Vista SP2 Beta Available

[bill bolton]

This is the list of features intended for the Vista SP2 Beta v113, I know for sure one didn't make it in but as faras I'm aware the others did....

Emerging Hardware Support

• 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 [This one didn't make it in - BB]
• 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

Information on some of the included hotfixes can be found here....

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/libr ... 35033.aspx


The Vista SP2 beta is available for download as follows:

Vista SP2 beta 32bit update.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en

Vista SP2 beta 64bit update.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en

The same updater handles updates for both Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista.

I'm running Vista SP2 beta x64 on a T400 2674 with no problems so far.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[DAH]

After installing Service Pack 2 beta I now get an error when running System Update 3.14.0017 "an error occour while gathering user information" in Vista 64 bit.. Uninstalling System Update, and the reinstalling does not fix the problem either.

[jdhurst]

Thanks. After a pile of work (weeks turning into months) getting my Vista 64-bit running like a top, I shall leave SP2 until it is fully released. ... JDH

[Temetka]

My thoughts exactly.

[thaug]

After installing Service Pack 2 beta I now get an error when running System Update 3.14.0017 "an error occour while gathering user information" in Vista 64 bit.. Uninstalling System Update, and the reinstalling does not fix the problem either.

I'm getting this same error. I tried reinstalling to no avail. I hope that they update System Update to support SP2 soon. I checked the logs, and indeed, it is failing on the gathering of the OS version, which makes sense.

In terms of SP2, it has been running perfectly here. I've had a perfect 10 reliability score for the last two months, and haven't actually had an error that could be blamed on Vista since September. Install was easy and much quicker than SP1. YMMV of course.