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Vista SP2 Compcln.exe and Other Notable Changes in Service Pack 2

According to Microsoft, Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista delivers an evolution in terms of compatibility, reliability, and performance, as compared with Service Pack 1.
windows - comments - 12.12.2008

MDT 2010 Release Candidate is Now Available for Download

We are pleased to announce the immediate availability of the release candidate of MDT 2010. This release contains numerous bug fixes since MDT 2010 Beta 2.
microsoft - comments - 22.8.2009

SP1 Is Old News, Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) Already in the Making

Microsoft made available for download the first service pack for Windows Vista on March 18, 2008, this even though the bits had been released to manufacturing as early as February 4, 2008.
windows - comments - 15.10.2008

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 -SP2 Beta Standalone DVD ISO

As of December 2, 2008, Microsoft made available for download the first fully-fledged Beta of Windows Vista Service Pack 2, via MSDN and TechNet subscribers.
download - comments - 5.12.2008

Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit - Block Vista SP2 Automatic Upgrades

Microsoft is offering Windows Vista SP1 users the chance to block automatic upgrades to Service Pack 2. In addition to making available Vista SP2 RTM as a standalone download, DVD ISO image, the bits are also released to Windows Update, and subsequently served to Vista SP1 users who have Automatic Updates enabled.
download - comments - 3.7.2009

Download Office 2007 Service Pack 2 - SP2 RTM

It's time for the next stage in the evolution of the Office 2007 System. Microsoft will release Office 2007 Service Pack 2 today, April 28, 2009.
microsoft - comments - 28.4.2009

Capture Windows 7 and Vista SP2 Images with ConfigMgr 2007 SP2 Beta

Capturing Windows 7 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 images, but also client assessment, updating and deployment are tasks that can be performed with System Center Configuration Manager 2007.
windows - comments - 15.6.2009

Windows Vista SP2 and Server 2008 SP2 download

Microsoft has released a standalone installer for Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 today.
download - comments - 27.5.2009

Notable Changes in Windows Server 2008 SP2 RC and Windows Vista SP2 RC

Microsoft® continuously improves the Windows Vista® and Windows Server® 2008 operating systems by providing ongoing updates while working with software and hardware vendors to help them deliver improved compatibility, reliability, and performance. These updates are provided to customers by Microsoft’s hardware and software partners, as well as directly from Microsoft in the form of regularly distributed updates delivered via Windows Update. Updates to Windows are also delivered directly to some affected customers and preinstalled by PC manufacturers.
windows - comments - 1.3.2009

DOWNLOAD Windows XP Unofficial Pack - Formally SP3 Preview Pack

The Hotfix today announces the release of our Windows XP Unofficial TheHotfix.net Pack, a collection of hotfixes that may or may not go into the upcoming Service Pack 3 for Windows XP. This collection is of hotfixes not officially released to the public from Microsoft. The package, formally known at the Windows XP SP3 Preview Pack, contains hundreds of fixes that you would normally need to call Microsoft Support to obtain.
download - comments -

Windows XP Embedded Service Pack 2 Feature Pack 2007 Evaluation

The Windows XP Embedded Service Pack 2 Feature Pack 2007 is not a stand alone product; it requires the developer to have Windows® Embedded Studio tool suite installed.
download - comments - 31.10.2006

Microsoft Windows XP Embedded Service Pack 2 Feature Pack 2007 CTP 2 Released

Improved overall test coverage and quality of the feature pack while incorporating bug fixes and enhancements based on feedback from the first CTP participants.
microsoft - comments - 11.10.2006

Where is Vista SP2?

Even though Microsoft seems increasingly reticent to say the “V” word (Vista), some users still do care. I’ve had several readers ask me when the Redmondians are going to release Vista SP2 on the Microsoft Download site.
windows - comments - 20.5.2009

What is inside of Vista SP2?

Microsoft is continuing to broaden the pool of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) testers beyond the fairly small, select group who’ve been working with test builds for the past few months.
windows - comments - 4.12.2008

Vista SP1 RC1 Flies Past Vista RTM and Windows XP SP2

Despite the fact that Microsoft has expressed its official position regarding testing Windows Vista Service Pack 1 ahead of its finalization, there is simply too much of a hunger for the service pack.
windows - comments - 27.12.2007

x64 Vista SP2 JPG Rendering Performance Inferior to x86 Vista SP2's

The JPG rendering process on 64-bit flavors of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 is inferior to that on the 32-bit variants of the operating system.
windows - comments - 10.6.2009

Get ready for Vista and Win2k8 SP2!

