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 Windows Vista SP2 RC official downloads
The download pages and TechNet website are now updated with the SP2 RC information.
download -
comments -
4.3.2009 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 -
comments -
24.11.2008 Vista SP2 RC in February, RTM in April 2009
Microsoft is laboring to serve Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista a little over a year after the availability of Service Pack 1, beating Windows 7 to the market.
windows -
comments -
24.11.2008 Windows Vista SP2 RC to be released to public next week
A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed to Betanews this afternoon that the first release candidates (without numerals) for Service Pack 2 for both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 will be released to the general public for testing next week.
windows -
comments -
25.2.2009 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.
windows -
comments -
29.1.2009 Windows Vista SP2 RC Build 6002.16670.090130 released to testers
As various Windows blogs are reporting, Microsoft is issuing some test updates for the official Windows 7 Beta (that's build 7000) this month, on the 24.
windows -
comments -
20.2.2009 Vista SP1 RC Leaves XP SP2 in the Dust, but What About XP SP3?
Although Microsoft has indicated a strong disapproval of benchmarking tests involving development milestones of Windows Vista Service Pack 1, the temptation is simply too big to ignore.
windows -
comments -
17.1.2008 WSUS 3.0 SP2 RC Program now available on Microsoft Connect!
I am very pleased to announce that WSUS 3.0 SP2 RC will be available to the general public today, May 26, via the Connect Site.
microsoft -
comments -
31.5.2009 Windows Server 2003 SP2 RC Refresh 1 Released to testers
Windows Serviceability is pleased to announce the release of RC Refresh 1 (build 2845) of Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 for Windows Server 2003.
windows -
comments -
20.12.2006 Windows Server 2003 SP2 RC now available via Windows Update
Starting December 12th, the Windows Server 2003 SP2 RC build (build 2825) will be made available via Windows Update.
windows -
comments -
13.12.2006 Public Vista SP1 RC in a Few Days - XP SP3 RC Next?
Yes, we have come quite a long way since the initial introduction of the pre-beta releases of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows XP Service Pack 3 to a limited pool of testers, in mid July.
windows -
comments -
6.12.2007 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 Vista SP1 RC Refresh Ships – Windows XP SP3 RC Refresh Next?
Should you hold your breath for a new version of Windows XP SP3? Currently, Microsoft has opened up the testing process of the third and final service pack for Windows XP, and, now, all users of the operating system have access to the first Release Candidate of the refresh, as of late 2007.
windows -
comments -
10.1.2008 All New XP SP3 RC Refresh 2 and Vista SP1 RC Refresh 2 Available for Download
Making headway with the development of Windows XP Service Pack 3 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1, Microsoft has made available new builds of both service packs.
windows -
comments -
25.1.2008 Download Windows 7 XP Mode RC and Virtual PC RC
Redmond-based software giant Microsoft made available the release candidate flavor of Windows 7’s XP Mode add-on on Tuesday. The beta iteration of XP Mode was released on April 30, along with the beta variant of Windows Virtual PC, and the RC version comes as another step the company is taking towards launching the final iteration of the add-on.
download -
comments -
5.8.2009 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 Windows Vista SP1 RC released to public
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC is now available through Windows Update. Experience the WU based Vista SP1 installation by following 4 simple steps. Windows Vista SP1 RC distributed through Windows Update will be applicable to Windows Vista machines that are running on any of the 36 languages supported by Vista RTM.
download -
comments -
12.12.2007 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 -
12.9.2009Windows Vista SP2 RC to be released to public next week
Last week we had a rumor that Windows Vista SP2 RC was released to select testers. It turns out that it might be just a notification from Microsoft a
week ahead that RC is done and available for testing or it might have been a near final RC made available for testing to select testers. Microsoft
has announced today that the RC of SP2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 is available to TechNet and MSDN subscribers to test prior to final
release. Microsoft will make SP2 RC available to the general public via TechNet during next week. As expected the final version of SP2 will be made
available in the 2nd quarter of 2009.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
26.02.2009Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP2 RC released
Last week the Windows Team Blog announced that the availability of SP2 RC for Vista would be available soon. Today they have posted that the download
is now live and you can find the information needed here. If you have a beta install of SP2 loaded on your computer it must be uninstalled before
attempting to load the RC. It should also be mentioned that this, while close, is not a final product and a few hiccups may occur along the way. You
can download the RC directly from the Customer Preview Program or use the Windows Update Experience Kit to obtain the RC for your personal computer.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
05.03.2009Windows Vista SP2 RC build released to testers
TechARP predicted last month that RC-Escrow build of SP2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 will be released between the dates Jan 26-30 and
the RC build between the dates Feb 16-20. The RC Escrow build of SP2 was sent to testers at the end of January and the rumor is that now Microsoft has
released the RC build of SP2 to Microsoft Connect testers exactly between the dates predicted by TechARP. Ars reports that RC build is available for
download as a standalone installer package or via Windows Update or as a slipstreamed download which includes 691 individual hotfixes.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
20.02.2009Microsoft 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 -
24.11.2008Windows 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 -
29.01.2009Exclusive: 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 -
04.03.2009Windows 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 -
29.01.2009Testers get RC-Escrow build of SP2 for Vista and Server 2008
Microsoft has sent out an e-mail to testers announcing that the RC-Escrow build of Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 is
available for download. The company is letting testers grab it via Windows Update (available this Thursday in available languages of Vista and Server
2008), as a standalone installer package, or as a slipstreamed version in English, Spanish, German, French, Japanese. For those interested, the build
string is "6002.16659.090114-1728" and Microsoft claims the service pack includes 656 individual hotfixes.
