work right (gmail among other things). Other than that I must have been lucky. I would love to see faster file copy speeds but I dont want to mess with a good thing. I will see what the final release pros and cons are before upgrading.

Sesheron

I have installed it. So far it's better. The file copying is MUCH improved.

radink

Things can only get better, as Howard Jones would say. But I'll probably wait for the real thing all the same.
In the meantime, I'm downloading the downgrade drivers (their very existence is an indictment of Vista) for my new Vaio CR2 so that I can dual boot XP.
I'm already thinking that I might just scrap Vista altogether.
The howls start now.

subtle

I've been running Vista a bit over a year now, and once UAC and Indexing was disabled, I've had virtually no issues with it as an operating system. Matter of fact, when going to back to XP, I feel the loss of so many things I constantly use in Vista. I for one will wait until the final version of SP1, but I'm surprised so many people have issues with it, especially considering I tax my computer more than anyone I know. I may just be lucky - who knows.

SouldrinK

@Sesheron: I think 1500 MTU is the right setting for any O/S with a non-PPPOE broadband connection. 1492 would be for DSL-type connections. So, I don't think that's a Vista-related thing. It hasn't been necessary to make those types of changes in Windows since 98, though, right?

How did it even come up in your Vista experience?

I'm off Vista after 9 months of unstable, unreliable operation. I'm recommending only XP to my customers. I'm also wondering if Vista will end up being the Win ME of the current generation.

pdok

Windows Vista SP1 = Windows XP SP3

BEN

@SouldrinK:

Agree 100%.

Turned off User Account Control, unchecked Indexing, and Vista has been a fairly enjoyable operating system. File copying speed and battery life/heat have been my only complaints with Vista, and seeing as these are the major two issues that SP1 improves upon, I look forward to the final release of SP1.

Webran61

@webwbr:

The cracked/hacked/modified uxtheme.dll ...whatever you'd like to call it. This enables the use of custom themes on Vista. In Vista it actually requires uxtheme.dll, themeui.dll, and shsvcs.dll ... if you replace those with the correctly modified files you can use custom themes. (On Win XP you only needed to replace uxtheme.dll).

xxdesmus

...you do realize that UAC is actually a very good thing right? I agree that it was implemented quite poorly, but the overall concept behind UAC is precisely what Windows needs moving forward.

xxdesmus

I don't understand how one can find UAC a "good thing." When I log into my computer, under the only user the operating system has, how is it that I still don't have "Administrator privileges?" If I wanted to limit the amount of changes I could make to my computer for specific reasons, I would create another user account or turn on the Guest account. UAC is one of several Vista features that I find only overprotects and frustrates intermediate and advanced users.

I have to say that right out of the box, Vista is a great operating system for kids and light computer users, but for most, turning off UAC is among one of the first things they learn how to do.

Webran61

@mr.elwood:

It's supposed to be there. It will remain there until you uninstall SP1 and upgrade to the actual, final version of SP1.

Webran61

I have a genuine copy of Vista Ultimate. After applying SP1, RC, I have this "Evaluation copy" message stamped in the lower right corner of my desktop. Does anyone else see this?

mr.elwood

@SOULDRINK
I agree wholeheartedly. I really enjoy Vista and everyone I know tries it for 10min and bashes it without even delving into options, configuration, etc. Been working flawlessly for me since August. Vista Ultimate.

synth7

@Webran61: UAC is brilliant is because 95% of people who use a computer aren't smart enough to not do something stupid. "Normal" people don't know any better, and UAC can be effective at protecting them from doing something stupid.

That being said, a "power user" will obviously find Vista to be constantly second guessing them which is annoying. You have to think in the big picture. The minority of power users should disable UAC, but for the vast majority of normal users it works great.

xxdesmus

I'm curious if this SP1 will fix the issues with AIM causing problems with Media Player and failing server execution? Did anyone else run into this problem?

amed01