Windows Vista: News

Although Microsoft hasn't released a single, authoritative list of the contents of Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2), which will publicly launch as a beta tomorrow, the company has scattered information across its network of sites and bloggers.

The first beta version of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) is now in the hands of testers, after Microsoft released the update to subscribers of its Technet and Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) services.

Microsoft Tuesday gave its MSDN and TechNet subscribers access to the beta of Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 and will make the software available to the general public in two days.

Microsoft will deliver Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) to manufacturing in April 2009, two months after it issues a final test version to users, according to a Web site that accurately predicted several Windows ship dates in 2008.

Some used PCs are being purchased not for the hardware but because people want to get their hands on a copy of Windows XP, according to industry analysts and hardware suppliers.

Microsoft asked a federal judge Thursday to end the class-action lawsuit that has been the source of a treasure trove of embarrassing insider e-mails that have showed the company bent to pressure from Intel and infuriated long-time partner Hewlett-Packard.

A federal judge in Seattle has ordered Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to testify in a class action lawsuit against Microsoft that alleges the company misled consumers in a marketing campaign for its Windows Vista operating system in which computers sold with an older Microsoft OS were labeled 'Vista Capable' when in fact they could only run a basic version of Vista.

An Austrian security vendor has found a vulnerability in Windows Vista that it says could possibly allow an attacker to run unauthorized code on a PC.

Months before it bowed to pressure from Intel and relaxed the requirements for its "Vista Capable" marketing program, Microsoft published an article on its TechNet Web site recommending that users avoid Intel's 915 graphics chipset if they planned on upgrading to Windows Vista, internal e-mails at Microsoft show.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs in the Vista Capable class-action lawsuit want to grill Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for three hours to find out what he said to top executives at Intel, Hewlett-Packard and Best Buy when they complained about the marketing program and its after effects, court documents unsealed Wednesday show.

Numerous Microsoft employees, including some top executives, urged their company to hold the line on the graphics requirements for the "Vista Capable" marketing campaign, both before and after the decision was made to loosen the rules, according to insider e-mails recently unsealed by a federal judge.