Microsoft has just released Windows Vista Release Candidate 2 to beta testers and TAP corporate users. Sources have confirmed that it will be MSDN Subscriber downloads shortly.

This additional release candidate that analysts did not believe was coming was in response to public statements made recently for one more release candidate since many complained that RC1 was not release candidate quality. With the release of RC2 Microsoft has maintained that they are on schedule for RTM beginning October 31st to November 8, the expected release window currently allowed by the internal schedule.

Initial reviews of RC2 have been mixed among testers. Here at Advanced PC Media we had many problems getting it installed for the first time while all previous version installed just time. We finally had to update the Bios of our test machine before we could get past a blue screen that occurred during the install. It appears that many new device drivers were checked in to this latest build and one driver that was newer than our hardware firmware could handle was in use, resulting in the blue screen.

Overall users will find more fit-n-finish throughout the user interface. A few new icons have replaced existing Windows XP/200 icons as well as other performance enhancements. Microsoft is waiting for the very end to check in the final UI enhancements and other components such as the Windows Vista sounds.

Download & File Information:

Beta testers can now download RC2 from connect.microsoft.com

vista_5744.16384.061003-1945_x86fre_client-LRMCFRE_EN_DVD.iso, 2,552.57 MB
vista_5744.16384.061003-1945_x64fre_client-LRMCxFRE_EN_DVD.iso, 3,609.21 MB