RSSWindows Vista SP2 beta, WS2K8 SP2 beta released
By Scott M. Fulton, III | Published December 5, 2008, 3:44 PM
The first public tests of Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 2 and Windows Server Service Pack 2 (both have the same kernel) were released this morning, and you can download them for yourself now.
For simple functionality tests, you'll probably want to test both beta editions inside safe, virtual environments. For the Vista SP2 beta, you should use Virtual PC 2007 SP1 to first create a fully working virtual machine around Vista SP1, then use the SP2 download to upgrade that VM. For the WS2K8 SP2 beta, try VMRCplus, a freebie utility from Microsoft that manages virtual server machines created with Virtual Server 2005 R2.
However, with Hyper-V integration now a key feature of WS2K8 SP2, you won't be able to test that feature in a virtual environment because the hardware-based hypervisor cannot be virtualized. For that, you'll want a typical hardware-based pilot system; and while you may be tempted to use an old PC lying around, if it's too old, you won't be able to test Hyper-V.
What you will need to test the Hyper-V role is a 64-bit CPU that uses hardware-based Data Execution Prevention (DEP). Although that's supposed to be a common feature in CPUs since about 2005, you'd be surprised how few actually have it. Your best shot is to use a late-model 64-bit Intel Xeon or AMD Opteron processor (or processor cluster) than a Core 2 or an Athlon.
when i downloaded this it said it was SP1 on install
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|Microsoft isn't being stupid their being "careful" I'll explain, there is an exploit running in the wild that Vista Service Pack 2 has the "fix for" integrated into it. That's why the Beta is being pushed Publicly some of you may have heard about it, most have not. That's why MS is throwing this one out to everyone using Windows Update. I don't remember what the particular exploit actually is, but the exploit was to be addressed in the Service Pack 2 and Microsoft must deem it "critical to be pushing it". So folks worry about whether their being stupid later and patch your Windows Vista installations now. Debate the significance later...LOL.
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|"That's why MS is throwing this one out to everyone using Windows Update."
This is a manual download not yet available through WU. I won't bother spoiling the veracity of the remainder of your post as the above pretty much sums it up quite nicely.
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|It's being pushed, go over here and have a look to read up about it doesn't anyone ever read anything here or are you folks just pulling information out of thin air. More like "your fanny".
http://www.computerworld...18&intsrc=news_list
I downloaded it for a friend from Windows Update,....Duh? Oh that's right it's not available there...Duh??
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|"However, as for MS being stupid, the people stating this doesn't realize how powerful the WinPE and recovery portions of Vista are."
Thats because they need to be because Vista is so bad! :lol:
I have used Vista since Nov 2006 and i have wanted to go back to XP ever since.......... :(
I hope this SP will change my mind!
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|Well,,,,,,, Don't get your hopes up. The infamous 0x80070002 (ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND) shut down my installation almost before it started. KB947821 does nothing but run install, use up cpu's. rofl!!!
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|You're right about Vista there AnthonySPT.
Though XP could quite happily have upgraded any FAT partitions it was to be installed on to NTFS before install started. I can only guess they just didn't want to risk people screwing about during the short process and loosing data.
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|In order of the posts...
Not sure on UTorrent, I also use it, and it works fine, no settings had to be changed. Check your firewall settings as a first guess, or reinstall UTorrent.
(I'm an official tester so have been running SP2 for a while now.)
As for some of the other comments, as to MS being stupid for releasing SP2 Beta to the general public, and telling people to backup...
I agree everyone should backup, but that is pretty easy with Vista, and most people already have their stuff automatically backing up.
However, as for MS being stupid, the people stating this doesn't realize how powerful the WinPE and recovery portions of Vista are.
The installation processes on Vista will notice if the installation fails and rollback the update automatically. There are some really cool technical aspect of the OS level installation processes that are used for SPs.
And if something 'unforseen' makes your system take a dump and not reboot (which I have not heard about), it is an easy fix.
Just slip in your Vista DVD and roll the system back to the minute before you installed SP2, and all if fixed.
A few things make this not so risky to release because of how NT and Vista are designed.
One of the major things is NTFS being fully journaled for things like this, so the FS knows what has changed and why, and can fix the failed installation. And this is just the FS level rolling back FS transactions that failed (like if you powered off during install, etc.)
NTFS having 'copy on write' allows in place restore points seamlessly so the user can roll the system back to before the update perfectly.
If this was OS X or Linux where you don't have full journalling or a FS capable of 'copy on write' it would be a very scary move for anyone to release a full SP beta like this.
It would be far more scary on XP as well, even though XP at least has restore points, but not as robust FS level journalling enabled or Vista's more advanced installation mechanisms.
(This is where it was a very smart move for MS to require Vista to install on NTFS as there are no people running it on a FAT installation that doesn't have the advanced features of NTFS. XP being the transition to NT on the desktop and upgrading Win9X users, didn't have this luxury.)
Stability and recovery features are one area it is hard for even the most critical people to poke a stick at Vista. There are some solid architectural reasons for this, and they are what MS 'got right' with Vista.
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|Hmmmm.
So NTFS is the cat's meow in a journaled file system?
