Exclusive: Here Comes Windows Vista RC2 [Updated]

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Paul Thurrott

Windows IT Pro

InstantDoc ID #93715

Microsoft will ship the final prerelease version of Windows Vista on Friday and, unexpectedly, will name the new version Release Candidate 2 (RC2). (Microsoft had stated earlier that it wouldn't ship an RC2 milestone release of Vista.) But don't let the name fool you. RC2 is really just a standard interim build of Vista, but unlike RC1, it won't be distributed to millions of users.

The RC2 build is 5743, and Microsoft is currently testing it internally. As with the previous interim build, 5728, RC2 will go to beta testers, Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) and TechNet subscribers, and a random, limited number of Consumer Preview Program (CPP) members.

Although Microsoft wouldn't confirm the specifics of the release, the company did corroborate that it's planning an upcoming interim Vista build. "As we have previously discussed, Microsoft does plan to deliver more interim builds of Windows Vista before releasing the final product," a Microsoft spokesperson told me. "The exact name of the build and the date of its release have not been announced."

This is the last build Microsoft will be making available to the public prior to release to manufacturing (RTM). The RTM--which had been expected to be "on or before October 25"--has been adjusted slightly. Now, the Vista launch window begins October 18, when Microsoft will begin testing the final planned build for RTM. But Microsoft doesn't expect to finalize the product until sometime between October 25 and November 8.

Internal documentation notes that each daily delay after October 25 comes at a price, however: For each day past October 25, Microsoft will ship one less localized, language-specific version of Vista for the January launch. However, the company is prepared to do that to ensure that Vista's quality is high.

The internal documentation also notes that Vista still has more than 1400 bugs. Microsoft's internal processes require this bug count to drop to 500 or fewer before the product can go into escrow for RTM. By comparison, Vista had more than 2470 bugs on September 22.

In related news, Microsoft will be changing the product keys it uses for Vista after the product hits the RTM escrow phase. Consequently, users won't be able to use prerelease Vista product keys to install the RTM version. My understanding is that this change won't affect the RC2 release.

Update: Since this article was first written, Microsoft has had to advance the RC2 build to 5744.16384.061003-1945. The company still plans to ship RC2 to testers on Friday.

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There were Win32 Days in the 1980's? i remember 8-bit and 16-bit, but i never knew that there were 32-bit days in the 1980s. And to think, i could have therefore run my copy of windows 3.1 in 32-bit mode...hmm

anyways...to quote ignorance...

"Maybe you didn't read my post thoroughly, but that's exactly what I wrote. Express means critical and Custom means critical+non-critical. My point was that the labels make absolutely no sense. Express should be called Critical and Custom should be called All. It's more illogical interface design from Microsoft."

Maybe on the online windows update site, express and custom could be thought of as that, but the what they actually do is, Express gets it over with right away by just downloading the critical updates, whereas, Custom lets you select exactly which updates you want from critical, and non critical updates. They call it custom because its custom, maybe you dont want a specific update because you have some oddball software package that has an issue with a particular update or something.

I think i speak for everyone when i say that Windows vs Apple is a matter of opinion only, in that they have far different idealogies, far different marketshare and customer base to try to appeal to, and far different issues in almost every aspect.

For example, Apple is a hardware and software company, whereas microsoft OS'es use the standard PC Architecture, and have alot more hardware and drivers to deal with. configuration in a large corporation, whereas Apple systems are 99.999% of the time used at home. Mac OS 9 has irritated me before when a missing font screwed the whole system, and microsoft irritates me in that everyone develops viruses for it and nobody makes a lightweight and reliable program to stop viruses. Yes, we all have our opinions, but unless theyre about windows, they dont really belong on this site. This article is about WINDOW S VISTA.

The Mikeness 10/19/2006 1:15:07 PM

Bonch(preseton) whatever

So you have inside knowledge of all of the code used in Vista do you? Thought not. You talk about install font. Is that the best you can do for a criticism. Please.

Where did I say that IT pros would be immediately installing Vista. Don't put words into my mouth.

Vista has a completely different security model to XP. How many times has 2K3 server been broken? Considering Vista is derived from that codebase, I'm betting that it going to be a damn sight more robust than XP.

Vista is a compelling update, it may not be you in Mac World, but it is to me and I suspect much to your annoyance, that it will have a larger installed userbase within a month than Apple has on this planet. Do I feel smug. YES.

