• Windows Vista Team Blog : Announcing the Windows Search 4.0 Preview
  If you use the search feature in Vista, here’s a preview of the improvements you’ll be seeing soon.
  (tags: Search )
• Changes to the default NTFS Discretionary Access Control List (DACL) settings in Windows Vista
  In Windows Vista, the NTFS file system Discretionary Access Control Lists (DACLs) have been changed to enable data sharing and collaboration in data directories that are outside protected directories.
  (tags: DACL NTFS )

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Now that SP1 is available, is it time to move from XP to Vista? Keep reading →

• How to copy a language pack to a Windows distribution for Windows Vista Service Pack 1
  You can use this method to expand and to apply the source and license files for a Windows Vista SP1 image.
  (tags: SP1 Language )
• Description of the CheckSUR update for Windows Vista and for Windows Vista for x64-based systems
  This article contains a description of an update for Windows Vista and Vista for x64-based systems. These updates contain the Check for System Update Readiness (CheckSUR) tool. CheckSUR will try to fix certain Windows Update installation failures.
  (tags: Update Install )

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By going to a special webpage while in reduced functionality mode you can upgrade to SP1, which will get you out of that mode. Note that you can’t uninstall SP1 when upgrading with this method. Keep reading →

You can customize a Windows Imaging Format (WIM) file before you deploy Windows Vista, and then upgrade to Windows Vista by using the customized WIM file. However, the upgrade process stops when you use the customized WIM file.

Sorry for the backup! My posting software was giving me problems, I think I’ve got it worked out now.

• Vista’s driver ills aren’t just Microsoft’s fault
  There’s plenty of blame to go around.
  (tags: Drivers SP1 )
• Users blast Microsoft over Vista SP1 schedule
  Lots of users, like me, questioning why SP1 can’t be released to technical users, even if it is held back from Windows Update.
  (tags: SP1 )

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I think many businesses would like to get there hands on the code, but apparently many aren’t in much of a hurry. Keep reading →

Consider the following scenario. You try to upgrade a Windows XP-based computer to Windows Vista. When you run the Windows Vista Setup program, the upgrade option is disabled in the Install Windows window. Additionally, the Install Windows window displays the following text:

Upgrade has been disabled.
- Your Windows configuration cannot be upgraded.

The following message is logged in the Setupact.log file:

Date Time, Info MIG Expanding raw path D:\Documents and Settings
Date Time, Info MIG %ProfilesDirectory% (D:\Documents and Settings) is not on drive C
Date Time, Info [0x080755] MIG DoComplianceChecks: CheckUnsupportedConfig not satisfied (- Your Windows configuration cannot be upgraded.)
Date Time, Info MIG pCheckForPendingRunOnce: found 0 values
Date Time, Info MIG pCheckForPendingFileRename: PendingFileRenameOperations not found
Date Time, Info MIG DoExternalComplianceChecks: calling ntdsupg.dll [DsUpgradeCompatibilityCheck]
Date Time, Info MIG DoExternalComplianceChecks: calling fveupg.dll [FveUpgradeComplianceCheck]
Date Time, Info [0x080021] MIG IsCompliantForUpgrade: failed
Date Time, Info [0x080043] MIG Callback_Compliance: Not a compliant system
Date Time, Info [0x08003e] MIG Not a compliant system, upgrade is disabled

After you upgrade a Windows XP-based computer to Windows Vista, you experience the following symptoms:

• One or more of the following Windows XP-related groups appear in the “Local Users and Groups” Groups folder:
  • HelpServicesGroup
  • Offer Remote Assistance Helpers
  • RS_Query
• One or more of the following Windows XP-related user accounts appear in the “Local Users and Groups” Users folder:
  • SUPPORT_388945a0
    Note: The 388945a0 part of this user account represents a combination of numbers and letters. This combination may differ on your computer.
  • HelpAssistant
  • WIIS_ComputerName

You expect only Windows Vista-related users and groups to remain on the computer after you upgrade to Windows Vista.

You encoutner the following symptoms on the Windows Server 2003 computer or Windows Vista computer:

• When you try to install printer, the add Printer Wizard Hangs.
• The system hangs.
• The printer spooler hangs.