Windows Vista
Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 available on TechNet and MSDN
Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP2 is now available for download on TechNet and MSDN.The following editions of Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 is available -x86, x64, i64
Currently Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 is available in the following languages- English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish
Windows Vista SP2 RTM + Windows Vista SP1 Blocker Tool Removed
Today we are announcing the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) of Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. SP2 represents the latest step in Microsoft’s commitment to continuous improvement. It includes all updates that have been delivered since SP1, as well as support for new types of hardware and emerging hardware standards.
As we have mentioned before, here are some of the key benefits of Windows Vista SP2:
- Windows Search 4.0 for faster and improved relevancy in searches
- 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.
And since it comes with a single installer for both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, SP2 will be easy for IT Pros to manage, deploy, and support. For a complete overview of the changes introduced in SP2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, check out the notable changes document on TechNet.
We expect Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP2 to be publicly available in Q2 2009.
Source- Windows Blog
RTM Escrow SP2 for Windows Vista and WS 2008 leaked
For obvious reasons we cannot mention the source,but Windows Vista SP2 RTM escrow build and Windows Server 2008 SP2 RTM escrow has been compiled and is available for download on various file sharing and torrent sites on the net.
This was the information that was available on the site,which shows that the build was compiled on 13th March 2009
FILE: Windows6.0-KB948465-X86.exe - RTM ESCROW SP2 for Vista and WS 2008 x86
BUILD: 6002.17506.090313-1730
SIZE: 480,577,096 bytes
CRC: 3506527D
MD5: 9BDFCE640FD9C3B7155AE7138E3DCCFB
SHA1: 0E499FFBD5BF8E2C377F679B75D42F85171BA8F4
MICROSOFT.WINDOWS.VISTA.AND.SERVER.2008.SP2.RTM.ESCROW.X64.W1.RIP.DVD-WZTiSO
FILE: Windows6.0-KB948465-X64.exe - RTM ESCROW SP2 for Vista and WS 2008 x64
BUILD: 6002.17506.090313-1730
SIZE: 769,401,800 bytes
CRC: 79209E03
MD5: 4FF1AAA8303EF3019A51E0A48CF788B2
SHA1: 1F2912779A242A2DD5B076F8E0C33E5AC4DAC245
MICROSOFT.WINDOWS.SERVER.2008.SP2.RTM.ESCROW.ITANIUM.W1.RIP.DVD-WZTiSO
FILE: Windows6.0-KB948465-IA64.exe - RTM ESCROW SP2 Server 2008 Intel Itanium
BUILD: 6002.17506.090313-1730
SIZE: 496,565,640 bytes
CRC: 3E7E1F35
MD5: E859BD2009103F48C5B346470E928598
SHA1: 16320AFB5BC90126BBF060E90B46826630326322
Windows Vista SP2 RC now available for download
The Release Candidate of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2,string 6002.16670.090130-1715 is now available. The official download site from Microsoft have not been updated yet.
The standalone installer available for the 32bit is 388 MB in size and the 64bit version is 614 MB.Languages included are English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish.
New features in Windows Vista Service Pack 2:
* Support for Bluetooth 2.1
* Describe the possibility of Blu-ray Media
* Integration of Windows Connect Now
* ExFAT filesystem support UTC timestamps
* Support for 64-bit processors from VIA
* Improved application compatibility
* Patch against WLAN problems after standby
* Integration of Windows Search 4.0
* Improved RSS gadget
* Reworked code for fewer crashes
* Service Pack Clean up tool
* Understandable / useful error messages
Download:
- Windows Vista Service Pack 2 RC 32-Bit
- Windows Vista Service Pack 2 RC 64-Bit
- Windows Vista Service Pack 2 RC ISO
Announcing the Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 RC
This week we are announcing that Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 has hit an important milestone in development: Release Candidate (RC).
Starting today, the RC of SP2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 will be available to TechNet and MSDN subscribers to test prior to final release. In the very near future, we will be making the RC broadly available for anyone to download and test. You can expect another blog post from me when that happens.
SP2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 include updates that have been delivered since the release of SP1, as well as support for new types of hardware and emerging standards. As we’ve described since we first talked about SP2, we’ve taken your feedback into account when developing SP2. Specifically, we expect SP2 to continue the security benefits of both products and simplify deployment for our customers.
For an outline of changes in SP2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, check out the notable changes document.
We are planning to release SP2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 in the second quarter of 2009.
Source- Windows Team Blog
Testers get SP2 Release Candidate for Vista and Server 2008
Microsoft today released the Release Candidate build of Service Pack 2 (6002.16670.090130) for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 to Microsoft Connect testers. The company is letting testers grab it via Windows Update (in 48 hours, all languages), as a standalone installer package, or as a slipstreamed version in English, Spanish, German, French, Japanese. The public beta release is not yet available Microsoft is recommending for the average customer to "wait until the final release prior to installing this service pack" and for testers to remember that "a Service Pack is not a feature release—we are not looking for new feature suggestions, only SP2 regressions, Crashes, and confirmation of fixes we’ve made will be considered for this milestone."
As with previous service packs, SP2 will include all previous updates and patches for the operating system (for example, SP2 marks the inclusion of Hyper-V into Windows Server 2008 natively). SP2 RC contains 691 hotfixes alone (full list below). There are also reports of significant performance improvements (on top of those in SP1).
So beyond hotfixes and bug fixes, what does SP2 add for Windows Vista and Window Server 2008? In addition to a Service Pack Clean-up tool (Compcln.exe) which helps recover hard disk space by permanently deleting previous versions of files (RTM and SP1) that are being serviced by SP2, there are improvements in various areas:
Source- ARS Technica
Windows Vista SP2 RC1 screenshots
Windows Vista SP2 RC1 was released to the selected group of testers a couple of days back.This Service Pack is indeed much stable and faster then the Windows Vista SP1.The build number for this beta is Build 6002.16659.090114-1728
Here are the screenshots of the Windows Vista SP2 RC1
Windows Service Pack Blocker Toolkit
Here’s an update for those of you who have installed the Service Pack Blocker Tool for Windows XP or Windows Vista. This code temporarily prevents the installation of a service pack through Windows Update, typically for one year after general availability of the service pack. The expiration date for the Service Pack Blocker Tool for Windows Vista SP1 is April 28, 2009; for Windows XP SP3 the tool expires May 19, 2009.
For more information on the Service Pack Blocker Tool, please see the FAQ available through the Springboard Series on TechNet.
Source- Technet Blog
