News

Windows Vista SP2 Released to Manufacturing

Microsoft rolled out Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 in its "release to manufacturing" form.

• By Kurt Mackie
• 04/29/2009

The release-to-manufacturing designation typically means that the software is ready for imaging and loading on new PCs by original equipment manufacturers and system builders. It's one step beyond the release candidate final testing stage. Microsoft announced the availability of SP2 release candidate for Vista back in late February.

The final SP2 software will be available to the public sometime in the second quarter of 2009, according to Microsoft's announcement, which didn't specify an exact date.

IT pros that want to block getting SP2 through Microsoft's Automatic Update service, whenever that happens, can use Microsoft's Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit. The block typically lasts for "one year after general availability of the service pack," according to the Windows Vista team blog.

The service pack blocker has already expired for Windows Vista SP1, ending on April 28, 2009. It's set to stop blocking Service Pack 3 for Windows XP on May 19, 2009.

SP2 for Vista and Windows Server 2008 will contain improved search, simplified Wi-Fi setup, and added support for Blu-Ray media and Bluetooth wireless technologies. Microsoft's "Notable Changes" TechNet document describes the details.

A single installer will be available to apply the SP2 upgrade to both Vista and Windows Server 2008, according to a Microsoft Windows desktop blog.