In late October, Microsoft announced the beta of the second service pack for Windows Vista and Server 2008. This beta was limited in audience, and today Microsoft has fixed that: it opened up the beta for MSDN and TechNet subscribers, and coming Thursday, it will be opened to the general public. The releases will be distributed via TechNet.

Vista's and Server 2008's second service pack will be similar to the first in that it doesn't contain any major new features. It will include all previous updates (as usual), while also containing support for new hardware, as well as support for new standards and technologies. It also delivers improvements made based on data collected through Microsoft's voluntary Customer Experience Improvement Program. A short summary of the more important changes:

* Windows Vista SP2 adds Windows Search 4.0 for faster and improved relevancy in searches.
* Windows Vista SP2 contains the Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack supporting the most recent specification for Bluetooth Technology.
* Ability to record data on to Blu-Ray media natively in Windows Vista.
* Adds Windows Connect Now (WCN) to simplify Wi-Fi Configuration.
* Windows Vista SP2 enables the exFAT file system to support UTC timestamps, which allows correct file synchronization across time zones.

The new service pack is planned to go gold somewhere next year, at least before Windows 7. It comes in a single package that works on both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.

http://osnews.com/story/20602/Vista_Server...pened_to_Public

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Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta - (32-bit)
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta - (64-bit)

thanks to stasio for providing the links

*install@your own risk

This post has been edited by jinaun: Dec 5 2008, 03:52 PM

has anyone installed this yet?
need some feedback so that i can install this on my pc

installed on my system.. and its working fine so far


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I've also installed on my computer but watch out, still got bugs to be ironed out. So far, I haven't encountered any pests yet, (fingers still crossed). I've got one regret using SP2 BETA. When the official SP2 comes out, we'd have to uninstall the BETA as we're unable to overwrite the BETA updates.

what bugs are you talking abt?

and of coz.. for beta softwares..its not even suppose to be installed in a production system

Personally, I haven't encountered any buys yet. I'm just saying that it's not a release to public version yet.

installed Vista SP2 Beta on my Ultimate x64, all went smooth and sound... so far... , went well

eh btw... how to get those windows:about thingy la?

i have a Qs, this windows vista sp2 beta is ultimate version? got vista home premium inside? all 64 bits?

which is the most stable version for vista home premium sp2 64 bit?


i m totally newbie here!!pls helps'

thanks for sharing..
will try it out..

Try this. Go to "Start" -> Click on "Run" -> Enter/Type "winver". You should get "About Windows".

this is exe file, how to install it in my new laptop?

thanks mate...

anyway... i installed SP2 Beta to all my test system... so far no problem, not sure about x86 though as all my system installed with x64 Ultimate one ...

Double-click on the ".EXE" and and install (follow instructions).

Mind writing a review for us Mr. Sniper? I've installed it to one of my 32-Bit OSes (Home Premium) and it's working fine.
One thing I noticed is that it installed faster than installing SP1.

on Vista Ultimate x64



, why is it in "Evaluation Copy"? , and how to get rid those "Evaluation Copy" at lower left corner desktop?

Thanks for the fast reply. I'm also having the "Evaluation Copy" under "Run -> "winver" (Windows Version). But I'm running 32-Bit. As long as we can still use, no fuss.

eh... hwo to uninstall the SP2? checked at Programs and Feature, but couldn't find any...

there is an option to uninstall..





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aiyak... , i never checked at Installed Update, only at Programs & Features , going to check out later , thanks mate...

first windowsupdate for vista SP2

LOL...

Bro, how come I've got no update after I installed SP2? I already restarted my computer.
PS: Mine is IE 8 BETA but you've still got IE 7 update? My computer is messed up.

woo....no wonder recently my internet a bit slow becoz dl the updates.....the updates really do make my computer more stable nowaday.....

When is the official sp2 gonna be released?

Microsoft is doing their best to rush out Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista so there will be additional incentive for folks to upgrade to Window Vista now, instead of waiting for Windows 7. So the latest schedule should come as no surprise.

A confidential source has revealed that Microsoft will deliver a Release Candidate in February, 2009 with the final SP2 binary scheduled for RTM (Release To Manufacturing) in April, 2009.

As always, do remember that when Microsoft announces that a product is RTM, it doesn't mean you will be able to download it right away. RTM merely means it is "released to manufacturing", including OEMs. Actual public release will be sometime later. Release to web (RTW) will also occur sometime after RTM.

:: Windows Vista SP2 RC (Release Candidate)
:: February, 2009

:: Windows Vista SP2 RTM (Release To Manufacturing)
:: April, 2009

:: Windows Vista SP2 RTW (Release To Web )
:: TBA

As Microsoft has done in previous Service Pack releases (Windows Vista SP1, Windows XP SP3), they will be releasing Windows Vista Service Pack 2 in language waves. If Microsoft follows the original language wave schedule in Vista SP1, then the first wave would support English, German, Japanese, French and Spanish. The second wave would support Chinese, Korean and Brazilian Portuguese.


What Is Service Pack 2?

Service Pack 2 is a single service pack which will update both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 products. In addition to previously released updates, it will include support for new types of hardware and several emerging standards.


What's New In Windows Vista SP2?

What's New In Windows Server 2008 SP2?


This post has been edited by cybpsych: Dec 12 2008, 10:04 PM

working fine for me and better than b4

Your computer wouldn't automatically download SP2 update for you. It's optional download.

So is it advisable to download the beta if i'm on sp1 now?

Well, I'm using it and am not having any problems whatsoever.

Then if da official sp2 is out what should i do if i'm on the beta version?uninstall it?

Yes, you must uninstall if your on BETA and updating to official.

must try after reading all the comments

just wait for the final SP2 to be released, else if you have SP2 Beta installed, it'll be difficult to remove later.

Bro, can't quite agree because, all you need to do is use "Add/Remove Programs".

of course it's just a simple add/remove affair ...

however MS' service packs are traditionally and notoriously big & complicated/complex .. god knows how many hundreds/thousands of files being changed and lines of registry being modified ...

sometimes, they even screwed up their monthly hotfix (which is just a few meg). what are the chances that a big OS SP don't screwed up somewhere? It happened to XP's SP2/SP3 before

anyway, just a precaution, no big deal. cheers!