Windows Vista SP2 Now Available for Download

Although those of us on the bleeding edge of Windows have already moved onto the first release candidate of Windows 7, it’s Vista that’s still the current ‘stable’ version.

Microsoft today has released to the public Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista. SP1 did wonders for Windows Vista, so hopefully SP2 will continue that tradition.

Some of the key benefits of Windows Vista SP2 include:

Windows Search 4.0 for faster and improved relevancy in searches
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.

Download links:

Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.

More about windows

How to Zoom in and Out in Windows 11 or 10

How to Restart Windows Explorer in Windows 11

Newegg is selling this speedy 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD at 6 cents per GB

See more latest

27 Comments Comment from the forums

cl_spdhax1

Finally, thanks for the post.
Reply
frozenlead

"Prepare to commence download!"
"Why are we always 'preparing' to do things...why don't we just do it?"

"I don't know....Commence download!"

Reply
blackbyron

I can't wait for benchmarks to show up.
Reply
frozenlead

I'm doing some now!

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/239031-44-vista-versus-benchmarked
Reply
blackbyron

That'll be great frozenlead
Reply
jerreece

I'm probably not on the bleeding edge of OS software myself, but I don't see anything listed in the key updates list above that means anything to me. Windows searches faster? Okay, fine. But I never search for anything, since I know where I put it all. ;)

Blu-Ray recording built into Vista? Sure, but I've never even had luck with using Windows to record ANYTHING to a CD or DVD so far, so I stick to aftermarket software anyhow.

Bluetooth update? Do many folks really use Bluetooth on their desktop? (I can see some relevance with Notebooks here). Easier Wi-Fi configuration? I never really had a problem there either, so I'm not to excited there.

UTC time stamps, not something I've needed either I guess. But then again, my PC is for personal gaming. So I'm doing file syncs with other PCs.

Wonder what other fixes are built into SP2...
Reply
beaulieu80

So glad SP2 is out!! Hope ill have a more stable Pc with my Asus P5N-T Deluxe board from it.
Reply
starryman

I'll let everyone download SP2 for the next month before I even attempt to install this latest service pack. Let's see if there are any glitches.
Reply
kewl munky

Are those all of the updates or some because I didn't see any updates on that list that apply to me enough to make me actually log onto vista and try it out. I think I'll just continue with W7 RC for now.
Reply
apmyhr

Does anyone even use Windows Search? I remember activating it on XP once and my computer ran like crap. I guess my Win 7 computer is using it by default, but I wouldn't know because I can't remember the last time I had to perform a search on my desktop.
Reply

Show more comments

Stay On the Cutting Edge: Get the Tom's Hardware Newsletter