Thushan Fernando Uncut

Hot on the heels of Office 2007 SP2, Microsoft has RTM Windows Vista SP2 (also applies for Windows Server 2008).

This update brings:

• Windows Search 4.0 for faster and improved relevancy in searches
• Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack supporting the most recent specification for Bluetooth Technology
• Ability to record data on to Blu-Ray media natively in Windows Vista
• Adds Windows Connect Now (WCN) to simplify Wi-Fi Configuration
• Windows Vista SP2 enables the exFAT file system to support UTC timestamps, which allows correct file synchronization across time zones.

More changes are documented on Technet or for more information see the Microsoft Knowledgebase Article KB948465.

• Release Notes for Windows Server 2008 SP2
• Release Notes for Windows Vista SP2
• Hot Fixes and Security Updates in Windows Server 2008 SP2/Windows Vista SP2

The Release Candidate was released in early march.

The slipstreamed versions will appear on MSDN:

Filename: 6002.18005.090410-1830_x86fre_Client_en-us-FRTMCFRE_EN_DVD.iso
Size: 3,243,413,504 bytes
SHA1: 25AD9A776503E6A583BEC07879DBCC5DFD20CD6E
MD5: 19CA90A425667812977BAB6F4CE24175
CRC: E2AD10F9

Filename: 6002.18005.090410-1830_amd64fre_Client_en-us-FRTMCXFRE_EN_DVD.iso
Size: 3,861,460,992 bytes
SHA1: AAEE3C04533899F9F8C4AE0C4250EF5FAFBE29A3
MD5: A1C024D7ABAF34BAC3368E88EFBC2574
CRC: 80B2EDB5

For the moment, keep your eyes on the Technet page (currently, the page title is “New Page copied from Windows Vista SP2″). Otherwise you can download them when available:

• MSDN: Windows Server 2008 SP2 / Windows Vista SP2
  
• TechNet: Windows Server 2008 SP2 / Windows Vista SP2

While your reading, Windows 7 RC should be available very soon! Build you should be looking out for is, 7100.0.winmain_win7rc.090421-1700. Its worth the wait

As for non-subscribers, it should be ‘out in the coming months’.

In addition to the changes made from the Windows 7 Beta release to the soon-to-be-released Release Candidate, a fresh new list of changes were posted today.

Asside from the visual tweaking going on, some important system level changes have taken place:

23. Partition size reduction

In Windows Vista, configuring features such as Windows Recovery Environment and Bit Locker required significant customer interaction.  Also, a significant amount of drive space was reserved. The Windows 7 System partition enables features to be configured to work “out of the box” so very little customer interaction is needed to configure and utilize them.  Based on feedback and telemetry data received through the beta, it became clear that we could cut the drive size in half (from 200M to 100M).

24. Reserved System Partition naming

The system partition is created automatically by Setup when installing on a machine with no existing partitions.  During the Beta the existence of this partition on default installs confused many people and feedback indicated that a label telling them that this is space reserved for the system would be helpful when browsing disk configurations, and further help prevent it’s accidental deletion by enthusiasts. We will now label is “System Reserved”.

25. Dual Boot partition drive letter assignment

For a dual boot configuration for the Beta, the other Windows OS wouldn’t get a drive letter and therefore wouldn’t show up in explorer.  We heard overwhelmingly from Beta customers that the lack of a drive letter was confusing and even caused some to believe that their secondary OS was lost. Assigning the drive letter makes it visible in explorer and aids in navigation across OS installations.

26. Pagefile reduction

Through extensive use of Beta telemetry data, we have determined we can slim down the Windows disk footprint further by reducing the default page file size to be 100% of the available main memory.  It used to be “Memory + 300MB” so on a 1GB RAM system there was an extra third allocated that is no longer required.  The pagefile on some occasions will increase in size if required, but we just pre-allocate less.

27. Improved driver support

Based on telemetry data received from the beta, we identified networking drivers that were not available inbox.  We worked with ecosystem partners to achieve increased inbox driver coverage across wireless and wired with significant coverage for some of the new ATOM-based laptops

Interesting changes to the pagefile pre-alloc reduction.

The release candidate is going to be bootilicious

Thats right, hot off the press that Windows Vista SP2 RC & Windows Server 2008 SP2 RC is now available for your downloading pleasure.