Al10/9/2006 2:51:20 AM

@sticknick:

"Funny - that sounds more like Apple fans to me."

Nah, Apple fans are the hip libertarians who go to parties and clubs on the weekends and do photography and write novels during the work week. :-D

@alanm999:

"Vista is 10 times as secure as XP because of the way it has been written. Silly boy."

10 times, eh? The way it was written? Can you be any more vague? Vista is more secure than XP, but it's still the same old Windows code with an extremely annoying dialog prompt. What's worse, it's still based on Win32 which dates back to the single-user DOS days of the 1980s.

"UAC isn't designed for IT Pro's, its designed for the man in the street. As such it very good idea."

It's nice that it's there, but I doubt that it will stop the security issues that plague the legacy Win32 code. Besides, other systems like Linux and OS X are able to implement secure desktop systems without constant, annoying user prompts--why was Microsoft unable to do this?

"Considering most IT pro's work in a corporate environment where Admin access will be turned off by default UAC isn't required."

Most IT pros won't be installing Vista for at least a year or two.

Vista will be a very slow seller. It might even be slower than XP was, which took years to overtake 98. It's just not a compelling update. Hell, Vista still has the same Windows 3.1 "Install Font" dialog from 15 years ago. I don't need to tell you that a certain other OS used by desktop publishers has a more modern font book interface for managing installed fonts.

Preston10/6/2006 8:39:48 PM

I've installed RC2 and noticed that Microsoft STILL didn't fix the bug on multi-monitor setups, where maximizing a window on the second display makes the taskbar on the first display go opaque. At the Shell Blog, they just revealed that this is one of many bugs that won't get fixed in time for RTM. Ugh. Vista is rushed.

Preston10/6/2006 8:31:35 PM

unMatChedProWess:

Just in case Alan made you feel like you don't belong in the club, here's a good way to win over the hearts of everyone on this forum except Losta, Preston and me:

Just say something bad about Apple, Macs, iPods, or OS X. Seriously, you don't even have to look something up. Just say that every time someone boots up OS X, a puppy dies. No need for proof or facts.

It's like insta-popularity on the WinSuperSite forums.

Bryan10/6/2006 7:21:43 PM

unMatChedProWess

Vista performance is great, better than XP, runs all of my games just fine (along with everything else I've thrown at it).

Sadly you gave the game away, as you are no self respecting IT pro.

Vista is 10 times as secure as XP because of the way it has been written. Silly boy.

UAC isn't designed for IT Pro's, its designed for the man in the street. As such it very good idea.

Considering most IT pro's work in a corporate environment where Admin access will be turned off by default UAC isn't required.

Get off the Vista bashing bandwagon and do some research before coming on here and boring thr rest of us.

Al10/6/2006 9:37:50 AM

Ugh, so many incompatibilities, performance still sucks compared to XP, especially when using the explorer and running games. MS better do more work on performance or no one would upgrade; XP is just as secure as Vista and no self-respecting IT pro will use UAC.

Neutron10/5/2006 6:14:35 PM

"Microsoft fans are like young Republicans. They're weird, they're outcasts, they're aggressive and militant about their beliefs, and they never get laid. It's just an operating system, for God's sake."

I wasn't gonna take the bait, but:

Funny - that sounds more like Apple fans to me.

Stick10/5/2006 10:28:48 AM

@shark47:

"Seriously, that was funny, even though it made no sense. Wait, aren't you the guy who calls his computer "honey"???"

Uh, no.

"BTW, Express means critical updates and Custom means you can choose which updates to install. Now what don't you understand about that?"

Maybe you didn't read my post thoroughly, but that's exactly what I wrote. Express means critical and Custom means critical+non-critical. My point was that the labels make absolutely no sense. Express should be called Critical and Custom should be called All. It's more illogical interface design from Microsoft.

Preston10/5/2006 9:36:34 AM

Young republicans get laid... the only problem is that it's by being pages for republican congressmen seeking same-sex relationships with youths.

Preseton is right about the button labelling on Windows Update. If "Express" simply downloads Critical updates, then label it "Install Critical Updates".

Then again, considering the vast majority of Windows users are Joe Sixpacks, perhaps they shuld label it "Make me safe now"

Vandil10/5/2006 8:37:13 AM

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