Vista - Download Vista SP2 Beta via Windows Update

Written by Ryan October 30th, 2008


If you like to stay on the bleeding edge of technology (and you’re running Vista) you may want to consider modifying two registry keys on your system so that you can participate in the Vista SP2 Beta program. To join the program all you have to do is download this batch file, and run it on your Vista machine as an administrator (right click - Run as administrator). Then just check for available Windows Updates (it may take 30 minutes or so for it to show up in the Windows Updates).

Think carefully whether you want to do this or not. There will likely be some bugs that could cause problems with your system, but at the very least it will cause Vista to expire on 4/2/2010 (or around then). Plus it will place the “Evaluation copy” message on your desktop wallpaper. You can always uninstall Vista SP2 to remove the evaluation message and expiration date, but it’s important to know what you’re getting into before you try to install it.

So what’s new in Vista SP2? Here’s a brief rundown that the Vista blog provided last week:

• 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.

Windows Vista SP2 is expected to be released in final form sometime in the first half of 2009. Judging by the expiration date of Vista SP2 Beta I’d say that sounds about right.




Read at the source: Download Vista SP2 Beta via Windows Update

Think I'll wait for the actual release, Thanks for the info Brink.

You're welcome Mansrm. I think I'll wait until there is a release candidate version.

Yeah, as much I like new toys, my current setup is running smoothly and introducing potential bugs is something I can currently live without

Besides there doesn't appear to be anything worth getting too excited about.

I'll wait till they do a little bit more testing and some more bug fixing. Thanks for the info.

I was sooooo keen to try SP1 b4 it was out but this time im really not sure if i need this fix just yet as my system although a little messy threrw no fault of my own is acutualy runing extremly well... touch wood i havent spoken too soon so i will be waiting untill the officiall release, atleast then i will be able to get the support i need from vista forums shud i have any problems installing it or after instalation

Funny, I show a different version than yours. How can this be?

Are PDF thumbnails displayed in file explorer with the sp2 beta update for Vista 64?

Hello Thao, and welcome to Vista Forums.

The only thing that I can see is that you have Home Premium, where the other image from their site was for Ultimate. We will need to see if someone else here with Ultimate has the same version or not to.

Shawn

The ability to write data natively on Blu-Ray has been around even before SP1. Why is this listed as new?