Although the Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is scheduled to be available within few weeks, it seems like Microsoft has some fine-tuning to do.

For example, if you are using Zone Alarm Security Suite 7.1.078 or BitDefender AV in

conjunction with Windows Vista, you may have some surprises after installing the SP1 update, because the above programs could refuse to start.

Also, there are several other programs that could “experience” a loss of functionality after you install Windows Vista SP1.

Together with the software makers, Microsoft is working around the clock to fix the issues and the company has published here a list of programs that are already known to experience problems on Windows Vista Service Pack 1.

Previously, Microsoft insisted that the SP1 would not affect any applications that are currently running on Windows Vista.

As Microsoft explained, the updates packed in Windows Vista SP 1 fall into three categories: Quality improvements, improvements to the administration experience and support for emerging hardware and standards.

Earlier this week, Microsoft pulled out from its site a software update for Windows Vista, which has the role to facilitate the automatic installation of the upcoming Windows Vista Service Pack 1.

The update, called KB937287, has caused some stability problems and according to the reports posted on various forums, some users have experienced an “infinite” loop of restarts, while others said their system crashed and went unresponsive after installing the update.

Meanwhile, yesterday, due to another glitch, Microsoft accidentally released Windows Vista SP1 to some users on Windows Update, ZDNet reported.

When asked by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes from ZDNet what happened, a Microsoft spokesperson explained that “a build of SP1 was posted to Windows Update and it was inadvertently made available to a broad group. The build was intended only for our more technically advanced testers, and was meant to only be offered to those with a specific registry key set on their PC.”

The official release of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is scheduled for mid-March. “In mid-March, we will release Windows Vista SP1 to Windows Update (in English, French, Spanish, German and Japanese) and to the download center on microsoft.com’” announced earlier this month Mike Nash, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President on Windows Vista official blog.

“In mid-April, we will begin delivering Windows Vista SP1 to Windows Vista customers who have chosen to have updates downloaded automatically”, he added.