Administrative changes
Systems administrators should be aware that SP1 makes changes in the way system administrators manage Group Policy. SP1 uninstalls the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC). By default, GPEdit.msc will be used to edit local group policy. When SP1 is released, administrators will be able to download a new tool for adding comments to group policy objects and individual settings and for searching for specific GPO settings. However, that tool will not be released until SP1 ships. Until then, administrators who install SP1 and want to use features previously offered by GPMC will have to open a remote desktop session to the server or to a PC running a non-SP1 version of Vista.
Deployment plans
When finalized, SP1 will be delivered in several ways. Existing Vista users will get it delivered via Windows Updates or from the Windows Update site. It is expected to be approximately 50MB in size. SP1 will also be delivered as a stand-alone installer. In either case, the installation will require 7GB of free hard disk space on 32-bit PCs or 12GB of hard disk space on 64-bit PCs. That space, however, will only be used temporarily during the installation process; most of it will be regained when the installation is finished.
SP1 will also be available via "slipstream" -- integrated into the version of Windows Vista sent to PC makers and in the retail version of the operating system. In addition, slipstream media will be available to volume-licensing customers.