Brief Description
Service Pack 2, the latest service pack for both Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista, supports new types of hardware and emerging hardware standards, includes all of the updates that have been delivered since SP1, and simplifies deployment, for consumers, developers, and IT professionals.

Quick Details
File Name: Windows6.0-KB948465-X86.exe
Version: 948465
Knowledge Base (KB) Articles: KB948465
Date Published: 5/25/2009
Language: English
Download Size: 348.3 MB

Overview
Service Pack 2 for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista (SP2) is an update to Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 that supports new kinds of hardware and emerging hardware standards, and includes all updates delivered since SP1. SP2 simplifies administration by enabling IT administrators to deploy and support a single service pack for clients and servers. Please see the Windows Server SP2/Windows Vista SP2 page on TechNet/MSDN for additional details and documentation.

Windows Vista SP2 TechNet
Windows Server 2008 SP2 TechNet

SP2 is an update to Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista that incorporates improvements discovered through automated feedback, as well as updates that have been delivered since SP1. By providing these fixes integrated into a single service pack for both client and server, Microsoft provides a single high-quality update that minimizes deployment and testing complexity for customers.

Service Pack 1 is a prerequisite for installing Service Pack 2. Please make sure that your system is running Service Pack 1 before you install Service Pack 2.

Note: Windows Server 2008 released with Service Pack 1 included. Windows Vista SP1 information and downloads can be found on the Windows Vista SP1 TechNet page.

Windows Server 2008 SP2 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 – Five Language Standalone version can be installed on systems with any of the following language versions: English, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish.

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Available for Download

Service Pack 2, the latest service pack for both Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista, is now available for public download. SP2 supports new types of hardware and emerging hardware standards, includes all of the updates that have been delivered since SP1, and simplifies deployment for consumers, developers, and IT professionals. For more details, see the TechNet page for Service Pack 2 for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista.

Microsoft also announced that within 30 days of the May 11 release of Windows Server 2008 RC revealed at Tech·Ed, the System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 Release Candidate would be available. VMM 2008 R2 RC builds on the new platform enhancements in Windows Server 2008 R2 such as Live Migration, Clustered Shared Volumes (CSV), hot addition and removal of storage, network optimization, and remote desktop services (RDS).

And for you app developers, Microsoft has released Beta 1 of Visual Studio 2010 and .NET FX 4, and it’s now time for customer feedback.

Microsoft confirmed on Tuesday that it is planning for Windows 7 to hit retail shelves and start showing up on new PCs on October 22.

Microsoft revealed that it will complete development of Windows 7 in late July and then make the system broadly available to customers on October 22, 2009. (This is called General Availability, or GA).

To reach that milestone, Microsoft plans to wrap up development of the operating system by the middle or end of next month, Senior Vice President Bill Veghte said in an interview.

“The feedback from the release candidate has been good,” Veghte said.

Microsoft made the near-final release candidate version available last month. Shortly after its release, Microsoft finally confirmed that it was aiming Windows 7 for a holiday 2009 release, something that was widely anticipated, but not confirmed by those in Redmond.

In an interview, Phil McKinney, chief technology officer of Hewlett-Packard’s computer unit, said that he feels good about Microsoft’s launch date.

“We’re locked and loaded for the launch,” McKinney said. “The quality of code is just absolutely stellar.”

The software maker also confirmed, without giving details, that it plans to offer some sort of “technology guarantee” giving those who buy Vista machines close to the Windows 7 launch a free or discounted copy of the new operating system. As with past similar programs, details on pricing will be up to individual computer makers, although Microsoft did say the upgrade program will apply to Vista Home Premium and higher-priced editions (meaning not Windows Vista Basic).

The tech guarantee program is not beginning immediately, but Microsoft did raise the possibility it will offer some sort of lower-cost upgrade to those who are already using Windows Vista.

I’ve gotten a lot of e-mails suggesting Microsoft do something along those lines, but its comments this week were the first time I had heard it acknowledge that it was considering such a move.

As for the technology guarantee program, it likely means that Microsoft will do some deferring of Vista-related revenue, though Microsoft again did not spell out details.

“Depending on when we do it there will be the associated accounting for it,” Veghte said.

Microsoft has said that Windows 7 will come in five different editions in most markets–Starter, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate. A “Windows 7 Basic” will also be sold in emerging markets, Microsoft said.

The software maker has yet to announce pricing for the product.

The design overall is very similar to Google, even down to the preferences page. Like iGoogle, this one offers the option to link up with your e-mail, assuming it is provided by Microsoft. Though it doesn’t boast themes and gadgets like the former service, we would anticipate this to come once the beta is complete.

Impressions so far are good, and neat features like related searches (i.e. walkthroughs pop up if you search for a game), pop-up text (mouse over a search result and the page text appears, something Firefox plugins offer with Google), and a cashback program for shopping results are all welcome.

In terms of actual search quality, it’s more or less the same as Google. In any case, there’s plenty of depth to explore which may make it the superior choice for some in the end, especially as more functionality and improvements are brought to the table.