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.
I've done anything that crossed my mind in order to install SP2 and still no luck, same error 0xc004f013
Please if anybody knows what this is.
I don't have a pre-beta installed and my version is Home Premium 32bits SP1 VAIO OEM
I just got done installing the public SP2 beta on three machines over the weekend. In addition to the two gaming machines listed below I installed the SP2 beta on a Vista Ultimate 32 bit Dell XPS M1710 laptop that I use for work.
All three machines had the public SP2 beta installed on freshly reformatted Vista OS’s with the latest drivers.
So far not one has given me any problems; I’m looking forward to the final release.
Nvidia Gaming:
ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA (Intel X48 chipset) BIOS 0601 Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 w/Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme OCZ Titanium XTC 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) EVGA GTX 280 FTW (Beta 180.84 Drivers) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty 2x Western Digital Raptor 74GB (RAID 0) - Vista Ultimate 64 Bit/SP2 Beta SILVERSTONE 1200Watt DA SILVERSTONE TJ09-B
ATI Gaming:
ASUS Rampage Extreme BIOS 0901 Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 w/Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme OCZ Intel Extreme Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) ATI 4870X2 (Catalyst Beta 8.12 RC3) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty 2x Western Digital Raptor 74GB (RAID 0) - Vista Ultimate 64 Bit/SP2 Beta PC Power & Cooling T1KWSR 1000W LIAN LI PC-A70B
SK
