Windows Vista SP1 Release Candidate (RC) Public

[CommanderRomeo]

Today we're making available the release candidate (RC) of Windows Vista SP1 via Microsoft Connect, and tomorrow subscribers to TechNet and MDSN will have access to those RC bits too. In addition, the RC will be available to the public next week via Microsoft's Download Center. The release candidate phase of beta software is typically the final phase before the RTM (release-to-manufacturing) of a product and indicates that the code has attained a significant level of performance and stability.

Let me call out several changes made since the Beta release of Service Pack 1 -- many of which came about as a result of direct feedback from our Beta-testing community (thank you!):

The size of the standalone installers have decreased significantly. For example, the standalone installer packages consisting of all 36 languages (x86 and x64 chip architectures) are smaller by over 50%. The standalone installer packages consisting of just the 5 languages (again, x86 and x64) slated for initial release are more than 30% smaller in size.

The required amount of disc space for SP1 installation has also decreased significantly. Furthermore, with the RC, if more space is required to install SP1, an error message will now display exactly how much space is needed to complete the installation.

Previous SP1 versions left behind a directory of files that wasn't needed after installation and occupied about 1GB of space; the RC includes automatic disk clean-up to remove this directory.

Installation reliability has been improved based on bug reports and error codes reported from Windows Update (thanks, Beta testers!). Testing shows that these improvements have significantly increased the proportion of successful installations of the RC.

We've improved the user experience of installing SP1 via Windows Update. During the Beta release, users installed without much guidance from Windows Update. The RC now contains a series of screens with detailed information on SP1.

Source : http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsv...ndidate-rc.aspx

[Johnston]

:) sounds good, lookin forward to downloading that from connect and trying it out. Bet there will be an RC2 though before RTM, anyone else think that also?

[Slimy]

:) sounds good, lookin forward to downloading that from connect and trying it out. Bet there will be an RC2 though before RTM, anyone else think that also?

Nah I don't think so. Hope I'm wrong though :p

[SirEvan]

can't wait....I've been having so many weird issues with vista all of a sudden, its strange...need to hurry up and get this so i can see if it gets vista fixed finally for me...Been reinstalling now my 10th time in 2 days and still get issues randomly with the same hardware.

[ShaneSparky_YYZ]

There may be an RC2 who knows, time will tell but they have a few more months at least.

My guess RC1 now, RC2 early-Feb, RTM March.

[Dane]

Dont know if it was said. But if you goto connect. Something is waiting for you.......

[trek]

Dont know if it was said. But if you goto connect. Something is waiting for you.......

1239 KB/s :)

[DigitalE]

If I install this, will I have to re-activate Windows at any time?

[roadgeek9]

On a separate thread about Windows XP SP3, it says SP3 will be 600 MB. How big will Vista SP1 be? 1.5 GB?

[nautiqueskier]

not if you're running a genuine copy

[roadgeek9]

I actually have an MSDN copy of Vista Business. So therefore it is a real copy.

[JohnBfromMemphis]

I'm on connect right now and I'm not seeing where to download vista sp1 rc1, I thought this was supposed to be public.

[Digitalx]

heh as long as it it isn't same size as first leaked SP1... 3.5GB, no thanks :rolleyes:

[Slimy]

On a separate thread about Windows XP SP3, it says SP3 will be 600 MB. How big will Vista SP1 be? 1.5 GB?

Depends if you are talking about the Express, Stand-alone or the Slipstream version. Somehow I doubt XP SP3 is going to be 600MB unless it's the slipstream version.

[nautiqueskier]

I'm on connect right now and I'm not seeing where to download vista sp1 rc1, I thought this was supposed to be public.

public release is next week. its only on connect for beta testers.

tomorrow it will be available to technet and msdn subscribers

[xendrome]

heh as long as it it isn't same size as first leaked SP1... 3.5GB, no thanks :rolleyes:

Wasn't the 3.5GB the whole ISO.

[roadgeek9]

Well, yes it is the Network Administrator/Slipstream Version that is 600 MB.

[Piggy]

I can't believe SP1 is almost out. How time flies.. :wacko:

[speed3okie]

Can't wait to download it, and give it a whirl

[Roger H. Veteran]

yeah, i'm foaming at the mouth too! :)

[roadgeek9]

I hope Vista SP1 is good. The Vista RTM is a JOKE!

[jefexp]

once the public RC1 is out, if we install it can it be (or does it have to be) uninstalled so the final can be installed when it is released? Or will the final just overwrite the RC?

[speed3okie]

You have to uninstall RC 1 before any newer version can be installed.

[thollian]

well I am having trouble installing the latest SP....keeps crapping out...

[CloudEngineer]

ive waited long enough to test it out, i think i might give it a whirl on a secondary box