winbeta.org -
29.01.2009Microsoft 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.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
09.12.2008Microsoft 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 -
26.05.2009Vista 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 -
31.01.2009Microsoft sends Vista SP2 invites - beta release in 4 weeks
Thanks to a tipster we have learned Microsoft has started sending Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 invites to select testers today.
Earlier this week it was
revealed the company will release SP2 before Windows 7. Microsoft recently put a
placeholder online for the upcoming betas of Windows
Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2.
Microsoft will include Windows Search 4 in Vista SP2 along with Bluetooth wireless support
(including latest BT 2.1 fixes), support for the new VIA 64-bit CPU and additional application compatibility updates.
For Windows Server
2008 SP2, Microsoft will include Backwards compatibility with Terminal Services licensing keys, improved manageability features with DFS/FRS console,
and Storage Resource Manager, print server and spooler performance improvements for printers in Windows Vista and Server 2008 and improved error
reporting in DFSR to help identify incorrectly configured deployments which lead to failed replication.
Both builds are "anticipated" to
be released within the next four weeks.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
18.10.2008Vista SP2 update sent to testers, but is really an RC?
What really, really looks like a release candidate for Windows Vista Service Pack 2 -- which first entered beta in December -- is officially being
called an "update" this afternoon, after Microsoft declined to give it a more formal title...
betanews.com -
21.02.2009Vista SP2 update sent to testers, but is it really an RC?
What really, really looks like a release candidate for Windows Vista Service Pack 2 -- which first entered beta in December -- is officially being
called an "update" this afternoon, after Microsoft declined to give it a more formal title.
..
betanews.com -
23.02.2009Microsoft: 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 -
03.12.2008Vista SP2 RC image goes live
Download Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Release
Candidate from Fileforum now.
..
betanews.com -
04.03.2009Vista 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.
In a posting to
The Hotfix forums, members have claimed that Microsoft have
released a batch file which enables the SP2 download from Windows Update. The download weighs in at over 290MB and references the
support article placeholder put online 2 weeks ago.
neowin.net -
24.10.2008Microsoft Office 2007 SP2 leaks
Microsoft is currently working on SP2 for Office 2007 and could be ready to release a final version as early as Q1 2009. Today an early copy has
leaked to BitTorrent according to Windows Vista Magazine. The file weighs in at 287.14 MB and is named office2007sp2-kb953195-fullfile-en-us.exe.
It's not clear whether the leaked copy is a beta, RC or final version of SP2 but the EULA states "012.0_B2TR_PRE.0_BTA_EN" meaning it it's
likely to be a test version. The build number is 12.0.6416.1000, compared to Microsoft Office 2007 SP1 which has the build version of 12.0.6331.5000.
SP2 will support Open Document Format (ODF), XML Paper Specification (XPS) and Portable Document Format (PDF).
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
02.04.2009Windows 7 Beta to RC transition - What you need to know
Every one of us is waiting for the upcoming Windows 7 RC release. In the meantime, Windows 7 Team has blogged on the upgrade experience from pre-RC
builds to RC build, even when the RC dates are not officially out. This blog post indeed shows the openness of the Windows 7 Team to discuss various
issues regarding Windows 7 RC. If you are expecting any major announcement, then this post does not have any! The blog post talks a little about
upgrading Windows Vista to Windows 7, but as we discussed earlier there is no upgrade path available from Windows XP to Windows 7 "There's no
change here to the plan as has been discussed on many forums.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
07.04.2009Vista 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
