Download Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta Free

Microsoft has released Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) Beta and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2) Beta as an free update to Windows Server and Windows Vista. Now testers can try the new software update to see the difference.

Microsoft has released these through a Customer Preview Program (CPP) launched on TechNet and is intended for technology enthusiasts, developers, and IT Pros. For most customers, they advise waiting for the final release. Remember Windows Server 2008 SP2 Beta and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta is a prerelease software and provided for testing only. Microsoft will collect information about the installation process, even if the installation is not completed.

Download Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta now and see what goodies are in store. Since Service Pack 1 is a prerequisite for installing Service Pack 2, ensure your system is running Service Pack 1 before you install Service Pack 2. Download Windows Vista SP1 (which you should have got by now anyway) if you want to try SP2.

Windows Vista SP2 Beta fixes specific reliability, performance, and compatibility issues and has some new features like

• Adds Windows Search 4.0 for faster and relevant searches.
• Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack supporting recent Bluetooth Technology.
• Ability to record data on to Blu-Ray media natively.
• Adds Windows Connect Now (WCN) to simplify Wi-Fi Configuration.
• Enables exFAT file system to support UTC timestamps, which allows correct file synchronization across time zones.

You can check the new hotfixes and security updates in Windows Server 2008 SP2 Beta and Windows Vista SP2 Beta before downloading the update. For support issues you can visit the TechNet forum.

Update: As of April 28^th, 2009 the Windows Server 2008 SP2 and Windows Vista SP2 Beta program has concluded

Update 2: Now anyone can download Windows Vista SP2