Windows Vista SP2 Hits Release to Manufacturing

News
By Marcus Yam
published

We knew it was coming.

Microsoft announced on its Windows Team Blog that Windows Vista Service Pack 2 has hit the the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) milestone.

New PCs bundled with Windows Vista will soon be shipping with Service Pack 2 integrated.

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.

Windows Communications Manager Brandon LeBlanc had this to add:

“Business customers with Windows Vista will find that the transition from Windows Vista 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.”

Microsoft hasn’t yet revealed a specific date of release for end users other than sometime during Q2.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
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.
17 Comments Comment from the forums
  • etrnl_frost
    I wonder if this explains the 382MB update last night. Christ, couldn't play more than a couple rounds of survival in L4D because of that :P
    Reply
  • It's already on BitTorrent and file share at http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/04/28/download-windows-server-2008-and-vista-sp2-rtm-600218005/
    Reply
  • jeraldjunkmail
    Wouldn't it be a bit ironic if Vista SP2 turned out to be more secure and crash proof (reliable) than Windows XP? Wasn't SP2 for XP a turning point for the O/S after all? I'd LOL at the Vista Naysayers...
    Reply
  • thedipper
    jeraldjunkmailWouldn't it be a bit ironic if Vista SP2 turned out to be more secure and crash proof (reliable) than Windows XP? Wasn't SP2 for XP a turning point for the O/S after all? I'd LOL at the Vista Naysayers...
    Vista SP1 is already more secure, as reliable if the user isn't an idiot, and as fast or faster in most programs.

    But that's not what anti-vista propaganda will tell you.
    Reply
  • dafin0
    jeraldjunkmail i already thought vista was more reliable than xp, iv been running it for 2 or so years and iv yet to have a BSOD
    Reply
  • one-shot
    That's (((IF))) the user isn't an idiot, The Dipper. People who are ignorant about computers/technology generally follow those who they think are more informed in those topics. Kind of like how the sky is falling and SUVs will cause the end of the world due to CO2 emissions.
    Reply
  • ravewulf
    etrnl_frostI wonder if this explains the 382MB update last night. Christ, couldn't play more than a couple rounds of survival in L4D because of thatNope, that was probably Office SP2. Vista SP2, as it says above, won't be out till sometime Q2.
    Reply
  • randomizer
    Windows 7 is coming in Q2? Wow!

    /lame joke
    Reply
  • belardo
    NO, Vista SP2 is out Q2, which means between know and a few more weeks.
    Each Q = 3 months. Q2 = April / May / June. Expect Win7 in Q4 at the latest... like OCT so that the new PCs for Christmas won't be vista.
    Reply
  • deltatux
    It's already Q2, so, where's this SP2 they speak of.

    Then again, I'm in no rush since my system runs fine on SP1.

    deltatux
    Reply