14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is making headway with the development process of Windows Vista SP2, getting closer and closer to wrapping up the second service pack for the operating system. Currently in RTM-Escrow phase, the Redmond company has produced a new build of the service pack, which it has served to selected testers. Vista SP2 RTM-Escrow Build 6002.17043.090312-1835 is reportedly available to participants in the Beta testing process via Microsoft Connect. However, the release has not made it into the wild, but as Microsoft actually opened up the RTM-Escrow build of Vista SP2 to additional testers, the bits are bound to be leaked, just as it was the case for previous development milestones of the service pack.
Microsoft is offering Vista SP2 RTM-Escrow Build 6002.17043.090312-1835 packaged in accordance with the same model of previous releases, not just as standalone installers, but also as slipstream ISO images, in addition to being made available via Windows Update, according to Neowin. Of course that the actual bits are not limited to upgrading Vista, but also Windows Server 2008. The downloads bring to the table new RTM-Escrow builds for both Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008.
The most recent development release of Vista SP2, also labeled RTM-Escrow, to make it out of Redmond was Build 6002.17506.090313-1730. The development milestone was in fact leaked and made available for download via torrent trackers. At this point in time, Microsoft has failed to confirm or deny the existence of Builds 6002.17506.090313-1730 and 6002.17043.090312-1835. The software giant has kept mum following the delivery of Vista SP2's Release Candidate at the start of this month.
At this point in time, Microsoft is expected to releases Vista SP2 to manufacturing next month, in April 2009. However, the Redmond company has yet to make public a deadline for either the RTM or the General Availability of the bits, in case the two will fail to coincide, as it was the case with the first service pack for Vista.
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) Release Candidate (RC) is available for download here.