Little did Microsoft executives realize when they blessed the seemingly brilliant wheeze of "Windows Vista Capable" as a way of flogging the operating system that the idea could turn into a bitter pill their company might have to swallow.

But there's the very real possibility Microsoft's very own Windows Update and MSN could be forced to carry ads promoting a class-action lawsuit against Microsoft. Plaintiff lawyers in the suit are calling for people who felt they were misled by the whole Windows Vista capable sticker idea.

Attorneys in the Windows Vista Capable class-action lawsuit have reportedly asked a US federal judge that Microsoft's Windows Update be forced to notify potential class-action members. They've also asked for banner ads to appear on MSN in addition to Yahoo! and full-page print ads in news comic USA Today.

The plaintiff's legal team has acted saying Microsoft has repeatedly said it cannot identify those who purchased PCs under the Windows Vista Capable program that ran in 2006 and 2007. "Although Microsoft cannot identify class members, it can communicate to them through its Windows Update program," the court motion said.

The Windows Vista Capable lawsuit claims buyers were deceived because machines featuring the Windows Vista Capable sticker would only run the most basic version of the operating system - Windows Vista Home Basic Edition. Machines were not able to run the features Microsoft had marketed to people in the full operating system.

Increasingly, it seems the blame for the Windows Vista Capable idea must be laid at the doorsteps of Microsoft's then-co-president (platforms products and services Jim Allchin) and Microsoft's then senior vice president (windows client business Will Poole) - both of whom have now left Microsoft. ®

Related stories

• Acer sued for shipping Vista-book with GB of memory (27 March 2009)
• 'Vista Capable' plaintiffs seek class action revival (28 February 2009)
• Windows Vista man channels Neil Diamond with debut album (10 February 2009)
• Microsoft's Windows Vista 'Capable' bill could hit $8.5bn (26 January 2009)
• Ballmer's bid to swerve 'Vista Capable' row comes unstuck (24 November 2008)
• Microsoft nobbled ‘Vista-Capable’ for Intel (14 November 2008)
• Microsoft sales tumble from quarterly high (23 October 2008)
• Microsoft's 'ordinary Joe' promises Windows 7 bliss (17 October 2008)
• Vista scrabbles for X Factor (10 October 2008)
• Microsoft moves to protect business from bank crunch (9 October 2008)
• Ballmer backs away from 'Vista Capable' legal row (6 October 2008)
• Analysis Microsoft Mojave 'outs' secret Vista lovers (29 July 2008)
• Microsoft's 'Vista Capable' appeal thrown out (22 April 2008)
• Big cheeses rolled into Vista-Incapable lawsuit (26 March 2008)
• 'Vista capable' isn't and Yahoo! foils MS proxy attack (7 March 2008)
• Microsoft dropped Vista hardware spec to raise Intel profits (1 March 2008)
• Judge greenlights lawsuit against Microsoft (25 February 2008)
• Ugly view mars Windows Vista birthday (30 November 2007)
• PC buyers: 'Vista Capable' machines weren't Vista capable (9 August 2007)
• WPC Microsoft re-assures partners on Vista compatibility (11 July 2007)
• Analysis Vista: long-term burn, not short-term sizzle (31 January 2007)