14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 7 is alone in its evolution from Beta to release Candidate. Even with increasing reports that Windows 7 (7048) Build 6.1.7048.winmain_win7rc1.090211-1625 is actually fake, fact is that Microsoft is already cooking RC-branch builds of the next iteration of Windows beyond 7000, which was the Beta version number. And cooking alongside, but this time around in the Windows Vista pot, is the Release Candidate for Vista's second service pack. Microsoft has made available Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) Release Candidate (RC) Build 6002.16670.090130 to a select pool of testers.
At the end of January 2009, the Redmond company moved Vista SP2 RC into Escrow, focusing on how to stop bugs and regression issues that could impact moving the development process into full Release Candidate stage. At that time, Vista SP2 RC-Escrow Build featured the following version number 6002.16659.090114-1728. In this context, Build 6002.16670.090130 of the full Release Candidate of Vista SP2 is a superseding version.
“Microsoft distributed notification of an update to Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP2 testers in an effort to gain additional feedback. We continuously engage with our partners and testers on the development of service packs and we will track customer and partner feedback from the beta program before setting a final date for distribution. We will have more to share on Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 SP2 soon and are targeting final delivery in Q2 2009,” revealed a Microsoft spokesperson to Mary Jo Foley.
As it was the case with SP1 for Vista, the second service pack is also designed to take not only the Windows client to the next level, but also its server counterpart. In this regard, SP2 RC Build 6002.16670.090130 integrates with both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. The Release Candidate build of SP2 was made available as a standalone download, but also as an integrated slipstreamed ISO and as an update via Windows Update. At this point in time Microsoft failed to provide details as to when the general public might expect the availability of Vista SP2 RC. The Beta releases of Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 were introduced at the start of December 2008.