Microsoft announced today, through the Windows Vista blog, that it has released Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista to manufacturing. Users will not be able to download SP1 until mid-March, as the company is trying to make it available about the time that new systems with SP1 will be available in stores. This is the same time frame in which it will be available through the Microsoft Download Center for direct download. The software will be available initially in English, French, Spanish, German and Japanese; other languages will follow in April.

The beta testing for Vista SP1 identified a class of systems that did not work properly because of device drivers that were improperly designed. According to Microsoft, these drivers did not follow installation procedures according to guidelines. Fixing the problem will involve reinstalling the drivers, which can be done through Windows Update and other mechanisms, but in the meantime when Windows Update begins offering SP1 to Vista users it will not do so to those on which it detects the problem drivers. Microsoft gave no details on who made the drivers, what devices they support, or what the specific technical problems with them were. If a user wants SP1 anyway, it will be available through the Download Center.