Windows XP SP2 Beta-1 & WU5 Preview Officially Announced

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 Microsoft today informed all Windows XP SP2 beta testers about the availablity of Beta 1 of Service Pack 2 for Microsoft Windows XP.

Although the beta was already made avaliable yesterday but many users were experiencing difficulties in accessing Download area at WindowsBeta. According to the Microsoft representative, all major issues identified by the users have been resolved. So if you haven't grabbed your copy of beta-1, you can get it right now.

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Along with Windows XP SP2 Beta-1, as expected, Microsoft also announced Windows Update V5 Preview Program. Once you have installed the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Beta, the Windows Update pre-release site will be available to you. Read the release information about the new features available at http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v5Co...SiteVersion.htm.

- Primary goals: Recruit feedback on Windows Update features and find bugs
- Release date: December 2003 along with the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Beta program
- Target: Initially, the Windows Update pre-release will only be made available to Windows XP Home and Professional users who have upgraded to Windows XP Service Pack 2.

Currently Xp SP2 beta-1 is available in English & German languages. According to another MS Lead Program Manager, the beta will be available in German and Japanese as well as English. MUI language packs will work on top of the English version as well.

Service Pack 2 for Windows XP is available in several versions:

1. Standalone (xpsp2.exe) - A single file available for download that will install SP2 to your existing Home or Pro installation.
2. Express install (xpsp2-express.exe)- A much smaller single file available for download that will connect over the internet and apply SP2 to your existing Home or Pro installation. Recommended for low bandwidth connections.
3. SP2 Integrated Home Edition - A complete CD image of Windows XP Home Edition. Recommended only for clean installs, not to be used to update existing Home edition installs.
4. SP2 Integrated Professional Edition - A complete CD image of Windows XP Professional Edition. Recommended only for clean installs or Professional, or for upgrading existing Home Edition installations to Pro SP2.
5. Standalone CD - A CD image containing #1 above.

All of these versions are available at WindowsBeta now. A copy of #5 will be mailed shortly to the participants that requested one.

For those of you who are not selected or didn't apply for the beta program, you can get the copy of Beta 1 of Windows XP SP2 at ieXbeta IRC channel.

You can see the different versions of Windows XP SP2 2055 build available @ WindowsBeta in the screenshots below.

Screenshots: Builds CD Images
Screenshots: Utilities German Images
View: Email Sent
View: ieXbeta Story: Windows XP Service Pack 2 Beta-1 Out!
News source: ieXbeta