Springboard Series - The Resource for Windows Desktop IT Professionals : Windows Vista SP2

Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 Release to Web

Stephen L Rose — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:36:29 GMT

Today we are pleased to pre-announce the Release to Web (RTW) of Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. SP2, a combined service pack for both operating systems encapsulated in a single installer, will simplify deployment, management, and support for IT Pros. It includes support for new types of hardware and emerging hardware standards, as well as updates since SP1. For specific information on what’s included in SP2, visit the notable changes document.

We have posted SP2 for download on our Download Center and Windows Update. Consumers with Windows Vista SP1 can visit the Download Center or Windows Update (WU) to install SP2, but our best advice is to turn on Automatic Update (AU) and sometime during the coming months your computer will download and install SP2. Similar to previous releases, SP2 delivery over AU is a throttled release which will begin in June. Business customers who require additional time to prepare for the download and deployment of SP2 can use the same blocker tool kit provided for Windows Vista SP1 to delay deployment.

If you are a Windows Server 2008 customer that needs increased management of SP2, we recommend using Automatic Updates/Group Policy and Windows Software Update Services (WSUS). Customers who require additional time to prepare for the download and deployment of SP2 can download the blocker tool kit to prevent SP2 from installing for up to 12 months. We hope these tools will help streamline your testing and deployment of SP2.

Business customers with Windows Vista will find the transition to Windows 7 will be significantly more straightforward due to the high degree of compatibility between Windows Vista and Windows 7. If your Windows Vista SP1 deployment is already underway we recommend you continue with SP1 as planned. Then you can deploy SP2 using your systems management infrastructure. If you are in the early stages of deployment or still planning Windows Vista deployment our best advice is that you plan on testing and deploying Windows Vista SP2.

Download the Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 here.

Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 is Released to Manufacturing

Celine Allee — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:55:00 GMT

Today we are proud to announce the Release to Manufacturing of Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. Service Pack 2 (SP2) represents the latest step in Microsoft’s commitment to continuous improvement. It includes all of the updates that have been delivered since SP1, as well as support for new types of hardware and emerging hardware standards. And since it comes with a single installer for both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, SP2 will be easy for IT Pros to manage, deploy, and support. For an overview of the changes introduced in SP2, check out the notable changes document.

Business customers with Windows Vista will find that the transition to Windows 7 will be significantly more straightforward due to the high degree of compatibility between Windows Vista and Windows 7. If your Windows Vista SP1 deployment is already underway we recommend you continue with SP1 as planned. Then you can deploy SP2 using your systems management infrastructure. If you are in the early stages of deployment or still planning Windows Vista deployment our best advice is that you plan on testing and deploying Windows Vista SP2.

Announcing the Release Candidate of Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008

Celine Allee — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:55:00 GMT

As you probably know, the Windows Client team has been developing Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, representing our commitment to continuous improvement. Last week, on February 25, the Release Candidate (RC) was made available to MSDN and TechNet subscribers; this week we’re pleased to announce broad availability under the Customer Preview Program as of today, March 4. Your automated feedback will help us deliver the highest quality final release possible.

SP2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 builds on the advancements delivered in SP1, and simplifies administration by enabling the deployment and support of a single service pack for client and servers. SP2 includes all of the updates that have been delivered since the release of SP1, along with support for new types of hardware and emerging standards that will grow in importance in the coming months.

A few of the highlights are:

Hardware and Standards support

Bluetooth 2.1 feature pack to support the most recent Bluetooth device specifications
Windows Connect Now (WCN) WiFi configuration
Enhanced exFAT file system to support correct file synchronization across time zones

Performance, Reliability and Security improvements

All previously released updates since SP1
Improved wireless reconnection performance for mobile PCs resuming from hibernation
Reduced audio and video streaming performance for specific hardware configurations
Windows Search 4, with improved indexing performance, extended file types, and improved Group Policy integration

Deployment and Support enhancements

A single installer covers both client PC and servers
Driver detection that will either block SP2 installation or warn users of functionality loss, whichever is more appropriate
Improved error handling and more descriptive error messages
Event logging support for administrators who use quiet-mode installations
Includes the Service Pack Clean-Up tool to restore hard disk space by removing redundant files from RTM and SP1

Many of you also manage server infrastructure. If you are testing out Windows Server 2008 R2, here are a few other things you’ll see in this Release Candidate:

Easier virtualization—Hyper-V RTM is included in the Service Pack
Reduced power consumption—Windows Server 2008 R2 is up to 10% more power efficient than Windows Server 2008 RTM
Unified—there is one package for 32 bit and one package for 64 bit that covers both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008

For more detail on these and other changes in SP2, please check the Windows Team Blog.

Windows Vista SP2 - What's Inside? What's Important?

Celine Allee — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:15:00 GMT

With today's launch of the Customer Preview Program (CPP) for Windows Vista® Service Pack 2 (SP2), we wanted to provide a brief synopsis of the elements in this service pack, and encourage you to download and test this release. Windows Vista SP2 is a traditional service pack release with all cumulative released security updates available since the SP1 release in March 2008. In addition, Windows Vista SP2 includes support for new types of hardware and emerging standards that will grow in importance in coming months, along with fixes discovered via automated error reporting as part of our Customer Experience Improvement program.

