Information about Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008

NOTE:  Beginning January 12, 2016, the following operating systems and browser version combinations will be supported: 1.     After January 12, 2016, only the most recent version of Internet Explorer available for a supported operating system will receive technical support and security updates. For example, customers using Internet Explorer 8, Internet Explorer 9, or Internet Explorer 10 on Windows 7 SP1 should migrate to Internet Explorer 11 to continue receiving security updates and technical support.

2.     For more details regarding the support timelines for IE visit the IE Support Lifecycle site.

3.     For more details regarding support timelines on Windows and Windows Embedded, see the Microsoft Support Lifecycle site.

4.     For the policy announcement, see the IEBlog.

How to obtain Service Pack 2

Windows Vista Service Pack 2

For more information about how to obtain Windows Vista Service Pack 2, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
 

Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2

For more information about how to obtain Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
 

Support information for Service Pack 2

Community support options for Windows Vista SP2

When SP2 is released, you will be able to use Microsoft Community to discuss issues that concern Windows Vista and Windows Vista SP2. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
  Note Until the service pack is released, use the Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008 TechNet forum to discuss issues that concern both the service packs. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Community support options for Windows Server 2008 SP2

To discuss issues that concern SP2 for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008, you can also use the following SP2 for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008 TechNet forum. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

What is included in SP2

For more information about what is included in Windows Vista Service Pack 2, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
  To view the release notes for SP2, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
  To view a list of hotfixes and security updates in SP2, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
 

What you may want to know before you install SP2 for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008

Before you install SP2, note the following:

• The installation process might take an hour or more. Therefore, if you are installing SP2 on a portable computer, make sure that you plug in the power cord.
• During the installation, your computer will restart several times. Therefore, save your work, and exit all open programs before you begin.
• After you install SP2, a sound device or some other hardware device may no longer work. If this behavior occurs, just install an updated driver for the device. To do this for a sound device, follow the steps in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:
  948481 How to troubleshoot sound problems that you experience after you install a Windows Vista Service Pack
   
  You may want to add a link to this article in your Bookmarks or Favorites folder in case you need it after the installation is completed.

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) is a prerequisite for installing SP2 in Windows Vista. If you use Windows Update or the Automatic Update feature in Windows Vista, you will not be offered the option to install SP2 until you first install SP1.

For more information about how to install Windows Vista SP1, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
  Note Windows Server 2008 does not have a similar requirement. Windows Server 2008 SP2 is the first service pack available for this product.

Removing the prerelease version of SP2

The prerelease version of SP2 is time-limited software. You must remove the prerelease version of the service pack before you install the final version of the service pack. Also, this software will no longer operate after May 1, 2010. You must remove the prerelease version of SP2 before that date.

To remove the prerelease version of SP2 for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008, follow these steps:

1. Click Start , copy and then paste (or type) the following command in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER:
   appwiz.cpl
2. Click View installed updates.
3. Click Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB948465), and then click Uninstall.
4. Follow the instructions to complete the removal process.

For more information about how to remove Windows Vista service packs, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
 

More information about how to troubleshoot SP2 issues

• For more information about how to troubleshoot installation issues that concern service packs for Windows Vista or for Windows Server 2008, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
   
  947366 Error message when you try to install the stand-alone package for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 or for Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2: "Installation was not successful" or "An internal error occurred while installing the service pack"
• After you install SP2 for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008, a sound device or hardware device may no longer work. If this problem occurs, install an updated driver for the device.
  • To troubleshoot sound problems after you install Windows Vista service packs, follow the steps in the following Knowledge Base article:
    948481 How to troubleshoot sound problems that you experience after you install a Windows Vista Service Pack
  • To troubleshoot hardware issues after you install Windows Vista service packs, follow the steps in the following Knowledge Base article:
    948187 A device driver is not installed or a hardware device does not function correctly after you install a Windows Vista Service Pack
• For more information about programs that have been reported to experience a loss of functionality when you install Service Pack 2 on a Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008-based computer, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
   
  969707 Programs that are known to experience a loss of functionality after you install Windows Vista Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2

More information about SP2 for IT Professionals

IT Professionals should visit the following TechNet Web site for more information about SP2 for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008: