SP1 standalone packages don't include updated help files

Microsoft is warning that Windows Vista Service Pack 1 stand-alone packages do not contain the updated Windows Vista Service Pack 1 help files. Under several common circumstances, users must manually install the correct help files.

You install Windows Vista SP1 on a computer that is running the release version of Windows Vista by using Windows Update or by using a Microsoft Update Standalone (MSU) package for Windows Vista.

You have a Windows Vista Enterprise SKU installed or a Windows Vista Ultimate SKU installed, and then you install a new language by using the language packages.

You remove a language package from a Vista-based computer after you install the "Update for Help Files" package for that language pack that you removed.

Full instructions for manually installing help files (which includes information on how IT admins can check if the help files need updating) can be found here.

The help files were purposely excluded from the Vista software to reduce the size of SP1, Microsoft says. Uhm, Microsoft - your operating software program is so bloated that you have to remove the help files of a stand-alone service pack to skinny it up for distribution. Alright-y.

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