Posted 06/01/09 at 04:37:30 PM by Andy Salisbury

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!

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Posted 04/30/09 at 05:32:27 PM by Andy Salisbury

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.

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Posted 10/16/08 at 10:18:48 AM by Paul Lilly

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.

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