Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows
Home > Type > News > Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta

Oct. 24, 2008 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

I’ve already posted some early screenshots of the first external build of Windows Vista Service Pack 2, but it looks like Microsoft is trying to muscle in on my action now. :)

Here’s the word from Mike Nash:

We are committed to continually improving Windows, and we've been getting some questions about the timing of the next service pack for Windows Vista.  Following the success of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 last spring, we have been working hard on Windows Vista Service Pack 2. As a part of the development and testing process, we're going to start by providing a small group of Technology Adoption Program customers with Windows Vista SP2 Beta for evaluation next Wednesday, October 29. The final release date for Windows Vista SP2 will be based on quality. So we'll track customer and partner feedback from the beta program before setting a final date for the release.

Windows Vista SP2 Beta contains previously released fixes focused on addressing specific reliability, performance, and compatibility issues. We expect Windows Vista SP2 will retain compatibility with applications that run on Windows Vista and Windows Vista SP1 and are written using public APIs.

In addition to previously released updates since the launch of Windows Vista SP1, Windows Vista SP2 contains changes focused on supporting new types of hardware and adding support for several emerging standards:

  • Windows Vista SP2 adds Windows Search 4.0 for faster and improved relevancy in searches.
  • Windows Vista SP2 contains the 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.

Discuss this Article 122

shark47
on Oct 24, 2008
Wow! They had the money to work on improving Vista despite spending $300mn on advertising?
panache1023
on Oct 24, 2008
Come on Shark! That wasn't the point...it wasn't that MS was spending ALL their money on fixing Vista...it was just a way of saying.. "instead of spending 300M on advertising, why dont' you spend 100M, and put that other 200 towards Fixing Vista (on top of whatever else you are spending".. or something like that.....please...MS's coffers are virtually full, and will probably never be depleted.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 24, 2008
Shark Impossible. That would mean Apple (gasp) lied to all of us!
panache1023
on Oct 24, 2008
Notice this comment "...and are written using public APIs." I'm not one that suggests people use non-public APIs, but this *could* signify that there *MAY* be code out there that will no longer work.... In my opinion though, code that uses non-public APIs should fail....that's the price you pay.
Master3
on Oct 24, 2008
A company as large as Microsoft can do many things at the same time, like advertising, product development, and R&D It's almost a crime that this has to be stated to adults, but alas the interweb isnt known for being the domain of adults. At least not anymore.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 24, 2008
panache There are always companies that find tricks to do something that don't involve actual published APIs. What Mike Nash is saying is that Microsoft maintained full backward compatibility with all the published APIs. Which is a big deal.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 24, 2008
panache On the lying. Go look at the ads again. Apple is saying pretty clearly that Microsoft pulled their Vista R&D budget and spent it on advertising. And that, of course, is a blatant lie that gets excused by Apple fans because they like the lie better than the truth.
Lindy
on Oct 24, 2008
"Adds Windows Connect Now (WCN) to simplify Wi-Fi Configuration." Oh so it will be as easy as OS X now, good stuff.
DRWAM
on Oct 24, 2008
Gents, is this problem fixed by auto updates on my home computers because both the hospital IT and my Office IT people sent this out: URGENT IT ALERT Security Alert Through our partner relationship with Microsoft we have received the following Critical Security Update Alert: Microsoft has released a critical security patch that needs to be applied to every workstation and server within Virtua to protect us from a potential worm. Due to this extreme risk, we will be pushing this patch today between the times of 2 PM – 5 PM. All workstations will be forced to reboot after the patch is installed. Once the patch is installed you will be given a 5 minute warning message before your PC reboots. Please be sure to save your work prior to the reboot. You may experience intermittent application issues while the servers are being patched. You should also consider addressing your office and home computers since they share this vulnerablility.
johnbaxter
on Oct 24, 2008
The additions Mr Nash points to in SP2 seem useful and timely (that is, better than being held for Win 7). Go! Microsoft. As to ads. I start from the assumption that all ads (in all media) are lies. If they are entertaining enough, I may watch/listen/read instead of ignore (eg Budweiser frogs [I dislike beer and don't consume it]). That said, Apple is managing to push the lie meter way farther than even I want to put up with (but nonetheless the ads are amusing, and I've become a Hodgman fan because of the series, whose end point OUGHT to have been two or more ads ago [before Accountant]).
