Exclusive: Windows Vista SP2 RC released to general public
By Chakkaradeep Chandran, 04 March 2009 - 08:43 69 comments
Update: The download pages and TechNet website are now updated with the SP2 RC information
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/x64
- x86 for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista x86
- x64 for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista x64
- IA64 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. 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)
Even though the download page and TechNet website still says its SP2 beta, the download file name reveals that this is indeed the SP2 RC build - 6002.16670.090130-1715_iso_update_sp_wave0-RCSP2.0_DVD.iso. This build is the same build sent out to select testers last week.
Comments (69)
forcer - 04 March 2009 - 09:32
Is this a fix update or does it have features aswell?? are there any list of what's changed in this SP
PatrynXX - 04 March 2009 - 22:08
Was wondering why my windows update was showing up. Was busy and hadn't payed attention to it.
ajua - 04 March 2009 - 09:33
I'm going to try it on my laptop at home before installing it on my main desktop.
Let's hope to see the performance increase, even a little bit. I'm not in dislike of the current performance, but a little more can't hurt, can it?
Thanks for the heads up.
Edit: i found this link which offers the standalone installer for Vista only: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...&displaylang=en
SH3K0 - 04 March 2009 - 09:33
When will this be officially released without having the "beta" tag?
+trag3dy - 04 March 2009 - 09:36
Don't quote me on this but I thought they said it was going to be in April? That's the month I remember reading about but I have absolutely no idea if that's true or not.
SH3K0 - 04 March 2009 - 14:36
Cool, thanks for that :-)
rakeshishere - 04 March 2009 - 09:34
Thanks to Neowin user UAC for the heads up
Ohh... the irony :D
If i am right,Sp2 also includes SP1 right? That means i can install SP2 without SP1 preinstalled and straight on Vista RTM. Wait for few more months and you get Windows 7 RC and you will happiest :P
devHead - 04 March 2009 - 09:45
No, the SP2 requires that SP1 already be installed. This is what some people were griping about awhile back, but actually it will make the download size for it somewhat smaller.
+xiphi - 04 March 2009 - 09:45
SP1 is prerequisite for SP2. So, no SP2 does NOT include SP1.
.hasan - 04 March 2009 - 09:46
Ohh... the irony :D
If i am right,Sp2 also includes SP1 right? That means i can install SP2 without SP1 preinstalled and straight on Vista RTM. Wait for few more months and you get Windows 7 RC and you will happiest :P
you are correct you do not need to install sp1 before you install sp2
pandu - 04 March 2009 - 10:08
you are correct you do not need to install sp1 before you install sp2
Hasan U have to install sp1 before u install sp2..
+BeLGaRaTh - 04 March 2009 - 10:25
you are correct you do not need to install sp1 before you install sp2
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd335036.aspx
There are only two prerequisites for installing SP2:
* Your operating system, Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista must have Service Pack 1 installed.
noteNote
Windows Server 2008 shipped with Service Pack 1 built in.
* Users updating through Windows Update/WSUS must install an update to the servicing stack (described in knowledge base article 955430) that handles installation and removal of software updates, language packs, and optional Windows features. This update is necessary to successfully install and uninstall the service pack; it also improves the performance and reliability of the service pack installation. This update may require a reboot and is part of the standalone update package. It will be offered as a separate package on Windows Update. Users installing SP2 in standalone format will have this update built-in
.hasan - 06 March 2009 - 01:32
oh didn't see that little tid bit
why not just include the whole thing like they usually do?
Qun Mang - 06 March 2009 - 04:26
Wonderful. Who made this brilliant decision? Seeing as SP1 will not install on my computer, I guess I won't be using SP2 either.
xendrome - 06 March 2009 - 20:49
Wow, lol, your using Vista without SP1?... one... I feel bad for you.
two, obviously you have some other issue with your OS.. sounds like you need to do a reload and fix it.
PGHammer - 12 March 2009 - 17:04
Why won't SP1 install?
Hardware issues? Software that is broken by SP1?
(My suspiscion is that it's likely software.)
Pharos - 04 March 2009 - 11:41
People still use Vista? :-P
Edit. Kidding kidding
Akaruz - 04 March 2009 - 12:55
Edit. Kidding kidding
Well somehow Vista does run better on my pc , i only use XP due to my tvcard :P might buy vmware and run xp as virtual so i can remove the dual boot
waruikoohii - 04 March 2009 - 14:47
Edit. Kidding kidding
People still use other OS's? :P
toadeater - 05 March 2009 - 23:59
Make sure your TV card will run in vmware. Support for hardware acceleration in VMware is somewhat shoddy.