Guest Engel Posted December 5, 2008 Posted December 5, 2008 In late October, Microsoft gave its beta testers the first beta build of Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. On Tuesday, the company pushed out a later build to MSDN and TechNet subscribers. The five languages currently supported are English, German, French, Spanish, and Japanese, in both 32- and 64-bit flavors. Today, the company has made this SP2 build available to the public on the Microsoft Download Center: for Vista and Server 2008 32-bit (388MB ), for Vista and Server 2008 64-bit (614MB ), and for Server 2008 ia64 (416MB ). -=- Quote
Guest Victek Posted December 5, 2008 Posted December 5, 2008 > In late October, Microsoft gave its beta testers the first beta build of<span style="color:blue"> > Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. > > On Tuesday, the company pushed out a later build to MSDN and TechNet > subscribers. > The five languages currently supported are English, German, French, > Spanish, > and Japanese, in both 32- and 64-bit flavors. > > Today, the company has made this SP2 build available to the public on the > Microsoft Download Center: for Vista and Server 2008 32-bit (388MB ), for > Vista and Server 2008 64-bit (614MB ), and for Server 2008 ia64 (416MB ). > -=- ></span> I'm curious, but there are two important questions to be answered: 1. Can this beta SP be uninstalled? 2. Will it be possible to install the final SP2 over the beta? Quote
Guest John Barnett MVP Posted December 5, 2008 Posted December 5, 2008 Just be aware that it is 'Beta' software and can cause unexpected problems. I haven't had any 'major' problems with the service pack, but I would suggest you 'do not' install it on your main production machine; use a test machine wherever possible or leave well alone. -- -- John Barnett MVP Windows XP Associate Expert Windows Desktop Experience Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy, reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this mail/post.. "Engel" <Engel@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:772D1290-808B-46A5-9103-9134EAE75AB2@microsoft.com...<span style="color:blue"> > In late October, Microsoft gave its beta testers the first beta build of > Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. > > On Tuesday, the company pushed out a later build to MSDN and TechNet > subscribers. > The five languages currently supported are English, German, French, > Spanish, > and Japanese, in both 32- and 64-bit flavors. > > Today, the company has made this SP2 build available to the public on the > Microsoft Download Center: for Vista and Server 2008 32-bit (388MB ), for > Vista and Server 2008 64-bit (614MB ), and for Server 2008 ia64 (416MB ). > -=- > </span> Quote
Guest Engel Posted December 6, 2008 Posted December 6, 2008 Hello Victek, FQA and more here: <http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd262148.aspx> -=- "Victek" wrote: <span style="color:blue"><span style="color:green"> > > In late October, Microsoft gave its beta testers the first beta build of > > Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. > > > > On Tuesday, the company pushed out a later build to MSDN and TechNet > > subscribers. > > The five languages currently supported are English, German, French, > > Spanish, > > and Japanese, in both 32- and 64-bit flavors. > > > > Today, the company has made this SP2 build available to the public on the > > Microsoft Download Center: for Vista and Server 2008 32-bit (388MB ), for > > Vista and Server 2008 64-bit (614MB ), and for Server 2008 ia64 (416MB ). > > -=- > ></span> > I'm curious, but there are two important questions to be answered: > 1. Can this beta SP be uninstalled? > 2. Will it be possible to install the final SP2 over the beta? > </span> Quote
Guest Victek Posted December 6, 2008 Posted December 6, 2008 > Hello Victek,<span style="color:blue"> > > FQA and more here: > > <http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd262148.aspx> > -=-</span> Thanks, I appreciate it! Quote
Guest f/fgeorge Posted December 6, 2008 Posted December 6, 2008 On Fri, 5 Dec 2008 13:52:54 -0800, "Victek" <Victek@invalid.invalid> wrote: <span style="color:blue"><span style="color:green"> >> In late October, Microsoft gave its beta testers the first beta build of >> Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. >> >> On Tuesday, the company pushed out a later build to MSDN and TechNet >> subscribers. >> The five languages currently supported are English, German, French, >> Spanish, >> and Japanese, in both 32- and 64-bit flavors. >> >> Today, the company has made this SP2 build available to the public on the >> Microsoft Download Center: for Vista and Server 2008 32-bit (388MB ), for >> Vista and Server 2008 64-bit (614MB ), and for Server 2008 ia64 (416MB ). >> -=- >></span> >I'm curious, but there are two important questions to be answered: >1. Can this beta SP be uninstalled? >2. Will it be possible to install the final SP2 over the beta? </span> #1...normally yes, but there HAVE been instances where it would not uninstall, forcing the user to reinstall Windows, sometimes from scratch. #2...not normally and according to the FAQ's not this time either. Quote
