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Installation processes for a Vista Service Pack 1 prerequisite caused some people to experience endless rebooting.

Microsoft cleared up an annoying issue that vexed some of its Windows Vista users. When those unfortunates attempted to install a prerequisite, the Servicing Stack Update, their machines began the reboot cycle noted previously.

At the Microsoft Update Product Team blog, the group enlightened everyone with an assessment of why this looping behavior took place:

So what caused the problem? Well, the SSU has special code to check whether there are any pending reboots or other updates to install. If it sees either of these circumstances, it prevents the install from starting. During our investigation, we discovered that there were a few unknown and rare events during the middle of the installation of the update that could cause the update to think it needed a reboot to complete the installation.

An update for the SSU will stop this annoying little behavior from happening for Vista customers, to allow them to proceed with the Vista SP1 installation via Windows Update. Vista users who opt for the standalone download of Vista SP1 will avoid the whole SSU prerequisite check entirely.

The disclosure comes as Microsoft moved to try and bring an end to the availability of the XP operating system as an option for PC buyers. Vista's heftier than disclosed hardware requirements and assorted driver issues that affected even highly placed Microsoft executives compelled people to choose XP.

That doesn't help Microsoft's profitability, but at the same time the company's own internal admissions of problems with Vista didn't help anyone, including themselves. If Vista is a couple of service packs away from being a stable, viable OS, Microsoft should not stop XP sales until then.