Windows Server 2003 and XP x64 Editions Service Pack 2
There have been a few articles floating around on the Internet since we released the private beta of Windows Server 2003 SP2 a couple of weeks ago. To remove any mystery or speculation about what this Service Pack 2 is about, I thought I would take a couple of minutes to lay it out.
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2.8.2006 Closer Look: Beta Windows Vista Service Pack 1
The Microsoft operating system is improved by the soon-to-arrive service pack, but Windows Vista still is missing some features we'd like to see.
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24.1.2008 No Public Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta anytime soon
Microsoft asked us to inform you on the current state of Windows Vista SP1 beta
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19.7.2007 Download the Complete Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta Overview
The complete Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta overview is available for download courtesy of Microsoft.
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7.9.2007 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.
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5.12.2008 Vista SP1 Beta Build 6001.17036 v.652 Kills Hack to Download the Service Pack
Microsoft is making headway toward the final release of the first service pack for Windows Vista. A new beta build of the first refresh for the operating system is now live following the initial beta release.
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12.11.2007 Windows XP Service Pack 3 Beta build 3180
Thanks to marct for this download of Windows XP Service Pack 3 Beta build 3180.
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9.8.2007 Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 beta security updates
Dear WS03 SP2 Beta Tester,
Beginning in August 2006, Windows Serviceability will release monthly critical security updates for the Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 beta.
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13.8.2006 Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 Beta
This download installs Service Pack 1 Beta for Microsoft® Visual Studio® 2005.
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30.9.2006 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.
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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.
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11.10.2006 It Lives! Windows Vista Service Pack 1
Thanks to PureForever for reporting of this article. It Lives! Windows Vista Service Pack 1 - First Download Available.
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9.6.2007 Inside Windows Vista Service Pack 1
"Now is the time and the time is now." This is the introduction Microsoft Product Manager Nick White tied to the company's first initiative designed to make public details about the first service pack for Windows Vista.
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1.9.2007 Windows Vista Service Pack 1 in the Wild
By now many of you may have seen reports of Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 1 in the wild.
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7.2.2008 Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 now available on MVLS
Volume Licensing customers now have access to the full version of Windows Vista with Service Pack 1. VL customers can download the software at
https://licensing.microsoft.com.
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9.2.2008 Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Released!
Today, you can now download Windows Vista SP1 via Windows Update. For those of you eager to receive the benefits of Windows Vista SP1 - you can now do so! We've seen quite a bit of questions in our comments so we want to communicate as much as possible surrounding Windows Vista SP1 and today's release to Windows Update as we can.
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18.3.2008 How to Uninstall Windows Vista Service Pack 2
Microsoft has officially release vista service pack 2 on May, 27. By now many users would have already installed Service pack 2 on Windows Vista. For those users who want to block vista Sp2 via automatic windows update windows update blocker tool is also available for download.
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5.6.2009 New build of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Released!
According to a French website, Microsoft has just released a new build of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1). It should be released to about 10000 selected testers by this week or next week. Thanks to pyrapurcell for this news.
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22.9.2007 Microsoft to release Windows Vista Service Pack 1 on Monday?
Microsoft has scheduled Windows Vista Service Pack 1 for release to manufacturer (RTM) on Monday, February 4, 2008.
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3.2.2008 Install and Uninstall Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Release Candidate 1
The first public build of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is imminent and is planned by the end of this week. Microsoft has already made available Vista SP1 Release Candidate 1 via Connect, MSDN and TechNet, and is preparing for the next step, opening up the beta testing
process to the general public through the Microsoft Download Center.
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11.12.2007 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.
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15.10.2008 Vista Service Pack 1 Spotted In The Wild
With all the Microsoft-created confusion out there around when — and even whether — the company plans to deliver the first service pack (SP) for Windows Vista, it’s nice to see some concrete proof that Vista SP1 does exist.
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18.5.2007 Performance Results Mixed with Vista Service Pack 1
Files copied faster in our initial tests, but other performance was slightly slower with the SP1 installed.
