Vista SP2

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Well Vista Service Pack 2 CTP is available. Information is scattered across the web, including the Windows Vista home page and the Springboard Series Site. It was first released to MSDN and TechNet subscribers. A public download link is now here ( https://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/windowsserver/dd262148.aspx)

So what does this mean for MDT users? Well at the start of the week we thought there would be an update required, by the middle we were hoping not. Now we know there will be an update required. The update discovered so far is for Language Packs. If you are not deploying language packs you may be OK integrating SP2 into MDT at the moment. Work is still going on in this area and nothing is set in stone yet. Watch the Official Deployment Blog for announcements. (https://blogs.technet.com/msdeployment/)

It’s important to note that this release will embody a single service pack covering both client (Windows Vista) and server (Windows Server 2008), continuing the single serviceability model established with the Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 RTM release. This approach helps reduce the testing and deployment complexity for our customers.
In addition to all previously released updates since the launch of Windows Vista SP1, Windows Vista SP2 adds a few new capabilities:

  • Support for new types of Hardware and emerging standards, including Bluetooth 2.1, the ability to natively record data on Blu-Ray media, support for ICCD/CCID smart cards, and support for the new VIA 64-bit CPU
  • Wi-Fi setup and maintenance is simplified with the addition of Windows Connect Now (WCN)
  • The ex-FAT file system is enabled, supporting UTC timestamps to ensure correct file synchronization across time zones
  • Windows Search 4.0 is included, which provides users faster and more relevant results. Windows Search 4.0 also allows Group Policy integration, which provides administrative control over search parameters
  • End users should also experience improvements in resume performance when a Wi-Fi connection is no longer available

 

This post was contributed by Richard Trusson a Senior Consultant with Microsoft Services UK.