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 24, 2008
DRWAM That's the update that came out yesterday that's the fix for the buffer overflow error in the RPC parser in the Server Service. If you have Windows Update checking daily it should already be installed by now. If you have Windows Update turned off, you should run it to get the fix. If your PC is managed by a VAR or other partner then they'll send you mail like this when they're ready to push it out. It's a critical issue in older versions of Windows and less of an issue (but still install it) on Vista and WS2K8
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 24, 2008
Lindy, It's already as simple as OS X (I had a Mac fan challenge me about that a couple of months ago and the biggest difference was a clickMenu then clickItem on Windows versus a clickMenu then slideToItem then releaseButton in one menu on OS X. (Which he insisted was a huge difference in ease of use to avoid admitting he was wrong)
panache1023
on Oct 24, 2008
Mike Galos. I agree with you 100% regarding keeping the compatibility with published APIs. And I agree that developers will always misbehave and use unpublished APIs...but if the code does break because of it, the responsibility is squarely on their shoulders, and not Microsoft's I have seen the Apple budget commercial. I am pretty sure that nowhere does it say that it is 100% of their budget. If you are inferring that, maybe it is a reasonable conclusion, but one that you are jumping to on your own. I have (misguided) faith in (most) people that they wouldn't be foolish enough to conclude that MS would spend their *FULL* budget on fixing Vista's "problems", whether real or perceived.
Master3
on Oct 24, 2008
Apple did really good ads back in the 90s. My favorite being the one where the dad was trying to get a CD-Rom for his son to work on a PC, and finding that he had to jump through all types of hoops to get it going. The son got bored and went next door because they had a Mac which was already set up for that. It was accurate and not insulting. Today it seems like Apple cant do an ad without streaching the truth or just flat out lying, and they all come across as arrogant. What happened to the ads from the early part of this decade for the 1st gen iPod or the gumdrop imacs? Go back to those!
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 24, 2008
johnbaxter I'd say that typical ads are assumed to be putting the best face on the truth and are deceptive unless you pay attention. They can spin and imply but stop short of actually lying about things that are actually factual. (as opposed to opinions like "tastes great" for a product that I'd say tastes like shredded cardboard box) Where the Apple ads go beyond this is that they actually lie. That's not going right up to the line, that's going over it.
panache1023
on Oct 24, 2008
Johnbaxter, I agree...those Apple ads are definitely starting to get annoying....you know which one I can't stand? That idiotic one where Hodgeman hid in the pizza box......I just thought it was stupid. As a general rule, anyone who is putting this much analysis and complaints into an ad for a computer needs to focus their energies on something more productive.
DRWAM
on Oct 24, 2008
Thank Mike. they never told us what we should do. All that we got was the message that I posted. I blocked IE 7 installation on XP because of our problem with 3rd party software compatibility at work, but turned on auto updates as you suggested a while ago. This shows that you were correct. My two Vista computers [including my $400 Vista laptop] have auto updates turned on.
hodari
on Oct 24, 2008
lindy it will be better than OSX... always
panache1023
on Oct 24, 2008
Mike Galos. While I agree setting up your network on Windows (at least XP, i've never used Vista) is pretty easy, I did find it easier on the Mac. And it wasn't a matter of clicking once and dragging once or whatever, it was a matter of figuring out where I needed to go to actually set it up.... Let's put it this way.....if someone had NEVER once before used either XP or Leopard, but knew what their network password was, they would probably be up and running on their Mac within 2 minutes, as opposed to maybe 2 minutes and 35 seconds on XP. That's just been my experience....maybe I'm biased since I've been using Windows for so long and pretty much know exactly where to go.....but whatever.
gorath
on Oct 24, 2008
Panache, I agree with you on the whole, that non-public APIs are a bad idea, however, some bleeding edge software bypasses the known APIs and hooks in order to implement often intruiging new features previously thought as impossible. Is it their responsibility if a later update breaks compatability, sure it is. Should they have avoided doing so in the first place? Not necessarily.
chuckb84
on Oct 24, 2008
