Windows Vista alerted me this morning that a solution was available to a problem I experienced yesterday.
KB941649 is another in a series of “compatibility, reliability, and stability” updates and is available in versions for both x86 and x64 Vista systems.
Here’s a list of what it is intended to fix:
It extends the battery life for mobile devices.
It improves the stability of portable computers and of desktop computers that use an uninterruptable power supply (UPS).
It improves the reliability of Windows Vista when you open the menu of a startup application.
It improves the stability of wireless network services.
It shortens the startup time of Windows Vista by using a better timing structure.
It shortens the recovery time after Windows Vista experiences a period of inactivity.
It shortens the recovery time when you try to exit the Photos screen saver.
It improves the stability of Windows PowerShell.
It also resolves these issues:
A compatibility issue that affects some third-party antivirus software applications.
A reliability issue that occurs when a Windows Vista-based computer uses certain network driver configurations.
There is one caveat in the online documentation that applies to systems with the (presumably rare) combination of an older AHCI BIOS and certain CD or DVD drives. According to the article, this issue causes this system configuration to hang at startup after applying the update. The fix is to boot from the Vista DVD and run repair.
This is officially released code, so I can recommend it without reservation. It seems to have had a positive impact on my startup times already.
Ed Bott (@ wordpress.com) 
I just downloaded the update this morning and I have to say that my boot time has improved. I don’t have much installed on this notebook and what I do have installed seems to be working a lot faster. Incidentally, for once I do not have any junk or trial ware installed but I wouldn’t say if this has any effect on the notebook or not. Above all I have no registry cleaners installed with the exception of Ccleaner and I only use it to clean out temp files and the like. The issues section is not used, past experience has taught me some hard lessons. J.B.
The original version of this update, which was released on the Download Center early in the month, did trigger some animated threads across the Internets. For example:
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=239749
A BSOD is a nasty surprise, but now that it’s released in Windows Update, it’s the slipstreamed (fixed) version. The version on Download center has also just been updated.
It pays never to install these major-type updates on Download Center unless you absolutely need them, since the lag time between being posted there and on Windows Update serves as a kind of broad public beta.
I was given a notice about this earlier, wrote about it on my blog, and now have it running on both my Vista machines. Fairly noticeable improvements in both computers, although based on the comments I can see why MS made it a PSS-only download at first (as Rick pointed out).
I’ve been running this update for a while, definitely seems to have improved stability of the system.
No significant impact on my startup times. 😦
My machine came up w/ this update a few days ago…didn’t notice much difference, no crashes either (good thing?).
Thanks Ed. Although I haven’t noticed this in my Win Updates window, even after a refresh. Works well.
OT
Another force feed from Microsoft
“Windows Desktop Search 3.01”
ref: http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2007/10/25/microsoft-forces-desktop-search
Can anyone trust Microsoft anymore?
Sorry, Ray, but I don’t believe a word I read in the Inquirer. The single most unreliable information source on the planet.
Would this update work on a non-64 version of Vista do you think?
db,
From second paragraph of this post: “is available in versions for both x86 and x64 Vista systems.”
If you genuinely believe that, then why not outright delete his comment, or at least the URL (especially since he even admits it’s off-topic)? After all, if their reporting of stories is as unreliable as you say (and as inaccurate as you imply), then logically no possible harm could befall us by your not linking to them and our not reading them.
Hello ed!
It even fixes a bug in combination with ICQ6 which was that user details windows would not display (only the title bar of the user details window).
Since the update the user details of ICQ 6 display again!
I’ve installed all the updates with no problems. Not sure how much faster Vista is running for me with the changes. One thing I can’t understand is why Microsoft cannot take care some of some of the more obvious silly quirks……like when I want to delete a bunch of files. Why is there a window that says, “calculating….calculating….” before it -finally- just deletes the ding-dang files! Does this require a committee or something? Must file deletion be done with some sort of legislative approval? Geeze….!
Microsoft says:
Note: This package has been updated to version 2.
If your computer has already installed the original version of this update and has successfully restarted, you do not have to install version 2 of this update.
So, this update is not usefull for everyone.
hi ed,
despite checking for updates,i am not seeing this in list of available updates.
i am running vista ultimate.
shall i grab it from normal link and install it myself on vaio laptop?
Ed Bott, I want an apology for the “Windows Desktop Search” story. Reason –
MICROSOFT has officially apologised for a mess-up with a Windows Server update which automatically bunged in Windows Desktop Search on desktops without approval.
Ref –
http://blogs.technet.com/wsus/archive/2007/10/25/wds-update-revision-follow-up.aspx
Do you believe Bobbie Harder
Program Manager, WSUS
Ray, I have nothing to apologize for. I said I don’t believe a word I read in the Inquirer, and I stand behind that.
Your original comment had nothing to do with this post, and issuing “demands” for apologies is going to get you exactly nowhere.
Mark, I don’t delete comments unless they’re from trolls or spammers. If someone wants to link to what I consider an unreliable source, I have faith in my readers to sort out truth from fiction.
Dr. Pratik, this update is not currently being made available through Windows Update. I think it’s safe to download, but only you can decide whether the risk of installing it is acceptable for you.
Are there other updates like this that you’d recommend?
I have been struggling with the “local access only” problem with a Vista wireless connection. There are hundreds of complaints about this on numerous user forums. I saw that this Microsoft update claimed “It improves the stability of wireless network services. ” I have downloaded and installed. I have only had a few hours of experience but so far so good. Anyone else out there dealing with this issue? Thanks.