Microsoft releases RC2-"final" public test version

[GomJabbar]

Microsoft sends out final test version of Vista

Microsoft on Friday issued what it hopes will be the last public test version of Windows Vista, as it works to put the final program in the hands of some businesses by next month.

[GomJabbar]

Here is another article on the RC2 release of Vista.

Windows Vista RC2: Near final OS more refined, but it's not perfect

The areas of installation, performance and bugginess associated with Media Center and the new Sleep power management mode have all been improved. Vista continues to be exceptionally stable. There's no question that this new Windows is more reliable than XP.
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While improved (mostly for RC1), User Account Control is still onerous enough that a significant number of people will either turn it off or hate it. While I've lived with it throughout the beta process, and while I'll advise other people to leave it on, I'm pretty sure -- if and when I move to Windows Vista -- I'll turn it off on the machines I use most frequently.

[Buccaneerfan]

In my experience the sleep mode ist quite buggy with RC2.
My Z60t experiences waking up from the sleep mode as an unexpected status change...

[Torque]

Same here, sleep doesnt work here iether. Found my T43 suddenly powering up in the middle of class. Lid was shut and i was leaning over it. Pretty weird.

[Buccaneerfan]

Same here, sleep doesnt work here iether. Found my T43 suddenly powering up in the middle of class. Lid was shut and i was leaning over it. Pretty weird.

Yep. Sometimes the shut down sound appears out of nowhere with the lid closed.
And the fan seems to be running all the time when the machine is running.

[pianowizard]

Do earlier versions have similar problems?

[whomung]

Here is another article on the RC2 release of Vista.

Windows Vista RC2: Near final OS more refined, but it's not perfect

The areas of installation, performance and bugginess associated with Media Center and the new Sleep power management mode have all been improved. Vista continues to be exceptionally stable. There's no question that this new Windows is more reliable than XP.
---------------
While improved (mostly for RC1), User Account Control is still onerous enough that a significant number of people will either turn it off or hate it. While I've lived with it throughout the beta process, and while I'll advise other people to leave it on, I'm pretty sure -- if and when I move to Windows Vista -- I'll turn it off on the machines I use most frequently.

IIs it possible to make an external USB drive bootable, and will a 7200 rpm /USB2 transfer data fast enough?.... I'd like to look at Vista, but not at the risk of the current machine.... While it's at this level (and for years into the future), I want to isolate it completely --like a virus-- and look at it to see how it works.....

I definetely have only mild curiosity or investment in this.... so I'm not replacing my OS.... just to help debug M$ software for free.

Any tips welcome.... T60p, 3gig RAM

[GomJabbar]

Any tips welcome.... T60p, 3gig RAM

You can do what I did, buy a Ultrabay Slim 2nd Hard Drive Adapter, and a Hard Drive to go with it. I suggest you remove the original main hard drive while you install Vista, so that Vista's boot loader does not end up on your main hard drive. You can install from the Ultrabay Slim drive with the main hard drive slot empty, you just need an external DVD drive to install from. Alternatively remove the main hard drive and plug the 2nd hard drive in the main hard drive slot, just for the installation. After installation, you can have both drives in your ThinkPad, and press F12 at boot up to choose which drive to boot from. If you make no choice, the main hard drive is what will boot.