Does Microsoft Windows Vista SP2 really can help? I was remember I have to wait for 33778 Days and 6 hours for copy 18.8GB data from external disk to Microsoft Windows Vista SP1.

Microsoft is doing their best to rush out Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista so there will be additional incentive for folks to upgrade to Window Vista now, instead of waiting for Windows 7. So the latest schedule should come as no surprise.

A confidential source has revealed that Microsoft will deliver a Release Candidate in February, 2009 with the final SP2 binary scheduled for RTM (Release To Manufacturing) in April, 2009.

As always, do remember that when Microsoft announces that a product is RTM, it doesn’t mean you will be able to download it right away. RTM merely means it is “released to manufacturing”, including OEMs. Actual public release will be sometime later. Release to web (RTW) will also occur sometime after RTM.

What’s New In Windows Vista SP2?

• Adds Windows Search 4.0 for faster and improved relevancy in searches.
• Contains the Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack supporting the most recent specification for Bluetooth Technology.
• Ability to record data on to Blu-Ray™ media natively in Windows Vista.
• Adds Windows Connect Now (WCN) to simplify Wi-Fi Configuration.
• Enables the exFAT file system to support Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) timestamps, which allows correct file synchronization across time zones.

Source: link 1 & link 2

click here for enlarge.

Now you can try it online without install on your desktop or laptop. Basically it’s “Windows Vista SPI Ultimate Test Drive” from TechNet Virtual Labs that let you test Windows Vista online inside IE browser without making any changes to your current work environment.

Fill in your email address and just your country and you will see the 4 ENTER icon as below

Click on if it and start your Windows Vista testing online.

Here you go.

The blogs will be judged on the basis of quality of content, integrity, along with the frequency of updates. 10 blogs will be shortlisted and put up for public voting. From the top 5, the Winner will be selected.

The Panel of Judges comprises of Steve Sinchak MVP of TweakVista.com, John Barnett MVP of VistaSupport.mvps.org, Kerry Brown MVP of VistaHelp.ca, Steven Bink of Bink.nu, James Stables of Windows Vista Magazine, Emil Protalinski of Arstechnica and etc.

This should be a great opportunity for Vista bloggers to showcase their blogs. There are prizes to be won too. The contest will be open from 10th Aug 2008 to 09th Sept 2008.

For more details pleaseclick here.

1. Shutdown your Computer

• Shutdown.exe -s -t 00

• Force all applications to close and shutdown immediately
• Shutdown.exe -s (After 30s…)

2. Restart Computer

• Shutdown.exe -r -t 00

3. Sleep Computer

• Rundll32.exe Powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState Sleep

4. Lock your Computer

• Rundll32.exe user32.dll LockWorkStation

5. Hibernate Computer

• Rundll32.exe Powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState Hibernate

So for anyone who would like to make your life easy, you can create a shortcut button that link to the related command show as above.

Enjoy!

Hi there -

Quick reminder for all of you out there who helped test Windows Vista SP1 and may still be running Release Candidate builds (any build less than 6.0.6001.18000). The RC builds will expire on June 30th – so if you happen to running one, be sure to uninstall it before the end of the month. More info is available in the SP1 Forum.

Thanks,

From Microsoft Update Product Team Blog.

How do you know if you’re running a pre-release build?

If your desktop says “For Evaluation Purposes”, you are running time-limited beta/RC software and will need to uninstall.  Another check is to hit the start button and type “WinVer” – if it lists an expiration date then you have a time-limited version of SP1.

How do you uninstall pre-release versions of Vista SP1?

If you installed SP1 Beta/RC as an update to an existing RTM version of Vista, you can probably uninstall it directly.  For instructions on how to uninstall SP1, please see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948537.  The best way is to uninstall from the “Programs and Features” control panel icon, using the “View Installed Updates” option on the left, click Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB936330), and then click Uninstall.

If you did a full install (a.k.a clean install) of SP1 from a DVD or network share, or updated an RTM version using the DVD to do an upgrade full install, there is no uninstall method; we recommend you back up your data, reformat, and start with an RTM DVD (and then install SP1) or a final SP1 integrated install DVD.  While you may be able to force upgrade using a full install upgrade, this isn’t a recommended practice over the Beta or RC version of SP1.

Installing the final build of SP1 after the uninstall of the pre-release build

If you want to install the final SP1 build after uninstall is complete, first check Windows Update. If Windows Update offers you SP1, that’s the best way to install. If Windows update does not offer SP1 your computer may have one of the problematic drivers we have documented in http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948343. If you installed the Beta or RC builds, you probably dealt with this with already and it wasn’t a major issue. If you don’t see SP1 on Windows Update, you should visit the download center to install the standalone SP.

So how? Backup everything on my drive C:\, format it and install Linux.

click here for biggest picture.

My desktop setup:

• Microsoft Windows Vista x64 SP1.
• 8GB physical RAM.
• Non-brand Desktop.

Let me explain what I did:

• More than 75 applications running simultaneously. (Still can’t beat 165 Linux applications)
• Running 2 x VMware ESX 3.0.x(1024MB RAM for each ESX Server) on top of VMware Workstation 6.0.3
• Running 2 x Windows 2003 Server(512MB RAM for each Win2K3) on top of VMware Workstation 6.0.3.
• Running Ubuntu 8.04 beta(1024MB RAM) on top of VMware Workstation 6.0.3.
• Running Windows 2008 Data Center(2048MB RAM) on top of VMware Workstation 6.0.3.
• Running SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 (1024MB RAM) on top of VMware Workstation 6.0.3.

Look carefully on my Windows Task Manager -> Performance:

• CPU Usage about 30%
• Memory usage 7.79GB
• Page File 7179M

Conclusion:

I don’t feel any lack, slow or halt  in my machine so far and I’m happy with the results.I know this is not a good benchmark test but I think I’m happy with return of investment.

Upgrade your PC and PC fair is coming soon!

starting tomorrow, we can resume the Windows Vista automatic update and installation of the Servicing Stack Update.

I have a quick update for you about Windows Vista SP1. The Microsoft Update Blog contains some important information about updates to the SP1 prerequisite distribution plan. Starting tomorrow, we are resuming the automatic update and installation of the Servicing Stack Update.

In mid-April, we will begin distributing SP1 (in the first 5 languages) using the Automatic Update system. We have a lot of Windows users, so not everyone will get it on the same day. In fact, it will go to a small percentage of Windows Vista users each day. The exact timing of when you will receive it depends on when your PC is ready for Windows Vista SP1.

In addition to starting the automatic delivery of the first 5 languages, I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you that also we’re on track for the initial release of SP1 in the remaining languages in mid-April.

How about Windows Vista source code leaked?

Source: Chris Flores from Windows Vista Team Blog.

PIKOM PC Fair 2008 (I)
Dates and Venues

Initially I have a 4G ran running and I think it’s going to fully utilize soon. Am I crazy?

I’m actually running Vista x64 with service pack 1 and VMware Workstation 6.x.

Beside this, I have 2 x VMware ESX 3.x, OpenFiler(iSCSI storage), 2 x Windows 2003(one for VMware license server and another one for Virtual Center) running on top of my VMware Workstation 6.x. Again I have SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 & 10, Ubuntu 8.04 beta, Windows Server 2008, Windows XP Professional running in my VMware ESX server. Look, high demand right?

Mostly this is my development and production(so called) desktop for my personal interest, testing, R&D.

If you would like to have the similar setup like me, please remember to split your virtual guest and host into different hard disk. The bottle neck is on hard disk, hdd read and write input output may slow down performance. Just my personal tips