Windows Vista SP2 Beta Now Available to the Public

The beta can be downloaded from this page in either ISO or self-extracting installer format, for either x86 or x64 versions of Vista, as well as Windows Server 2008. It is available in 5 languages only: English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. Remember also that SP2 requires SP1 to be already installed.

For those who want to use Windows Update instead, you can, if you jump through a few hoops. Much as when Microsoft released pre-release versions of XP SP3 and Vista SP2, you have to download and run a script that will create a registry key to allow Windows Update to offer you the download.

The standalone installers weigh in at 388 MB for 32-bit or 614 MB for 64-bit. Expiration date for the beta is either May 1, 2010 according to Windows Update, or June 1, 2010 according to the EULA that displays when the installer runs.

Microsoft has not confirmed an exact date for SP2, though it has said 1H 09. The rumor mill currently gives April as a date, however.

Besides rolling up any fixes between SP1 and SP2, Windows Vista SP2 adds the following:

• Supports the 64-bit processor from VIA Technologies Inc.
• Adds the Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack to supports Bluetooth v2.1.
• Improves audio and video performance for streaming high definition content.
• Adds new capabilities to Direct X Graphic display reliability.
• Provides better performance for Wi-Fi after the PC comes out of sleep mode.
• Improves performance of the RSS feeds sidebar.
• Supports exFAT.
• Improves power management efficiency by up to 10% on both client PCs and servers.
• Detects incompatible drivers, then blocks installation of the service pack, or warns users of possible problems (here we go again).
• Native Blu-ray Disc recording support
• Adds Windows Search 4
• Reduces resources required for sidebar gadgets.