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7.2.2008 Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 may not be Vista-compatible
Microsoft’s own Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack (SP) 1 – a first beta of which went live on September 26 — may not work correctly with Windows Vista.
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27.9.2006 XP SP3 vs. Vista SP1 – Service Pack Adoption
Microsoft's decision to have both Windows XP and Windows Vista available concomitantly on the market was a move that inherently backfired against the company.
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22.8.2008 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.
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12.12.2008 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.
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3.7.2009 Microsoft hones its internal sales pitch for Vista Service Pack 1
With all the controversy as of late regarding the extent to which Service Pack (SP) 1 will improve Windows Vista’s performance, what is Microsoft saying?
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28.11.2007 Windows XP Service pack 1
Windows XP Service Pack 1: XP SP1 (now called SP1a)
Microsoft continually works to improve its software. As part of this effort, we develop updates and fixes to recognized issues and release them for customers. On a regular basis, we combine many of these fixes into a single package and make the package available for you to install on your computers. These packages are called Service Packs.
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Windows XP Service pack 2
About once a year, Microsoft releases an update to Windows XP. These updates contain all the fixes and enhancements which have been made available in the previous year. The updates (called Service Packs) provide convenient, all-in-one access to the most up-to-date drivers, tools, security updates, patches, and customer-requested product changes.
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SP2 for Server 2003, x64
Enters Beta
Microsoft on Wednesday
released Beta 1 of Service
Pack 2 for Windows Server 2003
and Windows XP x64 edition.
The single update will cover
both operating systems, along
with the R2 release of Server
2003. A standalone SP2 beta
package is available in
32-bit, 64-bit and Itanium
flavors...
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29.06.2006Windows 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...
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06.12.2008Exclusive: 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.....
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04.03.2009Announcing 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.....
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03.12.2008Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta Whitepaper
When developing Windows Vista, Microsoft set out to provide higher levels of productivity, mobility, and security, with lower costs. After more than
six months of broad availability and usage, it's evident that these investments are improving the Windows computing experience. For example, in the
first six months of use, Windows Vista had fewer security issues than Windows XP (Windows Vista had only 12 issues, and Windows XP had 36). According
to the Windows Vista 6-Month Vulnerability Report by Jeffery R. Jones, Windows Vista had fewer security issues than all the popular operating systems
he studied.
Although most companies are cautious when deploying a new operating system, many have already started testing and
evaluating Windows Vista for deployment, and some have already deployed Windows Vista into their production environments and begun seeing the business
benefits Windows Vista can provide.
Microsoft's efforts to provide the best Windows experience ever in Windows Vista did not end
with its launch. This white paper describes the ways Microsoft strives to continuously improve Windows Vista. It then introduces Windows Vista Service
Pack 1 (SP1) and describes how the service pack will fit into the ongoing improvement process.
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29.08.2007Microsoft lets loose Vista SP1 for x64-based systems
Additional info is available at
HEXUS.net and
Winfuture.de Engadget: Not a whole lot to say here,
but if you're running Vista on an x64-based system, you've probably already noticed
a little surprise courtesy of
Windows Update, which today started pushing out the x64 edition of
Vista Service Pack 1. If
you've been following things in SP1 land, you'll notice that's actually ahead of the neat and tidy Windows Update launch for non-x64 systems, but
behind the
unofficial options already available.
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21.02.2008Microsoft: Vista Service Pack Coming In Q1 08, Beta in a few weeks
Via
CMP Channel. Additional info is available at
Mary Jo Foley's Blog and the
Windows Vista Team Blog.
Putting to rest months of rampant rumors and speculation, Microsoft on
Wednesday said it plans to launch the first service pack for Windows Vista during the first quarter of 2008.
Microsoft will
release the beta version of Vista service pack 1 "in a few weeks," said David Zipkin, senior product manager in the Windows Client group at
Microsoft.
