Mike Nash and Justin Graham announced the Customer Preview Program for Service Pack 2 Beta for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 on the The Windows Blog and the Windows Server Division Weblog earlier this week.

While MSDN and TechNet Plus subscribers have access to the Beta builds of this Service Pack, mere mortals had to wait until today to gain access to the bits. This wait is over!

Download links

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta and Windows Server 2008 Beta 2 can be downloaded from the following locations:

• Windows Vista en Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Beta
  Windows Update Experience Kit
  This is the hassle free way to get Service Pack installed on your Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 and/or Windows Server 2008 (includes Service Pack 1) boxes. The 2KB cmd file and the docx file for dummies included in this download allow you to unlock Service Pack 2 Beta from Windows Update. You can then download Service Pack 2 with all the benefits of the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) and the Windows Automatic Updates Service. (WuauServ)
• Windows Vista en Windows Server 2008 ServicePack 2 Beta ISO
  Have a need to install Service Pack 2 Beta on multiple systems and/or multiple architectures? Use this 1210 MB weighing DVD image file for English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 installations. The file includes the x86 and x64 version of Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and the x86, x64 and IA64 version of Service Pack 2 for Windows Server 2008.
• Windows Vista en Windows Server 2008 ServicePack 2 Beta x86
  Still enjoying your x86 installations of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008? This stand-alone installer for Service Pack 2 is made for you! 388 Megabytes brings you the glory of Service Pack 2 for English, German, French, Spanish and Japanese versions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.
• Windows Vista en Windows Server 2008 ServicePack 2 Beta x64
  Have you transitioned to 64bit computing already? Take the next step on Route 64 and install the Beta build of Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista x64 and Windows Server 2008 x64. Pedal to the floor on Route 64!
• Windows Server 2008 ServicePack 2 Beta IA64
  A collectors item at the moment it was released! This update may not be excluded in any serious Microsoft Update collection. Also very useful to update Intel Itanium versions of Windows Server 2008 to Service Pack 2 Beta…

Service Pack 2 information

Service Pack 2 includes all the updates, released for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 up to date. Application Compatibility updates are also part of the package. New functionality is also present, as described below:

Windows Vista

Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista includes the Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless. This means Service Pack 2 allows Windows Vista owners and users to connect to Bluetooth 2.1 devices, use the Unified Pairing user interface and Windows Connect Now updates.

Windows Vista SP2 also enables recording data on Blu-Ray drives from within Windows Vista. Another nice touch is sidebar gadgets requiring less resources, which is nice for those of you addicted to these little information providers.

Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 also works with new hardware. VIA 64bit CPU support is now available, as well as ICCD/CCID hardware. Ever been annoyed with Windows Vista not connecting to your Wi-Fi network after resuming from sleep? Also fixed.

Windows Server 2008

The list with new functionality for Windows Server 2008 is a bit different, although both Microsoft products use the same installer.

The most appealing feature is the integration of Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008 after installing Service Pack 2. Other welcome features are improved power settings and the ability to enable the DNS Server on the ISATAP address.

Getting started with SP2

Microsoft provided excellent resources to get started with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Beta and what to look for in this release to ensure a smooth upgrade of your environment to Service Pack 2:

• Frequently Asked Questions: Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Beta and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta
• Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta Release Notes
• Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Beta Release Notes
• Notable Changes in Windows Server 2008 SP2 Beta and Windows Vista SP2 Beta
• Windows Vista SP2 Beta and Windows Server 2008 SP2 BetaTest Focus Guide
• Release Notes for this Beta Release of Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2
• Hotfixes and Security Updates in Service Pack 2
• Installing this Beta Release of Windows Server 2008 with Service Pack 2
• Windows Server 2008 SP2 Deployment Guide

Concluding

Enjoy the Beta of Service Pack 2 on Windows Vista and/or Windows Server 2008.

More reading

Announcing the Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 CPP
Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) CPP!
Windows Vista SP2 Beta Available to TechNet and MSDN Subscribers
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta Download Available
Vista SP2: What’s inside?
Microsoft expands Vista SP2 testing
Windows Vista SP2 – What's Inside? What's Important?
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta hits Technet and MSDN
Windows Vista and Server 2008 SP2 is opened up to the public, target release date
Microsoft Delivers Service Pack 2 Beta 2 for Vista, Server 2008
Windows Server 2008 R2 CPP Resources
Windows Vista SP2 Arrives
Vista SP2 CPP Announced!
Windows Vista SP2 Beta Public Download
Beta 2 of Vista SP2 now available to anyone

Disclaimer Beta Software

The information on this webpage applies to software from Microsoft that was in testing phase but utilizable by experienced users by the time the webpage was written. This software has not been released for sale, distribution or usage for the general public. The information on this webpage and the beta software are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.