Microsoft released Windows Vista Service Pack 2 to manufacturing on April 28, 2009. As was the case with Vista SP1, the RTM and General Availability dates failed to coincide. However, there are those lucky few that can already download and install the service pack 2 bits for Windows Vista. MSDN and TechNet subscribers got access to Vista SP2 RTM since April 30, and were also subsequently served the DVD ISO image for the second service pack for Vista.

Of course, as the Windows client and server operating system updates are aligned post-SP1, Windows Vista SP2 RTM is accompanied by Windows Server 2008 SP2 RTM. In this regard, DVD ISO images for both Vista SP2 RTM and Windows Server 2008 SP2 RTM are currently available for download to MSDN and TechNet subscribers.

“SP2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 represents Microsoft’s continuing commitment to quality. While most updates contained in SP2 are available as individual downloads, the roll-up convenience of SP2 is a major benefit for administrators. This functionality coupled with new advanced deployment features, such as the single installer and the pre-installation analyzer, means SP2 continues to provide ongoing improvements that our customers have grown to expect from Microsoft,” the Redmond-based company revealed in the Notable Changes in Vista SP2 documentation.

Microsoft has yet to reveal the date at which the public will get access to the final bits of Vista SP2. With the release to manufacturing of Vista SP2, the software giant only mentioned that the service pack would start being served to users in the second quarter of 2009. However, end users will only get SP2 as an update, designed to integrate on top of an existing installation of Vista, and not as a DVD ISO image. Meanwhile, Vista SP2 has been leaked and made available for download from various third parties, including torrent websites.