Last week, I told you that Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) is now available. Now Microsoft has decided to offer free support to any user having problems with SP1. This is in spite of what you may read on various company Web sites.

To get help, click on the following link:
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11274&gprid=500921

It may take a minute or two to load, as the site may be busy even though Microsoft has not really publicized the existance of the site. You can choose from email support, live chat, or even telephone help, all free. Check the hours of operation for the last two. In the case of phone help, the site usually says wait times may vary, which sounds ominous.

normally offers free support only to retail buyers, i.e. buyers of the boxed version of . If your operating system came pre-installed on your computer, you are supposed to contact the computer manufacturer or dealer for help, or pay Microsoft $59 per support request.

However, Microsoft is now insisting that support is absolutely free for anyone and everyone, and will remain so until March 18, 2009. The company also claims that this is standard support policy for service packs, and not something special for Vista SP1.

You might want to take note of the above URL to the site, or to this post, in case you need it later.

Syd Tash is a noted computer security consultant and author of How to Protect Your Computer Online. He has been keeping Internet surfers safe and secure since the last century. Find out how he does it; protect your own computer with five layers of protection right here:
= > http://MyPCSecuritySite.com

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