Windows Vista SP2 RC released!

[UAC]

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 RC - ALL Language Standalone (KB948465):

32-bit: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...52-a4b8e857dd45

64-bit: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...8a-a7cc857d5530

Notable Changes in Windows Server 2008 SP2 RC and Windows Vista SP2 RC:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd335036.aspx

Edited March 4, 2009 by UAC

[BrainDedd]

Hmmm ... need ... installer ... :)

[leesmithg]

Is this kosher?

[Chaks]

Thanks UAC for the heads up (Y)

[CoolCatBad]

Standalone installer

32 bit http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...2b-22780e839a7e

64 bit http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...3e-de376fdb1de8

Not sure if this is any different than that released last December, Service Pack 2 V 113.

[kazuyette]

Is this kosher?

I think it's hallal. Can anyone confirm ?

[azz0r_wugg]

Any new features or just patches?

[CoolCatBad]

It is what it says it is, just learned that you should end up with "Service Pack 2, v.286". Anyone can confirm this?

[UAC]

Any new features or just patches?

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd335036.aspx

Notable Changes in Windows Server 2008 SP2 RC and Windows Vista SP2 RC:

• SP2 adds support for the 64-bit central processing unit (CPU) from VIA Technologies, which adds the ID and vendor strings for the new VIA 64-bit CPU.
  
• SP2 integrates the Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless, which contains support for Bluetooth v2.1 and Windows Connect Now (WCN) Wi-Fi Configuration. Bluetooth v2.1 is the most recent specification for Bluetooth wireless technology.
  
• SP2 improves performance for Wi-Fi connections after resuming from sleep mode.
  
• SP2 includes updates to the RSS feeds sidebar for improved performance and responsiveness.
  
• SP2 includes ability to record data to Blu-Ray Disc media.
  
• SP2 includes Windows Search 4.0, which builds on Microsoft?s search technology with improved indexing and search relevance. It also helps find and preview documents, e-mail (including signed email messages), music files, photos, and other items on the computer. The search engine in Windows Search 4.0 is a Microsoft Windows? service that is also used by programs such as Microsoft Office Outlook? 2007 and Microsoft Office OneNote? 2007. Autotuning Diagnostics in SP2 now interprets current network conditions when implementing Windows scaling. This feature includes full netsh support.
• Windows Media Center (WMC) in the area of content protection for TV.
  
• SP2 adds a registry key that enables modification of the maximum number of open TCP connections to increase application compatibility.
  
• SP2 provides the Hyper-V virtualization environment as a fully integrated feature of Windows Server 2008, including one free daughter OS with Windows Server 2008 Standard, four free licenses with Windows Server 2008 Enterprise and an unlimited number of free licenses with Windows Server 2008 Datacenter.
  
• SP2 increases the authentication options for WebDAV redirector, enabling Microsoft Office users greater flexibility when authenticating custom applications using the WebDAV redirector.
  
• SP2 provid improved power management (both on the server and the desktop), which includes the ability to manage these settings via Group Policy.
  
• SP2 improves backwards compatibility for Terminal Server license keys. Windows Server 2008 changed the licensing key from 512 bytes to 2,048 bytes which caused clients using older Terminal Server versions to fail. SP2 allows legacy license keys on Citrix applications to work with Windows Server 2008 Terminal Server.
  

Edited March 4, 2009 by UAC

[bigmehdi]

This SP2 seems more interesting for laptops than regular desktops.

[NEVER85]

This SP2 seems more interesting for laptops than regular desktops.

Maybe, but a Service Pack is always a good thing.

So, what's left to be done with the SP if it's now in RC?

[Jason87]

Thanks for this.

[Shaun N.]

Don't know anyone that still uses Vista, eveyone that I know did now uses Windows 7

[BartAfterDark]

isn't this the same as the ec-crow leaked a couple af weeks ago?

The KB numbers are the same: http://translate.google.com/translate?prev...history_state0=

[NEVER85]

Don't know anyone that still uses Vista, eveyone that I know did now uses Windows 7

Uhhh, plenty of people still use Vista, and won't jump to 7 at least until it's finished. Using a beta as your main OS is pretty foolish IMO, even if it is pretty solid.

[Zoom7000]

Does anyone know if this will have to be uninstalled before installing the final release or will you just be able to install the final release on top?

[rdhw]

Does anyone know if this will have to be uninstalled before installing the final release or will you just be able to install the final release on top?

This RC of SP2 will have to be uninstalled before you apply the public release of SP2.

[Ficman]

Don't know anyone that still uses Vista, eveyone that I know did now uses Windows 7

Wow... A LOT braver than I am, everyone I know still uses Vista... Just a few I know are playing with 7... :blink:

[Guest xiphi]

I believe they've stated that it will uninstall the previous version of SP2 before installing a newer build.

[+Warwagon MVC]

Sucks you need Sp1 already installed. First they say you can't officially slipstream Service pack 1 with vista (but you can do it with vlite) now they say you need to have Sp1 installed before you installed Sp2, that just sucks.

[leesmithg]

I think the servers are being hammered as my dl manager is stuck at 36%; Been like that for about 40 minutes now.

[caguy24]

no, it works just fine. problem on your side.

[The Canadian]

Hoepfully the final comes out a lot sooner because of this, but I doubt it!

[+allan MVC]

What's the point? When Microsoft is ready to release the final version it will be available via MS Update.

[UAC]

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 RC - ALL Language Standalone (KB948465):

32-bit: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...52-a4b8e857dd45

64-bit: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...8a-a7cc857d5530