Mike, "On the lying. Go look at the ads again. Apple is saying pretty clearly that Microsoft pulled their Vista R&D budget and spent it on advertising. And that, of course, is a blatant lie that gets excused by Apple fans because they like the lie better than the truth." Sigh. Getting this upset over a commercial made by two COMEDIANS is like excoriating the TV show MASH because it isn't a literal and accurate depiction of the Army. (I'm now staying away from Sarah Palin/Tina Fey analogies :) ) Like I said before, Apple could not humorously exploit the negative stereotype of Vista if the perception wasn't already widespread.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 24, 2008
panache For some reason tied to some Mac fan sites he was insisting that I was lying because "everybody knows" that Vista has painfully hard to use wireless and Apple's is easy. I literally went through it keystroke by keystroke and mouseclick by mouseclick with him and it was so close to identical as to be silly. And we even went through several scenarios. He, of course, hadn't used a wireless LAN on Windows since pre-SP1 XP but was sure he was right. I, on the other hand, had just set up a Mac Book on the Microsoft corporate WiFi that week.
shark47
on Oct 24, 2008
Even though I think the wireless thing has been done pretty well and is now pretty quick too, any improvement is welcome. What most Mac users don't realize is that some of these things are again about what you're used to. I'm so used to PCs that moving from XP to Vista was very easy. Using OS X is a challenge for me because everything seems to be different. This is not a criticism of OS X. Hardly. Regarding the Tina Fey/Palin reference. SNL is known for parodies. MASH was a TV show. Ads are different. There's a reason people reacted against McCain's celebrity ads or the Moses ads. Apple is not exploiting a stereotype. Apple has spent millions of dollars to create this stereotype. The mainstream media plays along.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 24, 2008
Chuck "Like I said before, Apple could not humorously exploit the negative stereotype of Vista if the perception wasn't already widespread." And that's flat out not true. You can start a negative rumor campaign and destroy a person's reputatio without the perception being true or even something the person had any experience with. As an example, how about if I spend say a million dollars paying people to say that you are a clueless bozo on every message board they can find? How much do you want to bet that by the third or fourth time they see a message about you they'll consider the first couple to be the "already widespread" stereotype. If you like, I'll have them say it as a joke about you being a clueless bozo and then defaming your character will be OK by your rules since it's comedy. Working with political groups I've seen examples of anti-Semitism in towns where nobody is Jewish and racism in towns so ethnically uniform you wonder if they'd freak out at a person with a good tan. Are you saying they're getting their bigotry based on an existing perception? But, hey, it's only a joke.
panache1023
on Oct 24, 2008
Gorath, I see your point. And, as you said, if the API is updated and breaks the code, then it is the developers responsibility to fix it. This brings up a different point....I read somewhere a while ago (I don't remember when or where), that years ago, when Windows (95) was first taking off, that programs that used to work, were no longer working. In fact, it was lousy code that was probably working by accident, that was no longer working (for example, freeing memory and then de-referencing the freed pointers)... Microsoft went ahead and accounted for this, and made changes deep in the OS (if running_app == "simcity.exe" type of thing), and made it work. Now, this helped the stability of the apps and made all the users happy because their programs ran. In my opinion, this was a mistake. MS should have let it crash, and said to the developers of the apps "You are doing something invalid, fix it" Now, if they ever stop doing that (hacking up their OS) a lot of things that worked (but shouldn't have) will stop working (rightfully so) and MS will look bad, not the developer of the app.
Lindy
on Oct 24, 2008
Umm on OS X, if I take my Macbook to location that I have never been and it has wireless...... 1. As soon as I get to my desktop (much faster than Vista) I get a popup in the middle of the screen that lists the access points it sees. (with locks on the side if they are protected) 2. I choose which one I want, and click on the connect button....done. (If it has a password I enter and then I am done.) No screen dimming, private/public choice stuff after I have chosen the access point/password. Wireless connection problems was another problem that Vista had early on "connected with limited access" was painful problem for many when it first launched. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=vista+connected+with+limited+access... OBVIOUSLY there was a problem or perception of a problem with Joe User, hence the new feature.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 24, 2008
