Microsoft opens Vista SP2 testing window

Beta now widely available

By Kelly Fiveash • Get more from this author

Posted in Operating Systems, 3rd December 2008 11:10 GMT

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Microsoft has unfurled a test version of Windows Vista Service Pack 2, intended for hardcore tech developers and fans only.

The announcement follows reports earlier this week that appeared to reveal when MS plans to release Vista SP2 to manufacturers.

Windows management veep Mike Nash said on the corporate Vista blog yesterday that the company hopes to deliver general availability of Vista SP2 by the end of June next year.

"As of today, we are tracking to ship Windows Vista SP2 in the first half of 2009," he said.

Malaysian website TechARP.com reckoned the operating system’s next service pack will land in April 2009.

Support for “new types of hardware and several emerging standards” will be bundled into Vista SP2.

Microsoft also reiterated that the service pack would come loaded with support for Windows Search 4.0, Bluetooth 2.1 and Blu-Ray, alongside various bug fixes and performance tweaks.

The company said the Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP2 beta is available to everyone via a customer preview program (CPP). But it is urging only brave developer souls to test-drive the service pack.

“For most customers, our best advice would be to wait until the final release prior to installing this service pack,” said Nash. ®

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