Wednesday, April 29th 2009

Microsoft RTM of Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Announced

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malware
 Discuss (53 Comments)
Microsoft has announced the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) of Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. Except applying all updates released to date, this issue of SP will bring some key features to both operating systems. Those are:
  • 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.
A single installer of SP2 will be supplied by Microsoft, and it will work with both Windows Vista and Server 2008. For a complete overview of the changes introduced in SP2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, check TechNet. As usual, a final date hasn't been set. At present, the final SP2 release for Vista and Server 2008 is scheduled for the Q2 2009 period, but this might change.
Source: Windows Vista Team Blog

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53 Comments on Microsoft RTM of Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Announced

#27
BrooksyX
I downloaded the rtm from torrent yesterday. So far no problems. Seems like a pretty solid service pack.
Posted on Reply
#28
Polarman
How to check for build version.

Open regedit:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\

Look for: BuildLabEx
Posted on Reply
#29
HellasVagabond
Shouldnt RC mention it is RC ? Plus the date of both files is now...Size is the same as the RTM as well.

Just for the fun of it i will also DL the file from that other site to see the difference.
Posted on Reply
#30
ShadowFold
I'm gonna wait for performance reviews. Not necessarily eager to install this honestly. SP1 is already blazing fast.
Posted on Reply
#31
Darknova
HellasVagabondShouldnt RC mention it is RC ? Plus the date of both files is now...Size is the same as the RTM as well.

Just for the fun of it i will also DL the file from that other site to see the difference.
No, the build number is what tells you what version it is.

The RTM build is build number 18005
The RC is build number 16676 (v286)

If the version you install has any build number, or version number next to it, then it's the wrong version.
Posted on Reply
#32
BOSE
It seems that there is a slight performance increase. System response is crisper, folders and files open up quicker.


There is still issues with NOD32 V4, random BSOD, and NOD Real time protection is disabled. I had to go back to NOD32 V3.

Vista 64bit Ultimate.




Posted on Reply
#33
HellasVagabond
Last time i installed an SP2 Beta i could see it mentioned in the installer and virtually in every doc inside the installation package. Now i see nothing to indicate that and it is confusing. In any case it works great as is.
Posted on Reply
#34
Darknova
HellasVagabondLast time i installed an SP2 Beta i could see it mentioned in the installer and virtually in every doc inside the installation package. Now i see nothing to indicate that and it is confusing. In any case it works great as is.
Well like I said, when any service pack, or OS is in it's BETA stages Microsoft quite clearly documents which build number and stage of BETA it is in. Once it's released it just become Service Pack X or Windows X, so as not to confuse the public.

Imagine you knew nothing about PCs and were confronted with SP2 BETA, SP2 RC, SP2 RTM and SP2, which would you go for? lol
Posted on Reply
#35
Unregistered
Originally Posted by Darknova View Post
v286 is the release candidate (build number 16676). It is NOT the RTM version (build number 18005).

build number dont go down in size for rc:/ 18005 is rtm, lol Though the links here are not the rtm version.




Though whats great about sp2 its built w/ 2008 server code :)
Posted on Edit | Reply
#36
HellasVagabond
In any case the only thing i expect MS to have corrected in RTM is to make it somehow harder for people with pirated copies to install it :P
Posted on Reply
#37
HeadlessChicken
The WitcherI'm using Vista Ultimate 64 bit so which one should I download ?
neither, they are the RC not RTM version.

click darknova's link and get the legit RTM version there :)

as to making it harder for people to pirate, it dosnt really do more then block the most common OLD crack, newer cracks have replaced them that ARE NOT BLOCKED.

as to the "based on server 2008 code" sp1 was as well, it was ment to bring vista to the same state(kernal version) as server 2008, ms is trying to get back into their old practice of having the same updates for the workstation/desktop os as the server veriant of the same os :)

this should mean less bugged updates :D
Posted on Reply
#38
BOSE
HeadlessChickenneither, they are the RC not RTM version.

click darknova's link and get the legit RTM version there :)
darknova hasnt posted any links. Im the one that posted a link to a legit RTM download site.
Posted on Reply
#39
HeadlessChicken
BOSEdarknova hasnt posted any links. Im the one that posted a link to a legit RTM download site.
then whats the link in this post?
Darknovav286 is the release candidate (build number 16676). It is NOT the RTM version (build number 18005).

Go here for the torrents to the leaked RTM version.
see the underlined (linked text) the Go here

thats a link, to RTM
Posted on Reply
#40
HeadlessChicken
ShadowFoldI'm gonna wait for performance reviews. Not necessarily eager to install this honestly. SP1 is already blazing fast.
sp2 makes vista/2008 far more responcive, there are reviews of the beta out there.

infact i went and found it for you

www.tweaktown.com/articles/1740/windows_vista_sp1_vs_vista_sp2_release_candidate_performance/index.html
Introduction

We managed to get hold of a copy of Windows Vista SP2 RC (Release Candidate) from Microsoft and decided to put it through its paces against Vista SP1 to see if consumers can expect to see any performance improvements in the latest service pack for the struggling Vista operating system.

Release Candidate or RC simply means that it is a possible final version for Microsoft to release to the public sometime soon after. Many previews of the Vista SP2 BETA were published toward the end of last year, but this is build 6002.16659.090114-1728 – a newer release which is likely to yield some improvements.