Just a heads up to prepare for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2.
windows - comments - 21.5.2009

No Critical Patches for Vista SP2

Come June 9, 2009, Microsoft plans to release no less than 10 security bulletins for various supported releases of Internet Explorer, Windows client and server operating systems and the Office System.
windows - comments - 5.6.2009

Vista SP1 vs. XP SP2 - Benchmarked

Some people are concerned that in order to get an accurate measurement of boot time the system needs to be booted many times. Let me assure you that the systems here under testing were rebooted more times than most normal PCs are over the course of several months.]
windows - comments - 18.2.2008

Details on Windows Vista SP2 emerge

Microsoft has begun to release some details on the enhancements that they intend to bring with Windows Vista Service Pack 2. As we reported on Neowin last week, Microsoft has released an early beta build of Vista SP2 to testers weighing in at around 290MB.
windows - comments - 26.10.2008

With Vista SP2, Microsoft is back on track

From the other side of the world comes a report that Windows Vista Service Pack 2 will be released to manufacturing in April 2009, roughly a year after SP1.
windows - comments - 2.12.2008

Microsoft Vista SP2 beta: Nothing new has been added

If you install the beta of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) expecting to see visible changes to your version of Vista, you'll be sorely disappointed.
windows - comments - 9.12.2008

Vista SP2 RTM Already Leaked and Available for download soon

Microsoft was yet to announce the releasing to manufacturing of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 that the bits had already been leaked to torrent trackers. On April 28, the Redmond company indicated that Vista SP2 (a package that also contains Windows Server 2008 SP2) had RTM'd.
windows - comments - 29.4.2009

DirectX 11 for Windows Vista SP2 Available

Microsoft is beginning to backport Windows 7 features to Windows Vista, and as an integral part of the process, the company is also upgrading Vista’s graphics technology to the level of Windows 7.
microsoft - comments - 12.9.2009

More Free Windows to Keep Vista and XP SP2 Company

Without indicating a strong affinity for the open source business model Microsoft is rather generous with its operating systems.
windows - comments - 1.4.2008

Vista SP2 and Windows 7 by the End of June 2009

The evolution of the Windows client, involving both Windows Vista (now with Service Pack 1) and Windows 7, appears to be closer than Microsoft is ready to acknowledge officially.
windows - comments - 18.10.2008

Vista SP2 Build 16489 released to testers

Microsoft has released an early beta build of Vista SP2 to testers according to those familiar with the beta program.
windows - comments - 24.10.2008

Download Vista SP2 Beta via Windows Update

If you like to stay on the bleeding edge of technology (and you’re running Vista) you may want to consider modifying two registry keys on your system so that you can participate in the Vista SP2 Beta program.
download - comments - 3.11.2008

XP Availability Extended Despite Vista SP2 and Windows 7

While it is cooking Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows 7, Microsoft has also managed to further extend the availability of Windows XP. With the 32-bit version of Vista's precursor at Service Pack 3, and at SP2 for the 64-bit flavor, Windows XP will now live until June 2009.
windows - comments - 22.12.2008

Vista SP2: Windows Driver Model Upgrade

Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista extends the operating system's support for drivers that play nice with all Windows operating systems.
windows - comments - 28.12.2008

Microsoft releases Windows Vista SP2 and Server 2008 SP2

Microsoft has released a standalone installer for Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 today. The software giant posted some things to know about the service packs last month, one of the warnings is if "vLite" was used to customize your Windows Vista installation, you may have removed required system components which prevent Service Pack 2 from installing. Microsoft has a workaround for this issue. Microsoft is expected to post the bits to Windows Update in the coming weeks but if you are eager to install SP2 today then the download links are listed below. Download: Vista SP2/Server 2008 SP2 32 bit Download: Vista SP2/Server 2008 SP2 64 bit

Read full story.....
neowin.net - 26.05.2009

Windows Vista SP2 beta, WS2K8 SP2 beta released

The first public tests of Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 2 and Windows Server Service Pack 2 (both have the same kernel) were released this morning, and you can download them for yourself now...
betanews.com - 06.12.2008

Building Vista Images with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) - hit a BSOD

Doug Klokow: While putting together a Vista image using MDT (RTM), I assembled a group of drivers to support a number of HP machine models. After assembling a list of machines I downloaded a number of drivers directly from HP's website, and added them into the out-of-box drivers in MDT.



I had several machine models which were blue screening after the first reboot, and finally determined that the Blue Screen was the result of a driver I had included to support ATI graphics for a nc6400 laptop. The HP file was SP36487 and included the ATI video driver to support the laptop, and also a small driver identified as a ATI PCI Express (3GIO) Filter Driver, and was accompanied by MSI which when run was identified as a North Bridge Filter Driver.




winbeta.org - 07.12.2007

Announcing the Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP2 CPP

Mike Nash announced that this week Microsoft is opening up the Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Beta to a broader audience. Starting today, MSDN and TechNet subscribers will have access to the beta to begin testing. Beginning Thursday Dec. 4th, the beta available to everyone through a Customer Preview Program (CPP). The CPP will launch on TechNet and be available to anyone interested in trying out this service pack. The CPP is intended for technology enthusiasts, developers, and IT Pros who would like to test Service Pack 2 in their environments and with their applications prior to final release. Windows Vista SP2 builds on the solid foundation of Windows Vista SP1.

