Microsoft has shipped out Windows Vista Business Install DVD’s with integrated SP1.

This means I can bypass having to install Vista then having to install  SP1 on top.

So now I can build my test rig. I am going create a typical business system and see how many real world issues I encounter.

The test machine consists of a Dell Optiplex GX 755 with:-

Installed I have

Windows Vista Business SP1
Office 2007 Professional (patched to Office 2007 SP1)
Both them have the most recent updates applied.
Cute PDF (for printing PDF’s)
Adobe Acrobat Reader 8.2
Nod32 Business Edition Anti-Virus
Winzip 9.0

I will be joining this to a Windows Small Business Server 2003 network.

Notes

Tech Tip: The install process was smooth. After Vista was installed on the Optiplex GX 755 I only needed to install the Audio Driver, Video Driver and the Chipset (note in my case there were 3 install packages offered on support.dell.com and I needed to install all 3 to get all my hardware identified).

I must say with a clean SP1 install the machine does feel robust.

My daily experience of Windows Vista is on a laptop that was:-

Windows Vista Business >
Upgraded to Vista Ultimate >
Add in 130+ Windows Updates over time 14 months >
Upgrade to Windows Vista SP1

I don’t think it will be much longer before I reformat the laptop and re install Windows Vista Business SP1.

So now the real test begins. The Optiplex machine I have build is exactly how I would deploy in the real world. Lets see how it does.

Bookmark the link below for future Windows Vista SP1 news

Link: View all posts filed under Windows Vista SP1

If the Apple Software Update box is annoying by offering the Safari Web browser go into Tools > Ignore selected Updates.