Announcing Windows Vista SP2 Beta

Announcing Windows Vista SP2 Beta
Posted 12/2/2008 by Steve Sinchak - Total Views: 180 - Views Today: 180
Today Microsoft is releasing the Windows Vista SP2 Beta for Technet and MSDN Subscribers to download. Service Pack 2 includes dozens of improvements that will help security and performance. Among the improvements the most notable are Bluetooth 2.1 feature pack, Windows Connect Now wireless configuration, Windows Search 4 and increased reliability.
Detailed List of Changes:
Support for new technologies:

• SP2 contains Blue tooth 2.1 feature pack supporting the most recent specification for Blue tooth technology
• Ability to record data on Blu-Ray media
• Adds Windows Connect Now (WCN) Wi-Fi Configuration to Windows Vista SP2
• exFAT file system now supports UTC timestamps, which enables correct file synchronization across time zones
• SP2 provides support for new form factors, such as ICCD/CCID. new form factor support --example USB form factor as opposed to PCMCIA).
• Support for the new VIA 64-bit CPU

Security

• SP2 includes all previously released security updates, and builds on the proven security benefits of Windows Vista
• Secure Development Lifecycle process updates, where we identify the root cause of each security bulletin and improve our internal tools to eliminate code patterns that could lead to future vulnerabilities

Reliability

• SP2 addresses previously released reliability updates
• As well as addressing crashes, caused by Microsoft code, discovered since the launch of SP1

Performance

• Resume performance when Wi-Fi connection is no longer available after resume from sleep
• Inclusion of Windows Search 4 for improved indexing performance, improved relevancy in search, broader indexing scenario inclusion, as well as new Group Policy integration for Windows Search
• Improvements to the RSS feeds sidebar gadget to improve update performance and responsiveness,

Application Compatibility

• It is our goal that applications that run on the Windows Vista Operating System today and are written using public APIs will continue to work as designed on Windows Vista SP2.
• Previously released Application Compatibility updates are included in Windows Vista SP2.
• Spysweeper and ZoneAlarm now working with POP3 email accounts

Administration and Support Improvements

• Customers installing .net framework 3.5 service pack 1 will notice shorter download and installation times with Vista service pack 2 or Windows 2008 service pack 2 already installed
• Service Pack Clean up tool (Compcln.exe): This tool helps restore the hard disk space by permanently deleting the previous versions of the files (RTM & SP1) that are being serviced by Service Pack 2.
  Single installer for both Vista & Server 2008
• Ability to detect an incompatible driver and block service pack installation or warn users of any loss of functionality
• Better error handling and providing more descriptive error messages where possible
• Better manageability through logging in system event log
• Componentization for Serviceability of the installer

Some Specific Fixes/Additions Include:

• Inclusion of Hyper-V for WS08
• Event logging support in SPC
• DNS Server now listens over ISATAP address
• Fixes DRM issues from WMP upgrades
• Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless
• Reduction of resources required for sidebar gadgets
• Improved power settings for WS08

If you are a MSDN or Technet subscriber log in and download now. On December 4th links will be posted for the public on MSDN and Technet for non-subscribers.

TweakVista.com - Announcing Windows Vista SP2 Beta

 

[z3r010]

0x800704c7 usually happens when you cancel or interupt the install.

Try a reboot and installing it straight away before doing anything else.

 

[echrada]

Hi there, I got Service Pack 2 from the link that FrAgZoU posted and after starting the installation and one restart I got the following error: Service Pack installation failed with error code 0x800704c7.

Does anybody knows what might be the problem?
I am using some third party themes for my desktop, is this an issue?

Did you uninstall SP2 pre-beta (that is if you installed the full version) . This cannot be installed over it. Also you must have SP1 to install this.

 

[echrada]

Sudafed and maybe some beachams

Nah, lemon, honey and a stiff toddy (double whisky) with some hot water, will do the trick one way or the other.:D

 

[sassofalco]

Hi zero10 hope you are feeling better. anything I can get you

Sudafed and maybe some beachams

Sudafed and maybe some beachams

Nah, lemon, honey and a stiff toddy (double whisky) with some hot water, will do the trick one way or the other.:D

See! See! Somebody else giving you the exact same advice the Sepoys told me of last night!!

