KEY POINTS:
Nightmares that plagued some Windows Vista users trying to run the operating system's first official service pack have been sorted, according to the Microsoft Update Product Team Blog.
Some users found their machines enter an endless reboot loop after trying to install KB937287, the Servicing Stack Update (SSU), which contained the service pack installation program.
Distribution of the Vista update was suspended while Microsoft tried to figure out the cause of the problem.
The blog gave this explanation for the reboot loop bug:
"So what caused the problem? Well, the SSU has a special code to check whether there are any pending reboots or other updates to install. If it sees either of these circumstances, it prevents the install from starting.
"During our investigation, we discovered that there were a few unknown and rare events during the middle of the installation of the update that could cause the update to think it needed a reboot to complete the installation. If this happened, the system entered a repeating reboot loop."
A revised and less stressful version of the update will be made available starting late today (NZ time) and, according to Microsoft should install "seamlessly" through Windows Update.
Those using the standalone installer should, it says, have no problems at all.
- NZ HERALD STAFF
