Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista offers various thing, start from performance till compatibility. What’s in it?

Now is the right time to try Windows Vista, why? Because Windows Vista has had Service Pack 1 (SP1), some friends said that they don’t want to use Vista one year later when Windows Vista was just released. ”Wait SP1” they said as one reason. Actually, Windows Vista selling could be said fast. In time not less than one year since released, license sold more than 100 million. Compared to Windows operating system before, Vista more secure. Proven at first year, Windows Vista had security hole less than Windows XP at the first year. Then, at 2007 first semester, Windows Defender in Windows Vista could detect malware 60 percent much more than Windows Defender at Windows XP Service Pack 2.

As SP1 attending, (hopefully) Windows Vista can be much more better. According to information at Microsoft website, SP1 can enhance reliability, performance, and security. Example, copying file process faster, big file size can be handled better, as well as good data compression. Besides, SP1 has wide hardware support.

Vista SP1 is containing 450 type of change. SP1 has contained all Windows Vista update that already released before. Exclude update which is released two months before SP1 released. So, Windows Vista users just have to install SP1 to get big half update. Of course have to install that update which is released two months before SP1 released.

Performance Engagement

SP1 promise lot of enhance performance. Below are some SP1 improvement performance summaries from explanation that I take from Microsoft:

• Reducing bandwidth consumption when exploiting network.
• Faster copying file :
  Internal test result which is done by Microsoft proves that copying file process 25% faster. Time needed to copying file from SP1 computer to non-SP1 computer in network become 45% faster. When both computer using SP1, the time faster till 50%.
• Improve time prediction to copying file.
• Faster process to compression file, either create or extract.
• More speed on start up from hibernate or standby.
• Longer live battery on notebook, by decreasing CPU usage.
• Fix logon by reduce 10 seconds interval that sometime happen when push button [ctrl] + [alt] + [del] till appearance password dialog box.
• Reducing time that needed to back to Windows from screensaver in photo form.

What About The Security?

This question must be emerging, Microsoft claimed that SP1 has more security fix. Following are those fix:

• Windows Bitlocker Drive Encryption fix, this fix relate to encryption process which is more complicated. Not only for c drive, encryption is could be done at another drive, besides there is new authentication method that combine various password.
• Application Programming Interface that can help software developer partners to make application that used computer kernel function based on 64 bit without making security weaken.
• Adding support to newest standard security technology, like Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) for wireless technology, European Union Digital Signature Directive and National ID (eID), and set of Cryptograph Suite B algorithm that being used on Windows Firewall and IPsec.
• Strength cryptograph by redesign Random Number Generator (RNGs) so that compatible to newest standard. This redesign RNG using Pseudo Random Number Generator (PRNG) based on Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) made by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-90. There another option is Dual Elliptical Curve (Dual EC) PRNG from SP 800-90.
• Provides safe way to security software vendor to connect with Windows Security center.

New Hardware Support

To supporting hardware improvement including anticipating future innovation, SP1 made by Microsoft to pay attention various aspect, among it’s:

• Improving support to 64-bit, like support to Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) 64-bit, also Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI), firmware for 64-bit, SP1 equipped with Microsoft OLEDB provider support version 64-bit. SP1 simplify application migrate from Microsoft Vista 32-bit to 64-bit.
• Figure in support for newest storage technology, like support for exFAT (one new file system that supporting large size file), support Advanced Direct Memory Access (ADMA) for Secure Digital (SD) memory card so that file transfer done more quick, support to make DVD media that can run on computer through BIOS or EFI, also support for drive High Definition (HD).
• Adding support to Direct3D 10.1 so that makers of three dimension, including game, can use graphical card optimally.
• Fixing Windows Network Projector so that desktop resolution can be easily accommodated with projector resolution that being used.
• Adding Windows Media Center ability with support to digital television and DVD player that have network ability.

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Sometimes we require to know any codec which have been installed in our PC. Thus, when we accept multimedia file which codec have been known, we can sure that the file can be executed.

Codec by itself actually is combination of two words, namely “Coding” and “Decoding”. Audience merely do just decoding because they are only hear on. Coding done by the people who create video file either make by themself or through conversion process. So that multimedia file can be executed, the codec have to precisely. For example without mp3 decoder from Fraunhofer, we cannot enjoy the mp3 songs.

So, in consequence there is nothing wrong if you check codecs which have been installed at your system so that your multimedia activity not to be disturbed. The way to present codec at Windows 98 and Windows XP is as follows :

1. At Windows 98

• Open Control Panel : Start > Settings > Control Panel - Select
• Choose Option [Multimedia], then click tab [ Devices]
• Then click [ Video Comparison Codecs] and [ Audio Compression Codecs] to see any codec which have been installed.

2. At Windows XP

• Open Control Panel through start menu
• Select [Sounds and Audio Devices], then click tab [Hardware]
• Select [Audio Codecs] for audio codec. Select [Video Codecs] to see video codec.

If we choose [Audio Codec] in Windows XP, then choose Fraunhofer IIS MPEG Layer-3 Codec” then we might possibly boost up priority from this codec to 1. This, at least the programs which use mp3 codec like Winamp can work faster, although this arrangement will not take affect to newly PC. But will very helpfull for old PC owner.