Vista - Vista SP2 begins beta testing

Article source: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9117518&intsrc=hm_ts_head

October 19, 2008 (Computerworld) Microsoft Corp. will begin beta-testing the next service pack update for Windows Vista within weeks, according to a Windows enthusiast Web site.

Testers have received invitations to beta test Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2), reported Neowin.net on Friday. Betas are expected to be released to invited testers, but not to the general public, in approximately four weeks, Neowin.net said, citing multiple tipsters.

Service packs typically consist of collections of the patches, hot fixes and reliability updates released since the original edition of the operating system or its service pack, whichever came latest. At times, however, the company introduces new features to its software via such packs.

Among those features, reported Neowin.net, Vista SP2 will include Windows Search 4, Bluetooth 2.1 wireless support, and support for Via Technologies Inc.'s 64-bit processor. Currently, Via is best known for its C7 chip, which powers some ultralight "netbook" laptops, including Hewlett-Packard Co.'s Mini-Note.

Windows Search 4.0 is the newest version of Microsoft's desktop search engine and was issued to current Vista users via Windows Update last July.

Vista SP1, the single service pack released thus far, went final in February 2008, just over a year after the operating system debuted in retail and was made available to consumers. The highly-anticipated SP1, however, suffered a bumpy launch, with some users complaining that they weren't able to upgrade and others reporting that their PCs were crippled by endless reboots.

Earlier this month, speculation that Microsoft would soon seed select testers with a beta of Vista SP2 began after users noticed that the company had added a placeholder to its support database for the service packs for both Vista and Windows Server 2008.

Others, including blogger Mary-Jo Foley, have confirmed the Neowin.net reports. In a post last week, Foley said that a few testers had already received Vista SP2 betas, and that Microsoft wanted to issue the service pack before it released Windows 7, Vista's successor.

Microsoft announced just last week that it would use the "Windows 7" code name as the product's official name. Also last week, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer called Windows 7 "Windows Vista, a lot better."

Can they put in Noob detection that would send them ads for a MAC and get them off of Vista?

I installed the pre-beta today, and the one thing I've noticed is the increase in speed. Boot, login, and startup are all faster, as are program launches. Nice job by MS. Can't wait for the final build.

I know its officially for invite only but is it available anywhere?

Yes you can get it directly from windows updates with a batch file but the thing is do you run Vista 32 bit Vista 64 bit? I think the current leak is only for Vista 32 bit because all the images of the leak is x86 and 64 bit is x64.

Though I did look for a direct link to Vista sp2 and was able to find one after searching for a while. Though found out it was the x86 version.

Does anyone know if someone could help get the direct link to the 64 bit version of Vista SP2, if I know the direct link for the 32 bit version of Vista SP2, or fix the batch file that is out there to get sp2 x86 so it works for Vista 64 bit? Would that be possible? Thanks.

A quick update for those wondering when to expect the final version of Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2): Microsoft is saying (via one of its Web sites, at least) that it is due in the first half of calendar 2009.

Microsoft: Expect Vista SP2 in the first half of 2009 | All about Microsoft | ZDNet.com

Actually, there is a 64 bit version you can get with the batch file. I am running Ultimate x64 and got the SP2 pre-beta.