Besides any possible performance improvements, service packs always include new OS features and usually a truck load of bug fixes and security updates.

Here is a summary of the new features that Microsoft will add to Vista SP2 from PC Adviser:


• Let you record data onto Blu-ray discs

• Add into your system Vista Feature Pack For Wireless, which provides support for the latest Bluetooth technology - Bluetooth v2.1 - as well as for the Windows Connect Now (WCN) Wi-Fi protocol

• Give you better Wi-Fi performance when you're exiting Vista's sleep mode

• Make your RSS feeds sidebar gadget work faster and better

• Give you the latest desktop search engine, Windows Search 4

• Cut down the resources it takes to run your various sidebar gadgets

• It'll give your OS an overall tune-up, too

• Give your computer support for VIA Technologies' new 64-bit CPU

• Let your system support exFAT, which can handle larger files and can also use UTC timestamps so you can synchronize files across different time zones

• Boost your power management efficiency by as much as 10 percent


We installed fresh installs of both Vista SP1 and SP2 on our test bed, installed all available updates from Windows Update for both operating systems and got to work benchmarking over the past couple of days. Our SP2 Ultimate install took up a total of about 14GB of HDD space, while SP1 is slightly slimmer at around 13GB.

Let's get started now and see if it will be worth upgrading to Vista SP2.
Final Thoughts

So, from our testing here today, what conclusion do we come out with at the end of the day?



Vista Service Pack 2 RC managed to steal some surprising gaming wins away from Vista SP1 - some by a fairly large margin. SP2 RC managed to offer much better performance under the PT Boats benchmark by up to almost 33% in the average FPS. And under Crysis Warhead the minimum frame rate was vastly improved, moving from four FPS in SP1 to ten FPS in SP2.....
expect MORE perf boosts from RTM as they have smoothed the rough edges.
Posted on Reply
#41
HellasVagabond
Sometimes the difference between a beta and an RTM is that they just tested it more to be sure it works. I did however install the RTM to my second rig and runned a few synthetic benchmarks. No difference between the RC2 and the RTM. I will also test it in games to be certain.
Posted on Reply
#42
BOSE
HeadlessChickenthen whats the link in this post?



see the underlined (linked text) the Go here

thats a link, to RTM
You are right, my apologies, my old laptop in day time blends in all the colors making them look all the same.:banghead:

I did post a more of a direct link.:D
Posted on Reply
#43
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
good old ashentech.

Torrenting it now, since the direct download said "all slots to my country are taken" but meh.. still getting 500KB/s.

Will be uninstalling the RC and updating to the RTM soon :)
Posted on Reply
#44
h3llb3nd4
Awesome... Gonna ask my friend to get it for me:D
don't want to kill my cap yet
Posted on Reply
#45
AsRock
TPU addict
Cool, hopefully it's worth using. should have it soon i'll try it later today.

Need to go bed already haha.
File_1993So the above arent RTM? crap i just finished downloading it


Or are they only one language versions?
I was thinking the same... i can wait though..
Posted on Reply
#46
reckon
HellasVagabondVISTA RTM SP2 Links

Take these with a grain of salt because i do not know if they work yet. However the files do exist.
In any case hurry before they take them down ;)

VISTA SP2 X86

download.microsoft.com/download/0/5/F/05F5CE05-11B3-4E7B-A79A-663CBBC7A709/Windows6.0-KB948465-X86.exe


VISTA SP2 X64

download.microsoft.com/download/A/B/8/AB83BD9C-7CB1-4215-ACFA-589C92D88B01/Windows6.0-KB948465-X64.exe


forums.techpowerup.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=25427&stc=1&d=1241018651
ummm... Looks like there are no links available for official SP2 bits technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd262148.aspx
Posted on Reply
#47
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
HellasVagabond: the links you provided at the start of the thread were for the RC1 and not the RTM, and regardless they no longer work. since people are incapable of reading the other comments to find this out can you please edit the links out of your post?

There were links to torrents/other websites with the final. when will people LEARN TO READ.
Posted on Reply
#48
HeadlessChicken
the links above(orignaly posted by darknova) have downloads for the RTM build of sp2, expect it to be a while yet b4 they make ms's download pages, weeks or more if past experiance with ms service packs are any indication.
Posted on Reply
#49
buggalugs
HellasVagabondSometimes the difference between a beta and an RTM is that they just tested it more to be sure it works. I did however install the RTM to my second rig and runned a few synthetic benchmarks. No difference between the RC2 and the RTM. I will also test it in games to be certain.
"tested it more to make sure it works"???? LOL. Nobody wants a RC when there are RTM versions around. Its just wasting peoples time and bandwidth. Please remove your links.
Posted on Reply
#50
Darknova
BOSEYou are right, my apologies, my old laptop in day time blends in all the colors making them look all the same.:banghead:

I did post a more of a direct link.:D
Hehe, well my post on Ashentech included the torrents hosted from our server, as well as the direct link you included just in case people wanted to read more. Doesn't matter either way, as long as people get the right version :)

If anyone doesn't want to deal with torrents, we've add links to direct downloads on Ashentech, just follow THIS LINK HERE

BTW, there are now ISO files of varying Vista installs with SP2 already integrated/slipstreamed in. Check them out HERE

(Note to mods: These are just the ISO files, they contain no keys what so ever, so it's not warez)
Posted on Reply
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