Read full story.....
neowin.net - 03.12.2008

Exclusive: Windows Vista SP2 RC released to general public

As expected, Windows Vista Service Pack 2 RC and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 RC is now available to general public for download. You can download the SP2 RC for both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 below: ISO for Windows Server 2008 x86/x64/ia64 and Windows Vista x86/x64x86 for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista x86x64 for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista x64IA64 for Windows Server 2008 ia64 The service pack is delivered as a single release for both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. There will be a single 32-bit standalone installer (302 MB to 390 MB) for both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.

Read full story.....
neowin.net - 04.03.2009

Microsoft to deliver Windows Vista SP2 before Windows 7

Microsoft has delivered a beta of Vista Service Pack 2 to select hardware and software partners according to sources close to Microsoft.

Last week the company put a place holder online for information about Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2. In it Microsoft acknowledges the existence of the beta and claims "No formal product support is available from Microsoft for this beta product".

According to All about Microsoft writer Mary Jo Foley the company will deliver SP2 before the highly anticipated Windows 7 release rumoured in the second half of next year.

It is widely expected that Hyper-V will be included with Vista SP2 alongside the usual OS improvements and hot fixes that a service pack brings.

Microsoft could reveal further information about Vista SP2 at the company's professional developers conference (PDC) next month.

Read full story.....
neowin.net - 16.10.2008

Vista SP2 Released to Testers

Yesterday, Microsoft sent an email to select testers notifying them that the RC-Escrow Build of Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Server 2008 was available for download.

This Service Pack was made available to testers via Windows Update, as a standalone installer, and as a slipstreamed version. This service pack includes 656 hotfixes, and the usual tweaks.

At this "Escrow" stage in development, the Service Pack is essentially complete; unless major errors are spotted, this version will likely be very close to that of the RTM version.

One more public beta is expected before it RTMs however, so if you'd like to get your hands on one more beta build, your chance will come soon enough.

The only pre-requisite for the SP2 install is that you have SP1 installed; all other updates are included in SP2. Their reason for not making a cumulative update with SP1 already included is because of the huge filesize that would result. Most clients already have SP1 installed; new Windows Vista discs and Server 2008 was shipped with it included.

It would seem that, contrary to some recent rumors, SP2 will ship long before June.


jcxp.net - 31.01.2009

Microsoft delays Windows Vista SP2 by a month

Tech ARP reports that Windows Vista SP2 might be delayed until March. Microsoft will deliver a Release Candidate of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 in March and not in February. Also, Microsoft will send the service pack build to OEM and retailers only in the second quarter of 2009 and not in April. Below are the scheduled dates as predicted by TechARP: Image Courtesy: Tech ARP The time delay between RTM and Public Versions release is hard to predict as there was a delay of 2 weeks between Windows XP SP3's RTM and Public Versions and 6 weeks delay in case of Windows Vista SP1.

Read full story.....
neowin.net - 22.01.2009

Vista SP2: What's inside?

Mary Jo Foley: Microsoft is continuing to broaden the pool of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) testers beyond the fairly small, select group who’ve been working with test builds for the past few months.



Over on the jkOnTheRun blog, Kevin Tofel posted the most complete list I’ve seen of what’s in Vista SP2. In addition to the known Vista SP2 features such as the ability to record data on to Blu-Ray media natively in Windows Vista and the addition of Windows Connect Now for simpler wifi configuration Tofel says SP2 also will include...




winbeta.org - 03.12.2008

Microsoft Vista SP2 beta: Nothing new has been added (yet)

If you install the beta of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) expecting to see visible changes to your version of Vista, you'll be sorely disappointed. At least in this initial beta, all the changes are under the hood, and even they are far from earth-shaking. Microsoft says that it has fixed compatibility problems with the third-party Spy Sweeper and ZoneAlarm security applications, enhanced hardware support for Direct X, improved Wi-Fi connections after a system resumes from sleep, improved Windows Search, added support for the newest Bluetooth specification (2.1) and rolled up all previous Vista updates.

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neowin.net - 09.12.2008

Microsoft Visual FoxPro 9.0 Service Pack 2 Available

Service Pack 2 for Microsoft Visual FoxPro 9.0. SP2 provides the latest updates to Visual FoxPro 9.0, including fixes to customer reported issues. The bug fix list for SP2 can be viewed or downloaded from this page.



System Requirements

- Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000 Service Pack 4; Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2; Windows Vista; Windows XP Service Pack 2



Requires either:

- Visual FoxPro 9.0, or

- Visual FoxPro 9.0 SP1




winbeta.org - 12.10.2007

Mary Jo Foley Will Windows Service Pack History Repeat Itself?

