According to my sources, Microsoft will soon ship an unexpected
"refresh build" of Windows Vista to its technical beta testers and some
corporate customers. Previously, the company had been shipping
Community Technology Preview (CTP) builds of Vista to its testers and
other audiences, including MSDN subscribers, only every month or two.
I'm told that the refresh build is build 5342 and will require
different product keys than the previous CTP.

"Microsoft is considering releasing updated Windows Vista code to TAP
[Technology Adoption Program] customers in the coming weeks," a
Microsoft representative confirmed. "Microsoft regularly provides our
TAP customers with regular Windows Vista code releases and this
upcoming code release is consistent with our past engagement with this
group. The Windows Vista code will not be a CTP release. As previously
announced, Microsoft expects the next CTP will conclude the Beta 2
process and we are on track to deliver the next CTP in the second
quarter of this year. We have no information to share on the features
or timing of the TAP release or the next CTP release and will follow up
when we have more to share."

The Microsoft representative also told me that the company would ship
an update to the Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 Preview code next
week at the Mix '06 trade show. The IE 7 Beta 1 Preview was released in
late January.

It's unclear why Microsoft has chosen to ship a Vista refresh build at
this time, although I'm told the company is using it as a testing board
for the extensive feedback it's gotten since the last CTP, which was
issued in February. According to my sources, the refresh build will not
meet CTP quality measurements and will ship only in the Vista Ultimate
edition, for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems.

Microsoft originally expected to ship a CTP build in April, although
that release could be pushed back until May, according to sources. That
CTP should be made available to the public via Web downloads