Many organizations have put off upgrading to Vista until Microsoft works out the kinks that have cropped up since its
release in January, which include driver support, performance, and application incompatibility issues. Many VARs have been ripping and replacing Vista
from desktops and laptops they sell because of the problems that come with moving their clients to the OS.
Unlike Windows XP
service pack 1, Vista SP1 won't include a raft of new features, notes Zipkin. "Windows XP SP1 was a departure from what we like service packs to be.
Vista SP1 is about improvements to the user experience and enhancing existing capabilities," he said...
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29.08.2007Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC Refresh Public Availability Program
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC Refresh is available to Beta testers through Windows Update. Experience the WU installation path for Windows Vista SP1
by following these simple steps and give us your feedback to improve our quality.
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12.01.2008Beta Patches Hint at Vista SP1 Features
Microsoft has released to
Windows Server 2008 beta
testers two new hot-fix packs
for Windows Vista, which
improve performance and
reliability, along with the
operating system's
compatibility with drivers and
hardware. The 12MB worth of
fixes are expected to make
their way into Vista Service
Pack 1 later this year...
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30.07.2007Microsoft 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.....
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16.10.2008Microsoft Details Sever 2003
SP2 Plans
With beta testing underway for
Windows Service 2003 Service
Pack 2, which also is designed
for Windows XP x64 edition,
Microsoft is providing a bit
more details about the
impending upgrade. Windows
Server program manager Ward
Ralston says SP2 will be much
less painful than SP1...
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03.08.2006Windows 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.
Read full story.....
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26.03.2009Microsoft Details Server 2003
SP2 Plans
With beta testing underway for
Windows Service 2003 Service
Pack 2, which also is designed
for Windows XP x64 edition,
Microsoft is providing a bit
more details about the
impending upgrade. Windows
Server program manager Ward
Ralston says SP2 will be much
less painful than SP1...
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03.08.2006Windows Vista SP1 Beta Due This Year
Within its recent response to
the U.S. Department of Justice
that stated it would modify
Windows Vista to enable end
users and OEMs to change the
default desktop search it
uses, Microsoft for the first
time discussed Service Pack 1
for the OS, saying a beta will
come this year...
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21.06.2007Visual FoxPro 9.0 Service Pack 2 and "Sedna" Betas Now Available
This download contains the
BETA release for Microsoft
Visual FoxPro 9.0 SP2 and the
"Sedna" add-ons. This
release has two parts:
The Sedna Beta download
contains six components:
VistaDialogs4COM, Upsizing
Wizard, Data Explorer,
NET4COM, MY for VFP and VS
2005 Extension for VFP.
The VFP 9.0 SP2 Beta
download contains a patch that
can be applied to VFP 9.0 or
VFP 9.0 SP1. In addition to
fixes to the core product,
this patch contains
significant enhancements to
the Reporting features.
System Requirements
- Supported Operating
Systems: Windows 2000 Service
Pack 3; Windows 2000 Service
Pack 4; Windows Vista; Windows
XP Service Pack 2
-
Microsoft Visual FoxPro 9.0
- Microsoft .NET Framework
2.0
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15.06.2007Internet Explorer 8 Beta Available for Download
The first public beta of Internet Explorer 8 is alive and kicking. Well, you have been waiting for it for more than a year. Microsoft has successfully
kept the lid closed on the work it was doing with Internet Explorer 8, more so than on the work poured into Windows Vista SP1, Windows XP SP3 and
Windows Server 2008. After being dogfooded throughout 2007 over at Microsoft, IE8 first peeped outside of Redmond with the recent private Beta 1
testing program. Now, Microsoft is ready to open Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 to all Windows users.
"Welcome to Internet Explorer
8 Beta 1, the latest test release of the most popular browser! This release contains some great advances in Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and layout,
programming model, performance, reliability, usability and service integration. We are eager to ensure that the transition to Internet Explorer 8 is
seamless for you and your audience, and to give you a head start on using many of the new features with your sites and services. We encourage you to
test your sites and services, and our platform implementation, and give us feedback," stated Chris Wilson, IE Platform Architect.