Sorry to 'bug' you. Flu remedy? - Triple shot of Whisky with a spoon of honey and 50ml of lemon juice. Wait 30 mins. Quad shot of Whisky and honey. Wait 15 mins. Quin shot of Whisky. No waiting. Repeat last. Repeat. ditto. ditto......Won't affect the Flu one little bit, but you won't remember having it either!

Sahib Mahatma Zero-Ten, you gotta stop workin' so hard at the moment, and heed the Doctor!!

 

[echrada]

Sassofalco will you be my doctor please>

 

[sassofalco]

Sassofalco will you be my doctor please>

G' day echrada,

No worries mate! This is merely a Sepoy 'Cure All', and is the only tonic or medication that I prescribe! Amazingly, it works every time!!

Minor ailments are treated in a less intrusive manner;
'Take two aspiring Actresses, go to bed and call me in the morning.......If you can!!'

You make the choice, then send me the dosh......aaaaah 'Consulting Fee'.:D

PS. Are you domiciled anywhere near Thornhill near Dumfries? Family 'seat' there. Crest includes your Griffin!

 

[Airbot]

Sure are a lot of members on here sick. Hope you all feel better so you can rock on
with the computers!
100th Post! Yay

 

[HyperL]

Ok, so I tried to reinstall...so I got another error message after 30 minutes of waiting and after it installed 95%: An unknown error has occurred.
Error: 0xc004f013

I don't have a pre-beta installed so what's he problem?
I will do a full file system check, maybe I'll find something.

I googled the error code and look what I have found:
http://www.theexperienceblog.com/2007/12/27/the-solution-to-0xc004f013-remove-kb941649/

Now I'm really confused, I'm searching for that update now.

 

[echrada]

Sassofalco will you be my doctor please>

G' day echrada,

No worries mate! This is merely a Sepoy 'Cure All', and is the only tonic or medication that I prescribe! Amazingly, it works every time!!

Minor ailments are treated in a less intrusive manner;
'Take two aspiring Actresses, go to bed and call me in the morning.......If you can!!'

You make the choice, then send me the dosh......aaaaah 'Consulting Fee'.:D

PS. Are you domiciled anywhere near Thornhill near Dumfries? Family 'seat' there. Crest includes your Griffin!

Not even 3 miles from Thornhill!

 

[Joan Archer]

Sudafed and maybe some beachams

Nah, lemon, honey and a stiff toddy (double whisky) with some hot water, will do the trick one way or the other.:D

I thought he'd just woke up, you trying to send him back to sleep

 

[echrada]

Anything for a quiet life.:D

 

[MohamedYousri]

Is This One (
​

Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Beta and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta - Five Language Standalone DVD ISO)

Works With 64-bit ??

​

 

[Slimy]

64bit: Download details: Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Beta and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta - Five Language Standalone for x64-based systems (KB948465)

 

[MohamedYousri]

Thank You Dude !

 

[fireman604]

I downloaded and installed sp2 to vista ultimate. It appears to be working correctly with one glitch. Lower right corner shows it as an evaluation copy build 6002. Is this a problem? and how do I remove the title evaluation copy, I am not wanting to remove sp 2 am I?

Three weeks later I have not removed it. I have not done anything to remove water mark in lower right. Yet there is no water mark in lower right showing it as a evaluation build. still shows as having sp2 installed under system properties. I have restarted several times other than that I have done nothing to change computer besides updates as needed.

 

[Barman58]

Hi fireman,

As this is a time limited BETA of SP2 this is to be expected - it's normal practice for an OS BETA from M$ to do this.

It normally takes a few days for a hack to come out to remove it


And I think this may well be 1000 Posts for yours truly

 

[fireman604]

Thank you and it is 1000 great work

 

[Abiosis]

Tested it for like a day...
No problem with game & normal stuffs by far...
I noticed my audio sound even better with the bass right now with SP2 v.113~~~

 

[elbeasto]

So is there an eta for SP2 official release?

thanks

 

[smarteyeball]

SP2 RC is due out Feb 2009 and the final is supposedly being RTM April 2009. But then again, it's MS so anything is possible