Gee, and real OSes have had FULL journaled file systems since the mid 90s...AIX, HP-UX, etc., etc. And that is just eh standard file sysems and doesn't even include such included options as the Andrews filesystem(AFS) and others...
And as far as the Mac and Windows:
"While Mac OS X 10.2.2 also quashes a variety of quotidian bugs, Elvis journaling capabilities are the result of a separate development effort that have been kept carefully under wraps at Apples Cupertino, Calif., campus for at least the past year.
The journaled file system, which will run atop the Macs traditional HFS file scheme, will be switched off by default; users will be able to switch it on via the command line, sources said. They reported that while Elvis runs in the background, enabling the journaled file system will slow current system performance by 10 percent to 15 percent.
The addition of a full-fledged journaled file system scheme signals Apples latest effort to provide enterprise customers with enhanced administration capabilities. In a journaled file system, the file system keeps a log of the hard disks main data activity. In case of a crash or other system failure, the file system can retrieve lost data by consulting the "journal" log, restoring the system to its previous state instead of having to go through the lengthy process of rebuilding it via Unixs file system consistency check (a BSD command that works with HFS file systems) or similar disk-check utilities.
The current version of NTFS, the file system within Windows 2000 and XP, does not handle full-fledged journaling, sources said; change-journal logs note alterations to files but dont provide enough information to reverse them.
Microsoft is expected to step up its journaling file system capabilities by the time it releases the next major version of Windows, codenamed Longhorn (which is expected in 2005). Longhorn will include file system technology that Microsoft is developing as part of its "Yukon" SQL Server database, Microsoft has said. "
http://www.eweek.com/c/a...-OS-X-to-Get-Journaling/
Its always fun to listen to those who think that MS or Apple invented computing...let alone journaled file systems and log files - despite their being late to the part on all counts.
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|Just installed SP2 running x86 version. I've noticed a great increase in system response, which is great! I have a Quad Core 2.8Ghz with 3gigs of RAM. I did notice that UTorrent has stopped working..I dunno why the upgrade would affect that. Anyways, my system is running smoothly and fast.
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|Running the x64 version on this rig, and no, no backup. Indeed my philosophy is I break it, I fix it.
Anyway, it's working great, machine boots and the limited start up programs load in about 20 odd seconds. I've burnt an encoded DVD in 17 minutes which is par for XP, only issue I've found is FF takes its time loading, but this was same prior installation.
Would not dare to install the x86 version though.
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|Yike! Reading the comments so far, I'm reminded of the Mac Davis song which says that's it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way. LOL!
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|Well, I just had a bad flashback from the 8th grade circa 1984. Thanks for that. :P
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|Just be sure to backup your systems BEFORE we start reading about how stupid MS is for releasing a beta that so many will install on their production machine!
LOL!
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|dont you mean, "Keep in mind is a BETA" for all those idiots that will come in here complaining about how the service pack broke their system
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|The fact is too many will throw this on a production machine, just as they will do any release without first making a backup.
Beta, new release, whatever; without first making a backup - and especially as it is a beta version - installation and the resulting gotchas are owned by the user.
It'll be fun to watch...after all, so much of what constitutes humor is laughing at others misfortune... ;-)
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|lol, well said
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|On the other side of the spectrum, do you believe that there are still Windows Server 2003, production machines with virtually zero update? Not even SP1. Reason: "we don't install patches because that will break current working production machines" LOL!
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|**** it. Live on the wild side.
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|Paul... they have already chosen to run Windows...you have to be just a bit adventurous to do that to begin with!
;-))
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|Well they're the stupid ones then!
If people can't understand the simple concept of 'beta' yet they shouldn't be installing stuff on their computers anyhow.
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|And your supportable alternative is?
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|...you're an idiot.
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|That is the best you and the other nitwit can do as a retort for the most unstable OS of the major market contenders?
As far as alternatives. take your pick among the plethora of the Unix and Linux alternatives either on the desktop or enterprise levels!...
But, in order to communicate with your folks, we can't speak TOO far over your heads - after all, its hard to stoop so low as it is...
LOL!
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|My retort wasn't for the "most unstable OS of the major market contenders", it was directed completely at you, and your asinine comments that clutter up this board. If you feel that those who comment here are so far below you, why stick around, stalking your own comments, belittling others? Is this the only contact you have with the world, with exception to the infrequent occasions you leave your mother's basement? I would have a "battle of wits" with you, but it is hard to feel good about fighting an unarmed person. This reply is my last in regards to you, as I have made my point (anything more would require the use of bigger crayons). Spending any more time on you would be time completely wasted, and I don't participate in such endeavors.
PS It's "you folks", not "your folks"....type much? Nitwit, indeed. /shoo
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|The only point you have made is the one a few might not notice if you comb your hair right.
Poor baby, you attempt to dengigrate me as your only contribution is a personal attack that you lament sooooooo convincingly?
LOL!
At least you know whereof you speak, as you make a wonderful example of exactly that which your protestations claim to abhore.
Say goodbye Quincy... Just out of curiousity, Quincy, do you have anything relating to IT to offer? Or just the crap that you claim offends your sensibilities so much? Methinks you protest far too much! At least you embody that which you protest! LOL!
Quincy......LOL!
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