Microsoft delivers Windows Vista Service Pack 2

Microsoft has announced that the second service pack for its much-maligned Windows Vista operating system is now available to download.

Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) is being issued in a combined pack with Windows Server 2008 SP2, and is now available for download from the Microsoft Download Center and through Windows Update, according to a posting on the Vista blog.

Vista SP2 will "simplify deployment, management and support for IT professionals", according to Windows communications manager Brandon LeBlanc.

"It includes support for new types of hardware and emerging hardware standards, as well as updates since SP1," he said.

Microsoft is also delivering SP2 via a throttled release to customers who have activated Automatic Update on their PCs.

LeBlanc explained that business customers who want to delay the deployment of SP2 for whatever reason can use the same 'blocker' toolkit provided for Vista SP1.

Some of the key changes to Vista include enhanced search with Windows Search 4.0, improved power management, support for the new VIA 64-bit CPU, and enhanced Wi-Fi performance, according to Microsoft.

"While most updates contained in SP2 are available as individual downloads, the roll-up convenience of SP2 is a major benefit for administrators," wrote LeBlanc.