The fact of the matter is that Microsoft's official Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 public release webpage has went live ahead of the company's
web-centric
MIX08 conference in Las Vegas. During the opening keynote
address at MIX08, Dean Hachamovitch, IE General Manager, will give an in-depth presentation of Internet Explorer 8.
Click
Read More to view the download links.
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05.03.2008Windows Server 2003 SP2 Beta 1
is out!
Microsoft shipped Wednesday
the first beta version of its
server operating system. The
release was made available
through Connect as usual, to
testers who applied to the
Technical beta program.
As opposite to
Microsoft's prior habits, the
program was in the
Available Programs
section, instead of being
invite-only. The program is
still available as of now, so
those who didn't know about
it can still apply to be part
of the test.
Microsoft describes the
Service Pack the following
way:
"Service Pack
2 is a conventional service
pack consisting of all
security updates, all
individual hotfixes released
to customers and fixes to
reduce top customer support
issues as well as increase
reliability, robustness, and
security. Service Pack 2 is
the first Service Pack for
Windows XP x64 Professional
SKU,"
jcxp.net -
29.06.2006Microsoft Hands out XP SP3 beta
In an email sent to selected testers telling them they have been accepted to begin testing XP SP3, Microsoft has also informed them that this will be
the final Service Pack for the now aging OS.
---
Quote -
As is standard practice for operating systems
nearing the end of their sales period, Microsoft will be releasing a final Service Pack for Windows XP in the first half of 2008. Microsoft is pleased
to announce the availability of Windows XP Service Pack 3 Beta Preview, to Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 beta testers.
---
Therefore it will be quite fitting to see the final Service Pack for XP – arguably one of the most stable platforms Microsoft has
created so far, landing around the same time as Service Pack 1 for Vista itÂ’s much maligned latest OS. Lets us know which you would prefer as your OS
of choice now by voting in the poll attached to this news item.
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05.10.2007Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for November 2007
This is an advance notification of two security bulletins that Microsoft is intending to release on November 13, 2007. The full version of the
Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for November 2007 can be found at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms07-nov.mspx.
This bulletin advance notification will be replaced with the November bulletin summary on November 13, 2007. For more information
about the bulletin advance notification service, see
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/advance.mspx.
Critical Security Bulletins
Microsoft Security Bulletin 1
- Affected Software:
- Windows XP Service
Pack 2
- Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
- Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2
- Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1
- Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2
-
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition
- Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2
- Windows Server 2003
with SP1 for Itanium-based Systems
- Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems
- Impact:
Remote Code Execution
Important Security Bulletins
Microsoft Security Bulletin 2
- Affected Software:
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 4
- Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1
- Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2
- Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition
- Windows
Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2
- Windows Server 2003 with SP1 for Itanium-based Systems
-
Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems
- Impact: Spoofing
winbeta.org - 09.11.2007
More details on Windows Server
2003 SP2
Microsoft revealed more
details today about Windows
Server 2003's next Service
Pack, currently under an
ongoing beta-test.
"I know SP1 to
Windows Server 2003 made some
pretty big changes to the way
we do security and it
introduced a cycle of
application testing and some
compatibility issues?.this
was, however, a necessary evil
needed to address server
security," , said an employee
using the team blog.
Essentially, Service
Pack 2 is, as planned, a pack
of fixes since the last
release (R2), but also
includes some changes that
would likely ease transition
between it and Windows Vista,
or its Server counterpart,
still codenamed "Longhorn".
The change log also includes
updates to Remote Installation
Services, now known as Windows
Deployment Services, Microsoft
Management Console 3.0, and an
improved firewall.
For the first time
in ages, the msconfig tool
will be updated. "An
additional tab which provides
a single launching point for
common support tools that will
ease the discoverability of
common diagnostic
functionality.", Ralston
says.
On
another note, Service Pack 2
will update all version of the
OS, along with Windows XP x64
Edition.
jcxp.net - 03.08.2006