Mary Jo Foley: One of my editors at Redmond magazine -- the ever-doubting Ed Scannell -- recently posed an interesting hypothetical question about the future of Windows. Might Microsoft yank some features planned for Windows 7 and put them into a Windows Vista Service Pack (SP) 2 that would include not just fixes, but also new features?



In other words: Could Windows history repeat itself, with Vista SP2 taking the form of a whole new operating system release -- in everything other than name -- a la Windows XP SP2?



Microsoft officials said last year not to expect Vista SP1 to be anything like XP SP2. Vista SP1 was designed to be a collection of fixes and patches, aimed at improving security, reliability and performance. But the 'Softies haven't said anything about their thinking in regard to Vista SP2. Might Microsoft use the next Vista SP to deliver some of the features that otherwise might have to wait for Windows 7, currently slated for 2010?



As tasty as that option might sound to some, I'd give it a very low likelihood for a few reasons.




winbeta.org - 03.06.2008

Microsoft readying RC of Vista SP2 for February 2009

Citing a source at Microsoft, Techarp has revealed that Microsoft is targeting a release candidate (RC) version of Windows Vista SP2 for February 2009. Microsoft sent invites to testers in mid October asking them to take part in the SP2 beta. Build 16489 was released to special group of testers in late October but Microsoft has been quiet since then. TechArp also believes the RTM of Vista SP2 will be in April 2009. Microsoft is readying SP2 so there are additional incentives for customers to upgrade to Window Vista now, instead of waiting for Windows 7.

Read full story.....
neowin.net - 24.11.2008

Microsoft: Vista SP2, Windows Server SP2 betas Thursday

Not one half-hour after Microsoft responded to BetaNews' inquiry, the company reversed its position, effectively announcing that the first public betas of Vista SP2 not in February, but next Thursday...
betanews.com - 03.12.2008

Vista SP2 to be Delivered Before 7

According to Mary Jo Foley, Microsoft is aiming to release a second service pack for Vista, supposedly even before 7 ships:

"The Windows team is readying second service packs (SP2) for Vista — and for its server complement, Windows Server 2008 — and is aiming to deliver these SP2s before it releases Windows 7, according to my sources.

I’m hearing that Microsoft already has delivered a beta of at least Vista SP2 to select hardware and software partners, the same way that it has been providing a hand-chosen few with early builds of Windows 7."


jcxp.net - 19.10.2008

Windows Installer 4.5 for Vista SP2, 5.0 for Windows 7

In June 2008, Microsoft released Windows Installer 4.5 on the Microsoft Download Center for XP SP2+, Server 2003 SP1+, Vista, and Server 2008. Now, with yesterday's release of the SP2 RC-Escrow build, it has been confirmed that the new version will also be bundled with the second service pack for Vista and Server 2008.




winbeta.org - 29.01.2009

Windows Vista SP2: RTM Escrow build reaches beta testers

Neowin earlier reported that the RTM Escrow build of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 had been released to a group of internal testers. Microsoft today released Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 RTM Escrow build to Connect beta testers. This build is available on Windows Update for download and install or by a number of other package options such as Slipstream versions and Standalone installers, for the Connect beta testers. The build string reads 6002.17043.090312-1835 which is different from the one we reported earlier. If you are a Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP2 Connect beta tester, you can download this build today from Microsoft Connect.

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neowin.net - 26.03.2009

Windows Vista SP2 RC-Escrow build released to testers

Ars Technica reports that Microsoft has sent out the RC-Escrow build of SP2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 to testers. An email has been sent to SP2 testers regarding this release. The RC-Escrow build is available for download from this Thursday as a standalone installer or via Windows Update or as a slipstreamed download. Microsoft claims that the service pack includes 656 individual hotfixes. The Escrow Build is a build where development halts and developers & beta testers start testing the product for any show-stopper bugs. Microsoft has emphasized this to testers to concentrate only on the regressions and confirmation of fixes when asking for feedback which includes the RC Escrow install survey.

Read full story.....
neowin.net - 29.01.2009

Microsoft: Expect Vista SP2 in the first half of 2009

A quick update for those wondering when to expect the final version of Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2): Microsoft is saying (via one of its Web sites, at least) that it is due in the first half of calendar 2009.



The October 24 post on the Vista Team Blog from October 24 says the final SP2 release date will be “based on quality.”



The October 24 blog post on the newly launched Springboard Series site for IT professionals says the Vista 2 release target is “the first half of 2009.”




winbeta.org - 25.10.2008

Getting and Installing Windows XP Service Pack 2

MVP Charlie Russel has spent the past month answering newsgroup questions and presenting webcasts on SP2. He offers some tips for a trouble-free SP2 upgrade...
WindowsXP/expertzone - 04.01.2006