• Windows Server 2008 x86/x64/IA64 and Windows Vista x86/x64
  • Download: 6002.16670.090130-1715_iso_update_sp_wave0-RCSP2.0_DVD.iso
  • Size: 1350.3Mb
• Windows Server 2008 / Vista x86
  • Download: Windows6.0-KB948465-X86.exe
  • Size: 338Mb
• Windows Server 2008 / Vista x64
  • Download: Windows6.0-KB948465-X64.exe
  • Size: 614.4Mb
• Windows Server 2008 IA64
  • Download: Windows6.0-KB948465-IA64.exe
  • Size: 441.9Mb

Enjoy!

Thats right, the moment you’ve been patiently awaiting for has finally arrived. Windows 7 Beta and Windows Server 2008 R2 is now available on Microsoft Connect, MSDN, and on TechNet for subscribers and testers.

Microsoft has promised the first 2.5 million a copy of Windows 7 Beta for the general public, so keep an eye out.

Theres already an update KB961367 being released and included in the items you can download to fix a problem playing MP3s.

Windows 7 Beta (x86) – DVD (English) Includes: Beta;	01-07-2009	Details	Keys	Download
File Name: en_windows_7_beta_dvd_x86_x15-29073.iso Date Posted (UTC): 12/22/2008 2:41:15 PM SHA1: 6071184282B2156FF61CDC5260545C078CCA31EE ISO/CRC: AABA5A48 Available to Levels: MSDN OS (VL); VS Pro with MSDN Pro (VL); MSDN Empower; MSDN OS (Retail); Developer AA; VS Pro with MSDN Pro (Retail); MSDN Enterprise; MSDN Universal (Retail); VSTS Suite (VL); VSTS Architecture Edition (VL); VSTS Development Edition (VL); VSTS Test (VL); VS Pro with MSDN Premium (VL); MSDN Universal (VL); VSTS Database Edition (VL); VS Pro with MSDN Premium (Retail); VSTS Test (Retail); VSTS Development Edition (Retail); VSTS Architecture Edition (Retail); VSTS Suite (Retail); VSTS Database Edition (Retail); BizSpark Startup Administrator; BizSpark Startup Member; Instructions and Resources Update to Windows 7 Beta (KB961367) To protect your MP3 files 1. Before you install this Beta release, back up all MP3 files that might be accessed by the computer, including those on removable media or network shares. 2. Install the Beta release of Windows 7; download and install the Update to Windows 7 Beta (KB961367) located on this page.

And the 64bit build:

Windows 7 Beta (x64) – DVD (English) Includes: Beta;	01-07-2009	Details	Keys	Download
File Name: en_windows_7_beta_dvd_x64_x15-29074.iso Date Posted (UTC): 12/30/2008 4:26:48 PM SHA1: E09FDBC1CB3A92CF6CC872040FDAF65553AB62A5 ISO/CRC: 8E2FAD39 Available to Levels: MSDN OS (VL); VS Pro with MSDN Pro (VL); MSDN Empower; MSDN OS (Retail); Developer AA; VS Pro with MSDN Pro (Retail); MSDN Enterprise; MSDN Universal (Retail); VSTS Suite (VL); VSTS Architecture Edition (VL); VSTS Development Edition (VL); VSTS Test (VL); VS Pro with MSDN Premium (VL); MSDN Universal (VL); VSTS Database Edition (VL); VS Pro with MSDN Premium (Retail); VSTS Test (Retail); VSTS Development Edition (Retail); VSTS Architecture Edition (Retail); VSTS Suite (Retail); VSTS Database Edition (Retail); BizSpark Startup Administrator; BizSpark Startup Member; Instructions and Resources Update to Windows 7 Beta (KB961367) To protect your MP3 files 1. Before you install this Beta release, back up all MP3 files that might be accessed by the computer, including those on removable media or network shares. 2. Install the Beta release of Windows 7; download and install the Update to Windows 7 Beta (KB961367) located on this page.

From Celine Allee:

“After much anticipation, Microsoft has now made Windows 7 Beta available for evaluation and testing to IT professionals! For TechNet subscribers, you can download Windows 7 Beta today here. The beta is your chance to help us with feedback that targets the fundamentals—the ‘quality bar’ that we are setting for Windows 7 on security, reliability, and performance. If you are interested in getting even more involved, the Windows Feedback Program is your chance to directly influence future versions of the Windows operating system. This program is limited to the first 500 IT professionals to sign up, so don’t delay!”