What makes the Windows Vista SP2 release unique is that it represents a single service pack which applies to both client (Windows Vista SP1) and server (Windows Server 2008) operating systems—since the code base for Windows Vista is shared with that for Windows Server® 2008, a single update can be deployed across your infrastructure. This service model also provides the ability to detect an incompatible driver and block service pack installation, or warn users of any loss of functionality during installation. Other highlights for IT pros include:

Emerging Hardware Support

Bluetooth 2.1 feature pack
Ability to record data on Blu-ray media
exFAT file system now supports UTC timestamps, which enables correct file synchronization across time zones
Support for the new VIA 64-bit CPU
Support for ICCD/CCID smart cards

Hyper-V *

Windows Vista SP2 includes Hyper-V™ technology, enabling full virtualization of server workloads

*To clarify, Hyper-V is not included in Windows Vista SP2, it is part of the Windows Server 2008 service pack. This means that when you install SP2 for Windows Server 2008, or if you install a slipstreamed version of Windows Server 2008 with SP2, the RTM version of the Hyper-V role will be included. Hyper-V was released after Windows Server 2008, which means that the role you currently install is a pre-release role and needs to be updated to bring it up to RTM. This update will be applied (only if necessary) automatically when you install SP2.

Security

Windows Vista SP2 incorporates previously released reliability updates, as well as addressing crashes discovered since the launch of Windows Vista SP1

Performance

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
Reduction of resources required for sidebar gadgets

Wireless

Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless
Fixed issue where Wi-Fi connection was no longer available after resume from sleep

Administration and Support Improvements

Service pack clean-up tool: Restores hard disk space by permanently deleting the previous versions of the files (Windows Vista RTM and Windows Vista SP1) that are being serviced by Windows Vista SP2

We encourage you to download this service pack and test it on your lab machines. You should find that most if not all of your applications continue to function properly with this release. Also, we should point out that either Windows Vista SP1 or Windows Server 2008 is a prerequisite for installing this service pack.

Additional information on Windows Vista SP2 can be found in the Notable Changes in Windows Server 2008 SP2 Beta and Windows Vista SP2 Beta document. For more information on deploying and managing Windows Vista and related service packs, bookmark this blog and the Windows Client TechCenter at www.microsoft.com/springboard.

First Look: Windows Vista Service Pack 2

Celine Allee — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:34:00 GMT

You might have heard about the upcoming beta release of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2), and we wanted to take a few minutes to describe what’s in it and how it can help you align your plans around Windows Vista adoption. The Windows Vista SP2 beta will be available to a small group of Technology Adoption Program customers on Wednesday, October 29, and we anticipate broad availability for Windows Vista SP2 in the first half of 2009.

It’s important to note that this release will embody a single service pack covering both client (Windows Vista) and server (Windows Server 2008), continuing the single serviceability model established with the Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 RTM release. This approach helps reduce the testing and deployment complexity for our customers.

In addition to all previously released updates since the launch of Windows Vista SP1, Windows Vista SP2 adds a few new capabilities:

Support for new types of Hardware and emerging standards, including Bluetooth 2.1, the ability to natively record data on Blu-Ray media, support for ICCD/CCID smart cards, and support for the new VIA 64-bit CPU
Wi-Fi setup and maintenance is simplified with the addition of Windows Connect Now (WCN)
The ex-FAT file system is enabled, supporting UTC timestamps to ensure correct file synchronization across time zones
Windows Search 4.0 is included, which provides users faster and more relevant results. Windows Search 4.0 also allows Group Policy integration, which provides administrative control over search parameters
End users should also experience improvements in resume performance when a Wi-Fi connection is no longer available

Support for new types of Hardware and emerging standards, including Bluetooth 2.1, the ability to natively record data on Blu-Ray media, support for ICCD/CCID smart cards, and support for the new VIA 64-bit CPU Wi-fi set-up and maintenance is simplified with the addition of Windows Connect Now (WCN) The ex-FAT file system is enabled, supporting UTC timestamps to ensure correct file synchronization across time zones Windows Search 4.0 is included, which provides users faster and more relevant results. Windows Search 4.0 also allows Group Policy integration, which provides administrative control over search parameters End users should also experience improvements in resume performance when a Wi-Fi connection is no longer available

We expect that Windows Vista SP2 will retain compatibility with applications that run on Windows Vista and Windows Vista SP1 and are written using public APIs. Consequently, you can (and should) continue your plans for adopting Windows Vista SP1, and roll SP2 into your deployment image when it becomes available.

One final, but very important note—Windows Vista SP1 is a prerequisite for installing SP2, so you will need to start with a Windows Vista SP1 image before upgrading to SP2.

For more information on Windows Vista for IT professionals, please visit the Springboard Series on the Windows Client TechCenter at www.microsoft.com/springboard.