panache Actually the way it workd (and it was in Windows 95) was that there were a series of compatibility tweaks in the OS that could emulate things that were done differently in earlier versions or could correct common errors (Like checking for only the number after the decimal in an OS version to see if it was newer). There was a section in the Win.INI file called [AppCompat] (I think) that contained lists of programs and versions and a list of flags that told Windows which compatibility settings to use for that version of that application. Microsoft has long held the belief that customers shouldn't be punished for the application vendor's sloppy code and where they can, they do workarounds that fix things for the user. You still see this today with the really amazingly flexible compatibility settings that you can do in Windows Vista to tweak how an application runs so that legacy apps can work even if they haven't been updated in a decade or so. If you right click on an application and select properties there's a Compatibility tab where you can tweak things to get old apps to run cleanly.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 24, 2008
Lindy Umm on WIndows Vista, if I take my laptop from my choice of vendors to location that I have never been and it has wireless...... 1. As soon as it detects a new wireless connection I get a popup in the notification area of the screen that lists the access points it sees and whether they're locked. 2. I choose which one I want, and click on the connect button....done. (If it has a password I enter and then I am done.) If I have network security settings enabled and I'm not an administrator (and, not being an idiot, I don't run as an administrator when I don't need to) I confirm that I'm doing a security risk operation and have the option of telling the system to give greater access or to remember the network so I can connect automatically. So, are you running as an administrator or does Apple just give full network access control rights to plain users? (If the former, you need a course on security, if the latter, Apple does)
Lindy
on Oct 24, 2008
I went to the first link in my post, which had MS knowledge base article link for a hotfix and it applies to the following versions.... • Windows Vista Ultimate • Windows Vista Starter • Windows Vista Home Premium • Windows Vista Home Basic • Windows Vista Enterprise • Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition • Windows Vista Business • Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition • Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition • Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition • Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition Dam that is flat out crazy, even more so when you see it listed out:)
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 24, 2008
Lindy Yeah. Giving consumers what they want rather than telling them what they want. That's flat out crazy. BTW: Are you taking over for ocean in the "let's post off topic subjects" role?
robertsjoe
on Oct 24, 2008
@mikegalos: Come on, Microsoft have lied also. Why don't you mention that?
robertsjoe
on Oct 24, 2008
As for Vista SP2, it looks like they are still busy fixing Vista's problems. But didn't Paul say that Vista's problems were fixed six months ago with SP1? Hardly.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 24, 2008
robertsjoe If you ever actually contribute something here I'll bother responding to your trolling. But I suspect that'll be a long wait.
robertsjoe
on Oct 24, 2008
@mikegalos: The Microsoft apologist role goes a bit far when you try and somehow make the ridiculous numbers of Vista versions out there seem OK. It's not. It's a dumb, dumb move from MS. OS X has two versions. OS X and OS X Server. Trust MSFT to make the easy difficult.
robertsjoe
on Oct 24, 2008
@mikegalos: You keep ignoring the fact that Microsoft have lied in one of their ads. Don't keep going on about Apple without acknowledging that MSFT have also lied in an ad.
robertsjoe
on Oct 24, 2008
@mikegalos: You know I have contributed. I debunked the urban legend that Apple employees aren't allowed to blog. So it's not all as bad as you make it out to be. :)
Lindy
on Oct 24, 2008
I am just trying to reach half of your posts before the end of the day. I have other stuff to do. You should try it.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 24, 2008
As I've said before, Microsoft COULD issue only Windows Vista Ultimate but that would mean that people would have to buy things they have no use for. Somehow, when Apple does that, their fans think that's a good idea... It's that same old difference: Microsoft sells you what you want Apple tells you what you want
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 24, 2008
robertsjoe You're right. I'd forgotten that was you that did the Apple blogging post. So, what ad is it that you claim Microsoft lied in?
robertsjoe
on Oct 24, 2008
"Microsoft sells you what you want Apple tells you what you want" You'll excuse any mistake MSFT make. Microsoft doesn't know what the customer wants. All they know how to do is confuse them with many versions of a product. Always have done that. Microsoft gives you EVERYTHING in the OS. Not extortion whereby they offer what are essentially crippled versions of their OS. Apple gives everything to the desktop user in their ONE desktop OS. The same for server users.
