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Vista SP2 Beta Due This Week, Will Include Better Desktop Search

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The race is still on to see which will come out first - Vista's second Service Pack, or Windows 7 - but when it comes to beta releases, you needn't wait long. In a blog post, Microsoft said Vista's SP2 will begin beta testing this week.

"Following the success of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 last spring, we have been working hard on Windows Vista Service Pack 2," writes Mike Nash, corporate VP for Microsoft's Windows Product Management. "As 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."

Nash goes on to say that SP2 will incorporate both previously released fixes and unreleased updates into a single serviceability model covering both Windows Vista (client) and Windows Server 2008 (server) versions. A big focus on SP2 will be on improving hardware support as well as "adding support for several emerging standards." Some of the changes include:

  • Adding Windows Search 4.0
  • Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack
  • Record data on Blu-ray media natively
  • Adds Windows Connect Now (WCN) for easier WiFi configs
  • Enables the exFAT file system

No date has yet been set for the final release.

COMMENTS
avatarfunny, isn't most of this

funny, isn't most of this stuff already available as downloads from Windows Update?  That and Windows Search 4.0 sucks ass, but I guess anything is better than the craptastic search in Vista.

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avatarAgreed. Windows search is

Agreed. Windows search is just another slowdown on my pc. That and it indexes when I dont want it to.

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avatarSearch

Scoff at will – but I’m one of the, evidently few, folks that generally likes Vista.  Of the irritations/complaints I do have is with the search function.  I hate it passionately.  It sucks balls to no end.  The updated version four sucks just as badly.  I would love to see this retooled prior to Vista SP2 or Win v.7

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avataris there no official list of

is there no official list of what all is coming in the service pack?

maybe it was just me that had a horrible time with sp1.  I installed it and after that i had horrible problems with programs not working and the likes. I uninstalled it and waiting about 3 months before installing it again........the second install of sp1 went much smoother for me for some reason.

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avatarIt's a closed beta targeted

It's a closed beta targeted at a select group so no...theirs no offcial list!

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