I am not an expert but an ordinary PC user like everyone and would like to
share my experience with you in the hope that some of the informations may be
helpful to you.
First and foremost create a Recovery Disc and keep it safe and do not switch
off the System Recovery utility.
Do not remove the bloatware came with your PC unless you are desperate for
space in your Hard disc,if and when you remove them do it one by one
monitoring the response of the PC.
If you couldn't get SP1,don't loose your sleep over it because it is not for
the benefit of the user and it is designed to stop the user using other free
third party softwares and tools(in my opinion anyway and remember I am not an
expert).
Do not rely solely on the advices and do your own research as well because
these so called advisers haven't provided me with tangible proof of their
competence.
Most of them hail vista as the best but wouldn't say why.
If you ask any questions,they will blame you first for not asking the
question properly and point you to a website to learn how to ask questions.
Then they will request the third party software details and blame them.
Now the turn of your hardware incompatibility which creates the problem.
When everything fails they will accuse you of being an Ubuntu user.
I suspect these so called experts use Ubuntu or some thing and pretend to be
Vista experts and trying to damage the image of Vista.
However,there are many helpful sites available and one of them is:
www.vistax64.com
If you do the basic housekeeping maintenance you will do fine.
All the best