Today, you can now download Windows Vista SP1 via Windows Update.  For those of you eager to receive the benefits of Windows Vista SP1, you can now do so.  We've seen quite a bit of questions in our comments so we want to communicate as much as possible surrounding Windows Vista SP1 and today's release to Windows Update as we can.

For those of you happy to wait, sit tight because SP1 will start downloading to PCs automatically beginning in mid-April (remember, this happens only if you have your Windows Update configured to automatically download updates and SP1 will automatically download but not automatically install).  But if you want to get the benefit of a year's worth of improvements right now, go check Windows Update today (hit the Start Menu, All Programs, and select Windows Update).

If in running Windows Update you do not see Windows Vista SP1 listed, there are a number of good reasons for this (eight, in fact -- see the whole list).  Below are a few of the most common reasons why you might not see SP1 on Windows Update:

• You have not yet installed all the prerequisite packages you need for Windows Vista SP1. 

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