robertsjoe
on Oct 24, 2008
@mikegalos: http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-961994.html Of course I'm sure you won't see this a lying. But really, it's a lie.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 24, 2008
robertsjoe Let's see if you think it's the same The Microsoft piece you cite was: * One page on the Microsoft web site and not a multimillion dollar multi-year tv ad campaign * Pulled after less than a week when the use of a stock photo rather than the actual person was discovered * Had text that was accurate (only the photo wasn't) * Microsoft apologized for the page even though it was a screw up by the contracted ad agency You really think that one use of a stock photo instead of a photo of the actual person in a web page with accurate content that existed for a few days is the equivalent of an massive multi-year ad campaign based on lying about a competitor's product?
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 24, 2008
robertsjoe If you want everything it's hardly extortion to buy the full featured product (Windows Vista Ultimate) If you don't want everything and Home Premium or Business meets your needs better, you have the option of buying a version with less features for less money. It seems like you think that people should have no choice but to buy Vista Ultimate and Microsoft is evil for offering them a less expensive option without features they don't want anyway. By the same token, we should lobby Apple to get rid of all those crippled products like the Mac Book (People should all have to buy the Mac Book Pro fully loaded) and what's with having 3 desktop lines. Kill the Mini and the iMac. Just sell a full 8-core Mac Pro. And only with the 30" display. Less confusion that way.
JasonSi
on Oct 24, 2008
Hey Paul... I think you mean Q2 of 2009 not 2008 in the screenshot article.
robertsjoe
on Oct 24, 2008
@mikegalos: OK, so it's not lying. You MSFT fanboys are to blind. Why not change the photo on your driver's license or some other ID. See if the authorities think it's deceitful, lying? Microsoft are liars and thieves.
robertsjoe
on Oct 24, 2008
@mikegalos All the Vista versions is bad marketing. It's a bad idea. It's confusing.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 24, 2008
Let's see Microsoft ad agency screwed up and posted a wrong picture on one page of their website which Microsoft apologized for and pulled after it had been up for less than a week in October 2002. robertsjoe's response: "Microsoft are liars and thieves." But Apple lying about their competitor for years on end in a multi-million dollar and multi-year ad campaign is fine. And some people still wonder why Mac fans have a reputation for being hypocritical and irrational.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 24, 2008
@robertsjoe All the Macintosh versions is bad marketing. It's a bad idea. It's confusing.
bettieblu
on Oct 24, 2008
Mike you should just post "Last word I win". You seriously need to do something else with your time. Vista having to many versions is seen universally as a bad move. Even Pro Microsoft tech writers admit this. Leopard at $129 or whatever with all of the features the OS can deliver and being the only version is clearly a better value. Microsoft should only sell Ultimate for $150 and have a wizard ask you which features you want upon install. It can be done since Windows 2008 comes stripped down out of the box and you can even add "Desktop experience" to 2008 which gives you Aero, Media player etc. It would make corporate desktop administrators happy as well, because the could deploy a stripped down version of Vista via WDS. I am sure you will now tell me how I am wrong. Have a nice evening and try to get off this site a few hours a day.
gorath
on Oct 24, 2008
Mike, seriously, the amount of versions they offered of Vista, even though in the 'real world', there's only 3, is still too much. There was nothing wrong with a professional version, and a home version.

Please or Register to post comments.

Related Articles

IT/Dev Connections

Las Vegas
September 30th - October 4th

Paul ThurottYou'll have the opportunity to experience:
• 120 Technical
Sessions
• Networking with Peers
• Expert Speakers


Come See Paul Thurrott & Mary Jo Foley in Person!

Register Now

Office 365 InfoCenter

Get the latest insight and info from Paul

Read Now!

What I Use
Apr. 18, 2013
Article

What I Use: On the Road 21

Every so often, I publish an updated version of my “What I Use” document, which details the technology products and services I actually use day-to-day. Since I’m currently on my third business trip in five weeks, this is perhaps an ideal time to discuss the technology products I rely on when I travel and a few related points....More
Mar. 6, 2013
Article

What I Use: March 2013 33

Lots of changes since November, including a new PC-based home server running Windows 8, several new smart phones, new PCs and tablets, new cloud backup, Office 365 Home Premium and a nice doubling of my Internet speeds courtesy of Verizon FIOS....More
WinSuperSite.com
Related Penton Sites
Copyright © 2013 Penton Media, Inc