Microsoft Offers Free Vista SP1 Support

Following the widespread issues with its Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Update, Microsoft is offering free support for users via e-mail, online chat and phone.

You might have read about the problems some have experienced when downloading Windows Vista Service Pack 1 – blue screens, incompatible drivers, and so on. It seems that someone in Redmond has been listening and is offering “unlimited installation and compatibility support is available at no charge until March 18, 2009.”   E-mail response time is a day, chat wait time depends on when the chat is open – it’s not a 24-hour service – and those using Microsoft’s Software Assurance, TechNet, MSDN, and partner programs can have free phone support.   Although historically the company has pushed users with problems to contact the makers of their PCs, dealing directly only with those who bought the software as a standalone product, this time things are a little different.   Information Week quotes a blog post from Microsoft manager Brandon LeBlanc stating "We are offering free-of-charge support to *anyone* who is having issues installing Windows Vista SP1."   In other words, Microsoft might be a little more concerned than they’ve been letting on.