Teching It Easy: Windows Vista: Downloads

New Compatibility, Reliability and Stability update for Windows Vista

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:39:22 GMT

This update improves the compatibility, reliability, and stability of Windows Vista. This update includes the following improvements:

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.
This update also resolves the following issues in Windows Vista:
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.

Download x86 HERE

Download x64 HERE

Previously:

An update is available that improves the compatibility and reliability of Windows Vista

Technorati tags: Windows Update, Compatibility, Reliability, Performance, Windows Vista, Microsoft Downloads

NVIDIA ForceWare Release 163.75 BETA (Windows Vista 32-bit)

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 01:26:29 GMT

From nVidia via ActiveWin

Release Highlights:

Beta driver for GeForce 6, 7, and 8 series GPUs.
Added product support for the following NVIDIA Motherboard GPUs:
- GeForce 7150 / NVIDIA nForce 630i
- GeForce 7100 / NVIDIA nForce 630i
- GeForce 7100 / NVIDIA nForce 620i
- GeForce 7050 / NVIDIA nForce 630i
- GeForce 7050 / NVIDIA nForce 610i
Improved compatibility for Half-Life 2: Episode 2.
Added NVIDIA SLI profiles for Portal, Clive Barker's Jericho, SEGA Rally Revo, NHL 08, and European Street Racing.
Several game and application compatibility fixes. Please read the release notes for more information on product support, features, driver fixes and known compatibility issues.

Technorati tags: Drivers, nVidia, Microsoft Update, Windows Vista, 32-bit, 64-Bit, x86, x64, Geforce, GPU, Graphics Driver, nVidia SLI, Half-Life 2, ForceWare

BITS Repair Tool for Windows Vista

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:53:56 GMT

From Microsoft via ActiveWin

The BITS Repair Tool will help you fix a problem caused by the corruption of BITS state files. The problem stops the host process for Windows Services, which prevents you from using BITS to transfer files. Use this tool to resolve the corruption and re-enable BITS transfers. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

Download: x86 | x64

Technorati tags: Vista, Windows Vista, BITS Repair Tool, ActiveWin, Network, Windows Services, x86, x64

Windows Vista Reliability and Compatibility Updates

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:56:53 GMT

From ActiveWin.com

Microsoft has released several updates to improve the reliabiliy and compatibility of Windows Vista in certain scenarios. The issues resolved by these updates are detailed in the following Knowledge Base articles:

October 2007 Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista (KB941229)
Microsoft has released the October 2007 Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista. This update rollup is intended for computers that are running Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate.
Cumulative update rollup for USB core components in Windows Vista (KB941600)
This update resolves some reliability issues in the USB core components on the Windows Vista operating system.
Update for Windows Vista (KB941649)
This update improves the compatibility, reliability, and stability of Windows Vista.
Update for Windows Vista (KB941651) [KB article TBA -- Download below]

This is a reliability update. Install this update to improve the reliability of Windows Media Player 11 for Windows Vista in certain scenarios.

Technorati tags: Windows Vista performance, Windows Vista, Compatibility, Media Center, Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows Media Player 11, Knowledge base, USB

An update is available that improves the performance and reliability of Windows Vista

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:07:23 GMT

From Microsoft Downloads

This is a performance update. Install this update to improve the performance of Windows Vista in certain scenarios. Additional information about this update can be found in KB Article 938979. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. This update is provided to you and licensed under the Windows Vista License Terms."
Download here

Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB938979)

Technorati tags: Windows Update, Compatibility, Reliability, Performance, Windows Vista, Microsoft Downloads

An update is available that improves the compatibility and reliability of Windows Vista

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 20:58:42 GMT

From Microsoft Downloads

"This is a reliability update. Install this update to improve the reliability of Windows Vista in certain scenarios. Additional information about this update can be found in KB Article 938194. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. This update is provided to you and licensed under the Windows Vista License Terms.
Download here

Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB938194)

Technorati tags: Windows Update, Compatibility, Reliability, Performance, Windows Vista, Microsoft Downloads

NVIDIA ForceWare 163.11 BETA (Windows Vista x86)

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 21:59:13 GMT

From nVidia via ActiveWin

Release Highlights:

Beta driver release.
This driver supports single GPU and NVIDIA SLI™ technology on DirectX 9, DirectX 10, and OpenGL for GeForce 6, 7, and 8 series GPUs.
Improved compatibility for World in Conflict.
Numerous game and application compatibility fixes. Please read the release notes for more information on product support, feature limitations, driver fixes and known compatibility issues.

