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Windows Vista

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Windows Vista
Windows Vista running on a laptop
DeveloperMicrosoft Corporation
OS familyMicrosoft Windows
Source modelClosed source / Shared source[1]
Released to
manufacturing		November 30, 2006; 17 years ago (2006-11-30)
General
availability		January 30, 2007; 17 years ago (2007-01-30)
Latest release6.0 (Build 6002: Service Pack 2)[2] / April 28, 2009; 15 years ago (2009-04-28)[3]
Update methodWindows Update, Windows Server Update Services, SCCM
PlatformsIA-32 and x86-64
Kernel typeHybrid
LicenseProprietary commercial software
Preceded byWindows XP
Succeeded byWindows 7
Official websitewww.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/default.aspx
Support status
Articles in the series

Windows Vista is the 6th version of the Microsoft Windows operating system from Microsoft. It is the successor to Windows XP. While it was being made, it was called Longhorn. On July 28, 2005, Microsoft gave out its real name, which was Windows Vista. The original release of Windows Vista was supported until April 13, 2010; every user of Windows Vista needs to install a Service Pack 1 in order to receive security patches and support after that date, and Service Pack 2 after July 12, 2011. With Service Pack 2 installed on Windows Vista, Microsoft ended mainstream support on April 10, 2012 and then stopped supporting Windows Vista as a whole on April 11, 2017.

Microsoft had worked on Vista for more than five years, so it came with many new features, such as improved graphics, new built-in programs, and stronger defenses against malware. Windows Vista received mixed reviews. However, Windows Vista introduced many changes to the way the operating system worked, which caused some older programs to stop working.

Vista editions and system requirements

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Vista was released in November 2006 for computer makers and January 30, 2007 for home users. The six main editions of Windows Vista are:[5]

  • Home Basic Edition
  • Home Premium Edition
  • Starter Edition
  • Business Edition
  • Enterprise Edition
  • Ultimate Edition

Some editions are meant for home use, while others are made mainly for businesses. Starter Edition is similar to Windows XP Starter Edition, as it is a low-budget edition that was only released in countries where computers were not as common. Enterprise Edition is for big companies that need computers that have good performance.

Windows Vista needs at least 512 MB of RAM to run on all computers. Some new parts of Vista need 1 GB of RAM to work and for better stability and performance.

Windows Vista system requirements[6]
Vista Capable Vista Premium Ready
Processor 800 MHz[7] 1 GHz
Memory 512 MB 1 GB
Graphics card DirectX 9.0 capable DirectX 9.0 capable and WDDM 1.0 driver support
Graphics memory 64 MB 128 MB
HDD capacity 40 GB 80 GB
HDD free space 15 GB
Optical drives DVD-ROM drive[8] (Only to install from DVD-ROM media)

Development

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At first, a major version of Windows code-named Blackcomb was planned as the successor to Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. Features planned for Blackcomb included the Sidebar, an emphasis on looking for data, and an advanced storage system named WinFS. However, a minor release code-named Longhorn was announced for 2003, delaying the making of Blackcomb.[9] By the middle of 2003, Longhorn had gotten some of the features meant for Blackcomb. After three major viruses exploited flaws in Windows operating systems within a short time in 2003, Microsoft changed its development priorities, putting some of Longhorn's major development work on hold while they made new service packs for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. Development of Longhorn was reset in September 2004, and it was renamed to Windows Vista. A number of features were cut from Windows Vista as it was being remade.[10]

After Windows Vista was released, Microsoft announced a new plan for the next version of Windows, code-named Windows 7, in 2007.[11]

Service Packs

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Microsoft releases service packs to update software and fix problems to the operating system.

Service Pack 1

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Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) was released on February 4, 2008 alongside Windows Server 2008 to OEM partners, after a five-month beta test period. The first use of the service pack caused a number of machines to continually reboot, making them unusable.[12] This caused Microsoft to temporarily stop release of the service pack until the problem was resolved. The same release date of the two operating systems showed the merging of the workstation and server kernels back into a single code base for the first time since Windows 2000. MSDN subscribers were able to download SP1 on February 15, 2008. SP1 became available to current Windows Vista users on Windows Update and the Download Center on March 18, 2008.[13][14][15] Initially, the service pack only supported 5 languages - English, French, Spanish, German and Japanese. Support for the remaining 31 languages was released on April 14, 2008.[16]

Service Pack 2

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Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista was released to manufacturing on April 28, 2009,[17] Windows Vista SP2 RTM + Windows Vista SP1 Blocker Tool Removed and released to Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update on May 26, 2009.[18] In addition to security and other fixes, a number of new features were added. However, it did not include Internet Explorer 8.[19][20]

References

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  1. ↑ "Windows Licensing Programs". Microsoft. June 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Windows Vista with SP2 RTM Slipstreamed/Integrated DVD ISO Image (BT Download)". Archived from the original on May 31, 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
  3. ↑ http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2009/04/28/windows-vista-sp2-rtm-windows-vista-sp1-blocker-tool-removed.aspx
  4. ↑ Microsoft. "Windows Vista Lifecycle Policy". Microsoft. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Microsoft Unveils Windows Vista Product Lineup: Offerings deliver unique value across business and consumer audiences". Microsoft. 2006-11-16. Archived from the original on 2006-11-16. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  6. ↑ "Windows Vista Enterprise Hardware Planning Guidance". TechNet. Microsoft. 2006. Retrieved October 26, 2006.
  7. ↑ Windows Vista minimum supported system requirements "Windows Vista: Recommended System Requirements". Microsoft. Retrieved March 13, 2008.
  8. ↑ Any optical drive that can read DVD-ROM media.
  9. ↑ Lettice, John (October 24, 2001). "Gates confirms Windows Longhorn for 2003". The Register. Retrieved March 5, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Microsoft cuts key Longhorn feature". Todd Bishop. Hearst Seattle Media, LLC. August 28, 2004. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  11. ↑ Foley, Mary J (July 20, 2007). "Windows Seven: Think 2010". ZDNet. Archived from the original on 24 August 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
  12. ↑ "No update from Microsoft on Vista SP1, Media Center problems". Zdnet. 2008-02-18. Archived from the original on 2008-12-16. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
  13. ↑ "Announcing the RTM of Windows Vista SP1". Microsoft. 2008-02-04. Archived from the original on 2008-02-05. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
  14. ↑ "Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta White Paper". Microsoft. 2007-08-29. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2007-09-02. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
  15. ↑ "Feb. Launch Now Set for Windows Vista SP1". PC World Magazine. 2008-01-31. Archived from the original on 6 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  16. ↑ "Windows Vista Service Pack 1 All Language Standalone (KB936330)". Microsoft Download Center.
  17. ↑ "Windows Vista SP2 RTM + Windows Vista SP1 Blocker Tool Removed - Windows Vista Team Blog - The Windows Blog". 2009-04-30. Archived from the original on 2009-04-30. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  18. ↑ Oiaga, Marius (26 May 2009). "Download Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) RTM". softpedia.
  19. ↑ Mike Nash (2008-10-24). "Windows Vista Team Blog : Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta". Archived from the original on 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  20. ↑ "Information about Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2". Microsoft. 2008-10-02. Retrieved 2008-10-17.

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Reviews and screenshots

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Preceded by
Windows XP 		Windows Versions
2007-2009 		Succeeded by
Windows 7
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