Microsoft serves up SP2 for Vista, Server 2008

Microsoft has released the second service pack for its Windows Vista and Server 2008 operating systems.

Vista SP2 and Server 2008 SP2, which pull together various updates to the operating systems that have already been rolled out by Microsoft in a piecemeal fashion, were uploaded to Microsoft's Download Center on Tuesday. The two service packs are combined in a standalone package that lets system administrators deploy and support both client and server updates in one operation.

(Credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft has not said precisely when the service packs will be rolled out as automatic updates, although Microsoft blogger Brandon LeBlanc said in a blog post on Tuesday that this would happen "sometime during the coming months."

Once the service packs become automatic updates, business customers who want more time to prepare for the implementation of SP2 can use the same blocking tool that Microsoft provided for Vista SP1, LeBlanc wrote.

Some of the updates included in SP2 cover third-party application compatibility, such the new ability for Spysweeper and ZoneAlarm to work with POP3 e-mail accounts. Microsoft has also included version 4.0 of its Windows Search technology in the new service pack.

SP2 also adds support for the Bluetooth v2.1 specification, improves performance for Wi-Fi connections after resuming from sleep mode, and makes it possible to natively record data to the Blu-Ray optical disk format. The service pack also adds support for Via's new 64-bit CPUs.

For enterprise customers, SP2 fully integrates Microsoft's Hyper-V virtualization environment into Server 2008. The service pack also introduces the ability to manage server and desktop power management settings via group policy.

The standalone installer for both service packs--aimed at system administrators--weighs in at 390MB for the x86 version, and 622MB for the x64 version.

Those installing SP2 through Windows Update will, however, get away with much lower data usage, as that service only downloads the bytes that are changed. Using this method, the x86 versions of Vista SP2 and Server 2008 SP2 will involve 43MB and 47MB of downloads respectively, and the x64 versions will involve 60MB and 90MB of downloads respectively.

There are a few prerequisites for the installation of Vista and Server 2008 SP2, one of which is that the first service packs for the operating systems must already be installed.

IT managers who publish applications with Citrix XenApp will also need to install and configure Terminal Services (TS) Licensing before installing Windows Server 2008 SP2, otherwise their Citrix clients will not be able to connect to the server.

David Meyer of ZDNet UK reported from London.

[john55440]

Here in the US, Microsoft has already pushed Vista SP2 x64 out as an automatic update.

[IRCpresident]

I already installed it by automatic updates!

[IRCpresident]

Egypt, SP2 x86.

[sanenazok]

When was the last time a service pack did not include the earlier service pack? I remember being able to install SP6 over a RTM install of NT.

[techman21]

No kidding, they're supposed to be cumulative...

[sting7k]

I already got Vista SP2 in an automatic update from MS this morning.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Native recording to Blu-Ray? Huh. While I suppose that's neat, it seems like a lost cause to support a technology that is rapidly becoming obsolete.

[Imalittleteapot]

Isn't all technology quickly becoming obsolete?

[wlau]

Someone said Blu-Ray becoming obsolete? Thats' a bold statement. Even by the CD and DVD history, BD is got a way to go before the terabyte capacity optical discs become available...

[Vegaman_Dan]

I meant that video streaming and online services has largely rendered the need to have high capacity movie discs no longer necessary. I don't think it will be replaced by online services, but the drive to get it widely adopted simply isn't there. It's cheaper to buy a large capacity hard drive than to buy a Blu-Ray recorder and enough discs to compare.

[sharmajunior]

Got SP2 x64, Automatic update at 10 PM on tuesday.

[wfolta]

@Vegaman_Dan: I assume you think digital downloads will render Blue-Ray obsolete? First, the quality is not up to Blu-Ray. Second, all you get is a movie without any of the extras that a Blu-Ray version of a movie will offer. (I often enjoy the extras immensely, and you're not going to get them in a download anytime soon.) Third, Blu-Ray is much more of a standard and much simpler than downloadable movies, which come in many different forms and have many different strings attached to them. (This also applies to rentals.)

[Vegaman_Dan]

I disagree with your points-

I do not personally care for all the extras on a movie disk and find them to waste space.

I have seen high def movies and standard def and when it comes to watching them on the TV, I simply don't see that much of a difference to justify the much higher costs.

Data backup is cheaper on hard drives than Blu-Ray at this time. Once Blu-Ray is able to record 1Tb or higher, then hard drives will be in the 4-5 Tb range for the same price. It's a game of catch up.

I don't think Blu-Ray will be replaced, but I think it's too little, too late.

[wolivere]

@Vegaman_Dan

And yes some director would not put his movies on DVD since it was a FAD, and that VHS was more then we needed..

If you can't see a difference, then maybe you should see a doctor.

[Vegaman_Dan]

@wolivere:

"If you can't see a difference, then maybe you should see a doctor. "

No, what I need is a high def TV capable of showing the difference. Unfortunately I'm not made of money so no HD TV for me. I'm not going to go spend a lot of money to see $20-25 Blu-ray disks.

Sorry, it just doesn't meet my needs. Let it go at that.

[B-Ri]

It's cool that they are baking in the Blu-Ray burning. Now if only the burners/players would come down to a reasonable price.

[SactoGuy018]

I got the Windows Vista SP2 update this morning. That thing took nearly an hour to install from download time to installation time, but it does work fine with no problem so far. (crossing fingers)

[sm176811]

As expected they messed up! The bluetooth pairing information is wiped out after the Sp2 upgrade!

I updated my Vista Ultimate Edition box (that has bluetooth keyboard and mouse) and realized that the bluetooth pairing between by keyboard and mouse is lost!

Now I cannot log into the machine :( I need to get hold of a wired mouse and a keyboard from somewhere to be able to log into the system [another $50 to buy a new set :( ]

[Vegaman_Dan]

Wow...I sure hope you get your dead bateries replaced in your wireless keybard and mouse or you'll be similarly stuck.

[visi1617]

@Vegaman_Dan
you personally might not like the extras but there are enough people that do like them (i enjoy them and do not thing they are a waste of space, they are kind of like th etrailers b4 the movies)

no one said you had to buy an HDTV but that doesnt mean you have to b**ch about it or be all negative.

as for BD going absolete (everything does, even you), and i do not see that happening for a long time
no matter how good your bandwidth is you cant stream 40GB, no website will allow you (imagine 1Mil + people streaming, the website goes down)

and since you do not own an HDTV, trust me when i tell you that there is a huge difference from DVD to Blu-Ray

ps: all you comments had nothing to do with SP2, so try not to go off topic

as for my SP2, im pissed since im not getting it, its not showing up on my Vista Ultimatex64

[vistax86]

downloaded it and installed it, failed on step 3 @ 100%. reverted to SP1. downloaded system readiness tool, installation bar never starts to fill. sadface.