Download here

NVIDIA ForceWare 163.11 BETA (Windows Vista x64)

Technorati tags: Vista, nVidia, Device Drivers, Geforce, ForceWare, Graphics Driver, GPU, WHQL, BETA

NVIDIA ForceWare v162.22 WHQL (Windows Vista)

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:16:53 GMT

From nVidia

There is a new Windows Vista WHQL driver release available to download from NVIDIA, v162.22. This is a new driver which will support GeForce 6, 7, and 8 series graphics boards; it does not support GeForce Go mobile GPUs. Please continue to check with your notebook manufacturer for a new driver for GeForce Go GPUs. GeForce FX users should continue to use the v96.85 driver.

New Features

WHQL Certified driver for GeForce 6, 7, and 8 series GPUs.
Improved compatibility for Lost Planet.
Adds support for "Resize the HDTV Desktop" underscan mode when outputting in an HDTV mode.
Numerous game and application compatibility fixes.
Please read the release notes for more information on product support, feature limitations, driver fixes and known compatibility issues.

Download HERE

Technorati tags: Vista, nVidia, Device Drivers, Geforce, ForceWare, Graphics Driver, GPU, WHQL

Windows Vista Hotfix now available for SLI based GPU configurations

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:15:16 GMT

From Microsoft Knowledge Base

SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario:

• You have a Windows Vista-based computer that uses a high-performance video card.

•This video card uses multiple graphics processing units (GPUs).

In this scenario, the computer's graphics performance seems to indicate that only a single GPU is being used.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because the operating system does not forward driver-render requests to the secondary GPU.

Click HERE to learn more about obtaining a Hotfix for this problem.

Technorati tags: Microsoft, Windows Vista, Gaming, Hotfix, GPU, SLI, graphics performance, video card, Microsoft Knowledge Base

ATI Catalyst™ 7.7 Display Driver for Windows Vista

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 04:32:36 GMT

From AMD via ActiveWin

Catalyst™ 7.7 releases a number of new Avivo features and enhancements which optimize video playback and display configuration. These include

Enhanced video color pages with two new color controls¹: flesh tone correction and color vibrance
Enhanced video quality pages with easier to use deinterlacing controls and layout
Simplified Theater Mode² controls, layout and now supporting Windows Vista
Enhanced quick settings for video controls (available through the basic layout in Catalyst™ Control Center)
Easy to use display scaling controls² when outputting to display devices that support TV timings (480i/p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p) through either digital (DVI or HDMI) or analog (component) interfaces

¹These features are only available on the ATI Radeon™ HD 2000 series using Windows Vista.
²These features are only available on the ATI Radeon™ X1000 series and HD 2000 series
This release of Catalyst™ introduces support for 12X and 24X Anti-Aliasing for the ATI Radeon™ HD 2900 XT, and ATI Radeon™ HD 2600 Series. These new Anti-Aliasing settings are available through the new Anti-Aliasing Edge Detect Filter. Selecting 4X Anti-Aliasing plus selecting the Edge Detect filter deliver the equivalent of 12X Anti-Aliasing. Selecting 8X Anti-Aliasing plus selecting the Edge Detect filter deliver the equivalent of 24X Anti-Aliasing.
The ATI Radeon™ HD2400, HD2600 and HD2900 (single and CrossFire™) can see performance improvements of 13.2% or more in various Far Cry maps.

Technorati tags: Vista, Operating Systems, Downloads, Tips and Tricks, ATI, AMD, x64, x86, 32-bit, 64-bit, GPU, Device Drivers, Graphics Driver, AERO

NVIDIA Forceware version 162.22 Beta (Windows Vista)

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:26:35 GMT

From nVidia via ActiveWin

There is a new Windows Vista Beta driver release available to download from NVIDIA, v162.22. This is a new driver which will support GeForce 6, 7, and 8 series graphics boards; it does not support GeForce Go mobile GPUs. Please continue to check with your notebook manufacturer for a new driver for GeForce Go GPUs. GeForce FX users should continue to use the v96.85 driver.

New Features

Improved compatibility for Lost Planet.
Adds support for "Resize the HDTV Desktop" underscan mode when outputting in an HDTV mode.
Numerous game and application compatibility fixes. Please read the release notes for more information on product support, feature limitations, driver fixes and known compatibility issues.

Also available:
GeForce 8 series DX 10 driver for World in Conflict BETA release.

Technorati tags: Vista, Operating Systems, Downloads, Tips and Tricks, nVidia, x64, x86, 32-bit, 64-bit, GPU, Geforce FX, Device Driver

Test: Please Ignore

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:48:59 GMT

This is just a test, please ignore this post.