Windows Vista SP2 RC to be released to public next week

Advertisement (Why?)

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. Microsoft also plans to make the RC build broadly available for anyone to download and test in the near future.

Betanews also reports that a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed that the first release candidates for Service Pack 2 for both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 will be released to the general public for testing next week.

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. However, there will be two 64-bit standalone installers, including one which covers x64 architectures (508 MB to 622 MB) and one for Itanium 64-bit (384 MB to 396 MB)

It is good to see that Microsoft is making the service pack available even before Windows 7 RC as that would allow users not to skip the service pack for any reason. It is also clear with this release that Microsoft is still urging businesses to upgrade to Windows Vista before Windows 7.

To know more about the changes in SP2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, check out here

#1 CalumJR on 25 Feb 2009 - 23:10

Fantastic! I really cannot wait till this RTMs. Any improvement to Windows Vista is appreciated (even though I haven't really had many problems with it).

#2 smooth3006 on 25 Feb 2009 - 23:38

can't wait until the final is out.

(4 replies) #3 jim87654 on 25 Feb 2009 - 23:43

Can't wait for Vista SP3 aka Windows 7

#3.1 ahhell on 26 Feb 2009 - 00:42

ooooo....how clever of you.

#3.2 StarLion on 26 Feb 2009 - 00:58

stop spreading fud and flaimbait

#3.3 +Xerxes on 26 Feb 2009 - 01:05

If your gonna be a smart arse, at least do it properly! Win7 has been referred to as Vista R2 not SP3

Back on topic, I'm looking forward to any improvements SP2 might* bring

* = I say might because it's gonna largely depend on your system config to how much (if at all) it improves things (much like with graphics drivers, they do improve things but by how much is dependent on your hardware config).

#3.4 bluarash on 26 Feb 2009 - 23:47

By the same token does that make:
1). GNU/Linux... Windows Flintstone
2). Mac OSX... Windows Jetson

#4 Loren on 25 Feb 2009 - 23:46

Vista SP2 RC is on TechNet now.

#5 Rascally on 26 Feb 2009 - 00:07

SP2 RC is on connect as well, I'm looking at it right now. As of the 17th.

(1 reply) #6 RaoulDuke24 on 26 Feb 2009 - 01:04

@Loren and Rascally

Got any links to the downloads?

#6.1 Chaks on 26 Feb 2009 - 01:17

It is only available to MSDN and TechNet subscribers now and will be available to public next week. There isnt any public downloads atm.

#7 freeza on 26 Feb 2009 - 01:29

What is the build number?

(2 replies) #8 Loren on 26 Feb 2009 - 02:02

RC 6002

#8.1 tmaxxtigger on 26 Feb 2009 - 02:41

Build 6002: Service Pack 2, v.286?

#8.2 +kpo6969 on 26 Feb 2009 - 04:27

6.0.6002
Service Pack 2, v.286

#9 cork1958 on 26 Feb 2009 - 13:20

Of course it's coming out quickly. They still haven't gotten Vista right!!

How much can this help?!!

#10 ManMountain on 26 Feb 2009 - 14:44

*yawn*

(2 replies) #11 naap51stang on 26 Feb 2009 - 14:52

Anyone (techie), who's running Vista instead of the Win7 beta is just silly. I've run the released version of 7 since it was given to the web, and have had ZERO problems, unlike the retail version of Vista. 7 is what Vista should have been, until the marketing department got a hold of it.

#11.1 bluarash on 26 Feb 2009 - 23:48

I am still waiting for the real Longhorn to appear. In truth, I am still waiting for Cairo as well.

#11.2 +Vlad on 27 Feb 2009 - 06:05

Because Windows 7 has what...a new taskbar? An expiration date? A picture of a beta fish? I've already set UAC to quiet mode, so that's not bothering me. I don't shutdown Vista; I just put it to sleep, so faster boot times don't bother me. So why should anyone "techie" want to format their presumably working Vista copy and install 7, only to have to reinstall it again in a few months? I REALLY don't get what the Vista haters see in 7 - not that 7 isn't better, just that it's not so much better that you need to be a fanboy and a troll before it's even out.

#12 kiddingguy on 26 Feb 2009 - 14:53

Great! When will it RTM? In March/April?

#13 DaMiEn on 28 Feb 2009 - 17:38

Sweet, i've been waiting for this.

Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register, its free!

Note: Anonymous commenting is disabled in order to keep the quality of responses to a high standard.

Neowin.net