Oooo yeah!

Almost missed this one, Paul Thurrott of WinSuperSite fame has previewed Windows 7 Beta 1 a day before Christmas – he must have been an ultra good  boy in that case.

Well, the waiting is finally over. What you’re looking at here is the eagerly awaited Windows 7 Beta, the pre-release version of Microsoft’s next operating system that will ship publicly by mid-January. As promised, there are no new features exposed in the Beta: Instead, Microsoft has tweaked all of the existed features that were announced at PDC 2008 and provided a build that is capable of day-to-day use. I’ll be reviewing the Windows 7 Beta soon.

Whilst most will have to wait a tinsy bit more before they get their hands on the ‘official’ Beta 1 release – tagged v6.1.7000.0 (winmain.win7beta.081212-1400).

Paul gives us a run down of the installation (part1, part2), first boot (part1 – with Windows Media Player, IE amongst the shots, part2 – Control panel applets, wireless, desktop UI changes).

If that wasnt enough, NeoWin also has a thread from a forum member of the leaked pre-release. Wow, is this not the best Christmas EVAR for l33tle geeks around the globe?

Found an interesting run down of some information about the leaked builds of Windows 7 from WinHEC China by Robert McLaws. Theres also some juicy bits about the much loved boot-screen in the upcoming Windows 7 release.

Thats right, get it while its hawt! SP2 Beta for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 is available for your downloading pleasure. Weighing in at 338Mb its one download for both OS’s.

SP2 is an update to Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista that addresses feedback from our customers and partners. By providing these fixes integrated into a single service pack, Microsoft provides a single high-quality update that minimizes deployment and testing complexity for customers.
In addition to all previously released updates, SP2 will contain changes focused on addressing reliability and performance issues, supporting new kinds of hardware, and adding support for several emerging standards. SP2 will also continue to make it easier for IT administrators to deploy and manage large installations of Windows Server 2008.

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

Technet areas:

• Windows Vista SP2 TechNet
  

• Windows Server 2008 SP2 TechNet

Download links:

Unless you’ve been living under a rock under the Apple tree you would have heard that a little company in Redmond WA has been working on a new version of Windows dubbed Windows 7 (which is what it will actually be called for once!).

At PDC today, Microsoft finally unveiled the much-anticipated release of Windows 7 and handed out pre-beta bits to atendees (tagged 6801.winmain_win7m3.081020-1655). They demonstrated a newer build which was tagged 6933.winmain.081020-184 during PDC which unfortunately was not given out. Unfortunately I couldn’t go due to work constraints, but in case your in the same boat I’ve collected some of the best sources of info out there for you to browse through.

First and foremost, some pretty pictures of the glassy new desktop UI.

Some interesting articles out of the many out there that are recommended reading:

• PC Magazine‘s Inside Windows 7 Pre-Beta – Probably the first thing you should read.
• Extreme Tech‘s Why Windows 7 Will Suck Less Than Vista – Offers a comparison between Vista and 7

For the pretty screenshots, see galleries here and here. More information and probably a bit more discussion will follow soon.

EDIT:
ArsTechnica have got an updated build reviewed which goes into bit more depth too and NeoWin has posted a nice gallery walkthrough of the Win7 UI and details about Vista SP2.

The next addition to in the series for Microsoft staring Bill Gates & Jerry Seinfeld trying to look normal.

A shorter version is also available with part 1 and part 2 in WMV format. Compared to the first release which took the two gentlement to Shoe-Circus I think this new (longer) version is far better.

“I Love a condiment with Booze in it.” – Jerry

“Because as we discussed, you and I are a little out of it… you’re living in some kind of moon house hovering over seatle like the mothership… I got so many cars I get stuck in my own traffic.” – Jerry

“The fact that a design uses inheritance and polymorphisim doesnt make it a good design.” – Bill
“…Are there any monsters in the story?” – Little kid in bed
“Yes! but its ok, theres a firewall.” – Bill

“Power off… ok, power on.” - Jerry whilst Bill doing the Robot

Personally I quite like this one, and the fact that Mr Gates does the robot – I mean come on….

So the commercial thats been on the tip of every geek and Seinfeld fan is finally out. Jerry Seinfeld feat Bill Gates – Shoe Circus…

What the?