Vista SP2 Release Candidate available to the public

Thanks for the heads up, DaveBax, but I have no strong urge to be a nonpaid tester for M$.

Why don't they do their own testing and put out a finished product?

I understand but this isn't a beta and I agree with you 100%. I did it after a friend told me it made his vista faster. So thought I would try it and pass the information on to those who may want it.

From the microsoft download page...

Windows Server 2008/Windows Vista SP2 Release Candidate apply to people, organizations, and technical enthusiasts who are comfortable evaluating prerelease software. This prerelease software is provided for testing only. We do not recommend installing this software on primary or mission-critical systems. Installation of Service Pack 2 Release Candidate will result in Microsoft collecting information about the installation process, even if the installation is not completed. Wet recommend that you have a backup of your data before you install any prerelease software.

That says to me it is still a beta.....

I'll let you mugs test it

Wiz...it ain't on my machine. No urge to see if I can fly, either. Not with my fat kiester.

actually i downloaded it on the 20th of feb, and it is still sitting on my d drive just waiting, for what? i dont know, maybe the day that if something goes bad, i can just reformat and reinstall

Just thought I would put it out there in case anyone was interested. Guess all the tech forums I tried to check out before I put this up were not correct. Don't blame any of you. If I have or hear of any problems I will be back. Not something I have done before just had a good feeling about this that it may really be as close to a final realeas as you can get. Had a chance to get actual beta but didn't go for that.

For those who haven't dl'd it yet,I saved it  and found that you will need a DVD disc to burn it to which I had,luckily.I may camp on it for awhile until I check out reports of any bugs.

[Edit] There is an option to save to HDD,I just didn't see it.

Thanks for the heads up Dave, I imagine the tip will be valuable to those who want to test it out.

Thanks for thinking of the community.

For those contemplating installing this,a heads up. It will put "Windows Vista(TM) Evaluation copy.Build6002" on the bottom right of your desktop,which makes your wallpaper look like a MS advertisement.

 I noticed no problems or improvements with it,it just puts this ugly crap on the screen. I'll be uninstalling it and waiting for the release version.No thanks MS!

well seems like you all try stardock beta's all the time whats the differnce?

I would say there's a very big difference, one is a beta update to your computers OS, mess that up and you have major problems, the other is a software package that you can recover very easily from if there are problems.

Stardock's beta apps are just programs. SP2 is intergraded through your whole OS.

Darn you Philly. I'm slow again.

Dave...don't misunderstand. Thanks for the heads up...I do appreciate it. I'm an old coot and kinda stuck in my ways. The high falootin' tech stuff is for you young whippersnappers!

*edit...very smart move not installing the 'actual'.

As for SP2,it has been running fine on my rig so far. (HP /32bit Vista Ultimate) I will keep it,uninstalling it worries me more than installing it. I can always cover up the ugly text on my screen with one of PDJ's DX Themes.

Now that is one thing I object to... after paying for my Vista license, I don't want MS indelibly stamping some kind of identifying brand on my desktop.  Nope, shouldn't have to tolerate that after paying good money... this desktop is mine, and I won't be installing Vista SP2 until that text is removed with the final release.

Yeah, I know, I could cover the text with a Winstep Xtreme  desktop module... but it's the principle of the thing.

Running a dream should hide the text for you.

Absolutely correct! MS has no rights to my desktop either!

Wiz: could you post a screen shot of the thing you're talking about? Is it wallpaper or what? Sorry if I'm being denser than lead.

Well i made the jump to SP2, and it installed without a hitch, is there a difference? well maybe a tiny performance increase, but no problems whatsoever, then again i am always messing with settings and such, that if the worst happens i just reformat and reinstall, and that keeps me busy and out of trouble messing something else up, only way to learn is by mistakes

I think im going to wait on this one......

I have my comp running and looking GREAT!!!!

But thanks anyway