Guest John Barnett MVP Posted December 6, 2008 Posted December 6, 2008 If you are planning on installing the SP2 beta then my advise would be to image your hard drive (using something like Acronis True Image 2009). As a beta tester this is something I always do before installing 'any' beta software. If anything goes wrong, then you can easily revert back to an earlier version via the image you created. As I have said in my previous post, it is far better to use beta software on a test machine (again something that I already do), but I know many users don't have access to another machine simply for beta testing products; therefore it is extremely important that you have an image of your hard drive to go back to when, either you finish testing SP2 or if problems occur that cannot immediately be corrected. Beta software is not always stable, so it is better to play safe. -- -- John Barnett MVP Windows XP Associate Expert Windows Desktop Experience Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy, reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this mail/post.. "Victek" <Victek@invalid.invalid> wrote in message news:A2F1EE09-F4A7-4C44-8D36-25FCEE877A92@microsoft.com...<span style="color:blue"><span style="color:green"> >> In late October, Microsoft gave its beta testers the first beta build of >> Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. >> >> On Tuesday, the company pushed out a later build to MSDN and TechNet >> subscribers. >> The five languages currently supported are English, German, French, >> Spanish, >> and Japanese, in both 32- and 64-bit flavors. >> >> Today, the company has made this SP2 build available to the public on the >> Microsoft Download Center: for Vista and Server 2008 32-bit (388MB ), for >> Vista and Server 2008 64-bit (614MB ), and for Server 2008 ia64 (416MB ). >> -=- >></span> > I'm curious, but there are two important questions to be answered: > 1. Can this beta SP be uninstalled? > 2. Will it be possible to install the final SP2 over the beta? </span> Quote
Guest Harry Posted December 6, 2008 Posted December 6, 2008 "Engel" <Engel@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:772D1290-808B-46A5-9103-9134EAE75AB2@microsoft.com...<span style="color:blue"> > In late October, Microsoft gave its beta testers the first beta build of > Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. > > On Tuesday, the company pushed out a later build to MSDN and TechNet > subscribers. > The five languages currently supported are English, German, French, > Spanish, > and Japanese, in both 32- and 64-bit flavors. > > Today, the company has made this SP2 build available to the public on the > Microsoft Download Center: for Vista and Server 2008 32-bit (388MB ), for > Vista and Server 2008 64-bit (614MB ), and for Server 2008 ia64 (416MB ). > -=-</span> Any noticable improvements after the installation? Harry (Netherlands) Quote
Guest .Joe Posted December 6, 2008 Posted December 6, 2008 Caveat Emptor. I installed SP2 Beta. Initially had smooth operation. Then I went to do a full system backup and encountered serious errors. I conducted an uninstall and a system restore, afterwhich I nearly lost my OS. I'll definately be waiting until the final public release is made. I've been lucky with betas in the past. But not this time. -- .Joe _[image: http://uswave.net/vistax64/joetmvx64.png] (\"http://uswave.net/vistax64/joetmvx64.png\")_ _ ::Vista_Forums:: (\"http://www.vistax64.com/\")_ 'Geekbench Score: 4031' (http://browse.geekbench.ca/geekbench2/view/51273) _CPU-Z (\"http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=345866\")_ Quote
Guest John Barnett MVP Posted December 6, 2008 Posted December 6, 2008 I haven't had any issues, Joe but your experience makes my point even more valid. Either use it on a test machine or don't install it until final release. We all like to see what's new in any operating system but when it comes to beta software, in many cases, the problems far out way the advantages of being able to boast 'I have SP2 or Windows 7 on my system.' -- -- John Barnett MVP Windows XP Associate Expert Windows Desktop Experience Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy, reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this mail/post.. ".Joe" <guest@unknown-email.com> wrote in message news:394e6887ac02f22337de9848fbcc9261@nntp-gateway.com...<span style="color:blue"> > > Caveat Emptor. > > I installed SP2 Beta. Initially had smooth operation. Then I went to do > a full system backup and encountered serious errors. I conducted an > uninstall and a system restore, afterwhich I nearly lost my OS. I'll > definately be waiting until the final public release is made. I've been > lucky with betas in the past. But not this time. > > > -- > Joe > > _[image: > http://uswave.net/vistax64/joetmvx64.png] > ("http://uswave.net/vistax64/joetmvx64.png")_ > _ ::Vista_Forums:: ("http://www.vistax64.com/")_ > 'Geekbench Score: 4031' > (http://browse.geekbench.ca/geekbench2/view/51273) > _CPU-Z ("http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=345866")_ </span> Quote
Guest Victek Posted December 6, 2008 Posted December 6, 2008 > If you are planning on installing the SP2 beta then my advise would be to <span style="color:blue"> > image your hard drive (using something like Acronis True Image 2009). As a > beta tester this is something I always do before installing 'any' beta > software. If anything goes wrong, then you can easily revert back to an > earlier version via the image you created. > > As I have said in my previous post, it is far better to use beta software > on a test machine (again something that I already do), but I know many > users don't have access to another machine simply for beta testing > products; therefore it is extremely important that you have an image of > your hard drive to go back to when, either you finish testing SP2 or if > problems occur that cannot immediately be corrected. > > Beta software is not always stable, so it is better to play safe. > > -- </span> I agree. I already image my disk periodically so that's not an issue. I'm going to wait awhile and see what (if any) perceivable improvements result from SP2. Vista SP1 is working well for me at the moment, so I have no reason to mess with it (other then perverse curiosity). Quote
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