Vista Service Pack 2 RC out to test

Geoff Spick
06 March 2009, 10:30 AM


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After our recent flood of Windows 7 news, it is easy to forget that a lot of Vista users are still grinding away, in need of help! The latest service pack offers some assistance.


Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista (and Windows Server 2008 - all in one handy package) is a less flashy affair than Service Pack 1, which you need to have installed before you upgrade – (think Windows XP Service Pack 3, after all the hype over XP Service Pack 2). With the basic flaws in the OS patched and improved, Vista Service Pack 2 is here to tighten things up under the hood.

What new features there are add little for the everyday user. The most practical benefit is improved Wi-Fi support, fixing problems with PCs coming out of sleep mode and failing to reconnect to the network.

For those with advanced systems, Blu-ray Disc media burning support is added -- but there's no Blu-ray playback (nor will there be even in Windows 7). There is full support for the Bluetooth v2.1 specification, which makes pairing devices simpler among other, more technical benefits.

On the software side, Windows Search 4.0 is also added, making finding music files and photos easier. RSS support for the side bar is improved and there are smaller fixes for Windows Media Center. Users also get the entire raft of hot fixes that will update systems not using Windows AutoUpdate.



Above: it ain't exciting to look at, but it may make your copy of Vista suck a little less.

You can find out about the technical side of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Release Candidate on the Technet site and get hold of the various editions from the download page.

While many Windows users will be enjoying their happy life with XP, or indeed not waiting and getting hold of Windows 7 (by any means necessary since the end of the official public beta), those with Windows Vista can see some immediate benefits by trying out this release candidate.

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agami (New user):

My gaming rig is Vista and it will no doubt pull SP2 over the wire. I can't see the harm even if I won't be using most of the enhancements.

Microsoft have conditioned us well. Updating is good. All hail Service Pack 2.

06 March 2009, 11:06 AM (3 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

CBR1100XX (New user):

Quoting agami:
Microsoft have conditioned us well. Updating is good.

What ! OSX doesn't have updates ? And lets face it, Linux is just one continual update !

As a Win Gamer, SP2 will be welcomed with open arms !




06 March 2009, 12:35 PM (3 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

agami (New user):

Quoting CBR1100XX:
OSX doesn't have updates ? And lets face it, Linux is just one continual update !

In those environments users behave as "Updating is optional", "If it ain't broke, don't fix". In the Windows Environment it's a recurring weekly appoinment in the Outlook calendar.


06 March 2009, 1:43 PM (3 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Raindog (User):

Quoting agami:
In the Windows Environment it's a recurring weekly appointment

It's a recurring intrusion!

I have no problem with the number of windows updates, but the MS way of getting those updates to the desktop is a disruptive pain. And no MS I didn't want your service pack to revert my setting and re-instigate auto installation.

I know of people who have ended up marooned in the middle of customer presentations when "Automatic updates" has decided it should do its thing. Recurring requests to reboot portray a very professional image.

I'd agree that the Linux updates are continual (isn't that a good thing) but the method of delivery has a lot of elements MS could learn from.

By default the upgrades load when I request them, and its seldom an upgrade ever requires a reboot. I have Linux servers with up-times into years that are routinely upgraded without interruption.


06 March 2009, 2:38 PM (3 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Me In Oz (User):

Quoting agami:
In the Windows Environment it's a recurring weekly appoinment

My updates are usually 1 to 2 MB security patches taking about 3 minutes to fully download and install. I don't see any inconveniences for sigle desktop user. And am quite glad MS supplies these to keep my system running smoothly and safely.
I have as default notifying me of new patches availible for install, of which I can then choose 'critical', 'optional' or 'recommended'.





06 March 2009, 4:08 PM (3 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Raindog (User):

Quoting Me In Oz:
I have as default notifying me of new

Defaults that you will have to check and reset after upgrades, as Windows service packs think they know best and don't always respect your defaults.


06 March 2009, 4:13 PM (3 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Me In Oz (User):

Quoting Raindog:
Defaults that you will have to check and reset after upgrades

That's true, but it's no big deal.
Us 'hardcore' gamers are forever upgrading drivers to satisfy a new game release anyway. Like once a bloody month (damn you AMD) !




06 March 2009, 4:29 PM (3 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tin (Regular user):

Quoting agami:
In those environments users behave as "Updating is optional", "If it ain't broke, don't fix".


Not true! Linux users would have a similar spread of users that update vs users that figure they have antivirus so will be OK.
Most Linux distros release security updates the same day a flaw is discovered... And most distros have an option to download these automatically.

What MS has conditioned people to think is that a "service pack" (aka a patch collection) is a good thing. I guess in a way they are (at least they aren't selling them!) but really, simply having checked a few things in the code before they released would be 10 times better.

07 March 2009, 9:35 AM (3 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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