Maximum PC sp2 RSS Feed

Vista SP Freeing Up Big Disk Space For Some

Andy Salisbury — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:37:30 -0500

Just last week Microsoft released SP2 for Windows Vista, and it would appear that many users of the update have noticed some massive changes in their free disk space.

Now, when I say ‘massive changes’ I’m not just talking about 500MB here or there, but there have been reported cases of people freeing 40GB and more. One user wrote on PC World’s forums, “Wow! I didn't notice that til now. I went from about 88GB free to 122GB free. That's a significant change 'under the hood,' isn't it?” The biggest recorded case was another user that managed to regain 130GB.

Vista SP2 includes a command-line cleanup tool (compcln.exe) that is used to remove older system files and restore points, therefore freeing up space. Many think that the SP2 installer automatically runs this, but there’s been no official confirmation from Microsoft.

Have you installed SP2, and if so, have you regained any of your hard drive space? If so, let us know!

Image Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft: Vista SP2 is Done!

Andy Salisbury — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:32:27 -0500

At long last, Microsoft has confirmed that Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 is complete, by releasing it to select manufacturers. It even hit torrents, hours before it was officially announced on the Windows Vista Team Blog.

As for an official download, it’s not clear when Service Pack 2 will be available. They’ve stated that they will push the final version to customers through Automatic Update over the next few months, but those that aren’t ready can still use Microsoft’s service-pack blocking tool.

Along with this, Microsoft has started pushing Vista SP1 to users that had previously blocked it, in order to prime them for SP2.

For those wondering, Service Pack 2 will bring Windows Search 4.0, the Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack, the ability to record data on Blu-ray natively through Windows, Windows Connect Now (a simpler WiFi tool), the addition of support for UTC timestamps in the exFAT file system, as well as various security and performance updates.

Image Credit: Microsoft

Vista SP2 RC Released for Testing

Mark Edward Soper — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:17:21 -0600

If you're on the Microsoft Connect testing list for Windows Vista SP2 or Windows Server 2008 SP2, Redmond has just rung the "come and get it" bell - SP2 RC (the same package upgrades both Vista SP1 and Windows Server) was released to MS Connect testers yesterday, Ars Technica reports.

So, what's special about SP2 RC? Some highlights include:

Support for VIA's 64-bit CPU
Integration of the Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless, including support for Bluetooth 2.1
Support for writing to Blu-ray media
Integration of Windows Search 4.0
Better and more secure installation experience
Over 690 hotfixes

If you're not among the fortunate few testing Vista SP2 RC, what should you be doing until you can try it? For those of us not on the MS Connect testing list who have pre-SP1 Vista media, here's a good way to occupy your time: use VLite to create a slipstream DVD that incorporates Vista and Vista SP1. Because of the cumulative size of SP1, SP2 will not include SP1, so SP1 must be installed first.

How does Vista SP2 RC compare to Vista SP1? See the Tweaktown review, or, if you've had a chance to try Vista SP2 RC yourself, hit Comment and give us your review.

RC Cola can photo courtesy MarkBixby.com.

More Details About Vista SP2 Emerge

Mark Edward Soper — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:27:01 -0600

ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley has the goods on what's coming in Windows Vista SP2. In addition to the new features we told you about earlier this week, look for improvements in:

Hardware support for new form factors and the new VIA 64-bit CPU
Security improvements
Reliability and performance improvements in resume and RSS feeds sidebar
Fewer resources needed for sidebar gadgets
Better support for Spysweeper and Zone Alarm
Compcln.exe removes outdated files when they are replaced by SP2
Better handling of errors, incompatible hardware warnings, and system event logs
Fixes DRM problems caused by updates to Windows Media Player

If you heard that the Hyper-V virtualization manager is also included in Vista SP2, it is - but not for Windows Vista. That's because this service pack also provides SP2 updates for Windows Server 2008, which does include Hyper-V.

While pre-release versions of Vista SP2 aren't generally available yet, subscribers to Microsoft's TechNet or MSDN can now download the latest beta build. If you've tried it, or if you like (or don't like) what you've heard about SP2, click Comment and tell us what you think.

Rumor: Windows Vista SP2 RTMs in April '09

Mark Edward Soper — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:12:28 -0600

The Malaysian website Tech ARP, which previously figured out the release schedule for Windows Vista SP1 and Windows XP SP3, has looked into its crystal ball again and predicts Vista SP2 will be released to manufacturing in April 2009. First, though, a release candidate (RC) will be released in February.

So, what will be the big attractions in Vista SP2?

Windows Search 4.0
Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack
Native Blu-Ray recording
Windows Connect Now support for easier Wi-Fi connections
UTC timestamp support in the exFAT file system to enable correct file synchronization across timezones

Keep in mind that Vista SP2 will only install on systems running Vista SP1.

So, how does the Vista SP2 release schedule jibe with previous service pack releases? ZDNet's Ed Bott (whom I assisted many moons ago on the book Special Edition Using Windows Me) has run the numbers on the typical timespan between service packs, and finds that the space between Vista SP1 and the predicted release of Vista SP2 is on par with most Microsoft service pack releases other than those for Windows XP: about a year after the previous service pack.

Why is Windows XP an exception? Bott notes that Windows XP broke the pattern established by Windows NT4 and Windows 2000. It took almost two years to release XP SP2 after XP SP1, and almost four years elapsed between XP's SP2 and SP3. Thus, Vista SP2, if it comes out as predicted, will mark a return to normal.

So, what do you think? Does the projected release date for Vista SP2 make sense, or does it still seem "rushed" as some have suggested? Hit Comment and tell us your thoughts.

Tip: Microsoft Readying RC of Vista SP2 for February '09

Andy Salisbury — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:07:04 -0600

There’s been some loose talk of Microsoft looking to release Service Pack 2 for Vista just as soon as they can. They’ve been reportedly rushing it so that there will be more incentive for people to buy Vista, instead of just waiting for Windows 7.

According to some inside sources, a release candidate for SP2 will be available in February 2009, with the final version scheduled for release to manufacturing in April 2009. When a version is labeled as RTM it’s not always available for download, but it has been put out in disc form, including OEMs.

Following suit with pervious service packs, it’s expected that Microsoft will release Vista’s SP2 in language waves. The previous service packs give us reason to believe that the English, German, Japanese, French and Spanish versions will be the first available, with Chinese, Korean and Brazilian Portuguese available not long after.

Image Credit: Microsoft

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

Paul Lilly — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:20:16 -0500

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.

Vista Service Pack 2 Will Most Likely Come Out Before Windows 7

Paul Lilly — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:18:48 -0500

It seems as though many enthusiasts are biding their time with Vista and have already begun looking forward to Windows 7. In some respects, so has Microsoft, who doesn't need much coaxing to talk about the new OS, whether it be about the refined UAC experience or explaining where the Windows 7 naming scheme comes from. But that doesn't mean Vista's being kicked to the curb.

On the contrary, it looks as though Vista's second Service Pack will make a debut before Windows 7, suggests ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley. According to Foley, select hardware and software partners have already received a beta of SP2, and while the murmurs are unusually quiet regarding what the new Service Pack will bring, Foley's sources have indicated that Microsoft's goal is to deliver SP2 before Windows 7 in an attempt to lessen confusion among users mulling whether to deploy Vista or wait for the new OS. And what does Microsoft have to say on the matter?

"Microsoft is working on a second Windows Vista Service Pack (Windows Vista SP2) and will share more details in the coming months," a Vista spokesperson wrote.

Hit the jump and let us know what you're most looking forward to: Windows 7 or Vista SP2.