Microsoft Confirms Vista SP1 RC Refresh 2 (RCR2) is RTM Release
There are much confusion when Microsoft releases Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC Refresh 2 (RCR2) was released, due to the fact that the supposedly ‘release candidate’ does not bear the “Evaluation Copy” watermark as with previous beta release, no more expiry date, and comes with a RTM fingerprint 6001.18000.x86fre.longhorn_rtm.080118-1840 and 6001.18000.080118-1840 which similar to final build number of Windows Server 2008 as its build version.
Thus when Microsoft officially announced the available of Vista SP1 RTM on 4th February 2008, it’s one of the major contention point that among Vista enthusiasts on whether the SP1 RCR2 is actually the real SP1 RTM, and whether there is any change been made to the final SP1 release compared with SP1 RCR2 release. One of the most wanted asked question and most eagerly awaited answer is whether Vista users can safely install Vista SP1 RC Refresh 2 without any implication.
Now Microsoft finally offers some insight into the relation between SP1 RCR2 and SP1 RTM. Indeed, both is the same, but only on SP1 RCR2 distributed via Windows Update (WU). Geek’s Anatomy confirmed from the Jeff DaVos, one of the many Windows Vista SP1 beta program leaders in Microsoft Connect beta newsgroup that Windows Vista SP1 build 18000 released (via WU only) is indeed the RTM build, and the build didn’t change at all from the time been released to final sign-off on Monday morning this week (February 4th).
What you got is what we’re all running our Vista machines here internally - we definitely RTM’d.
It’s unclear why the RTM version from RC Refresh 2 is limited to WU release only, as now there is plenty of standalone SP1 setup package available for download, but obviously these installers are not sanctioned officially, yet. There are rumor for another ‘official Vista SP1 RTM’ release date on February 18 or 19, 2008, which may be the date to confirm the final standalone installation package for Vista SP1 RTM. Anyway, for those who can’t wait till mid March for official roll out of SP1, based on above statement, install Vista SP1 RCR2 via WU to get the real SP1 RTM.
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Entries (RSS)
February 8th, 2008 00:11
so M$ was lying about the fix for the OEM bios hack in SP1.
February 8th, 2008 01:03
Not necessary. It probably will be implemented with WGA update or so.
February 8th, 2008 01:30
But that is not SP1!
February 8th, 2008 01:52
The fix was removed on some beta versions. but there are simply thousands of SP1-18000-1840 installs that have 15 days or less to activate.
My SP1 18000-1840 activated 100% perfect..
February 8th, 2008 03:48
I am a pirate from montreal canada and my Vista SP1 1840 works fine with the oem crack too.
if only my son would love a womand and not that 30 year old gay from toronto.
February 9th, 2008 03:42
[...] seems like Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh 2 is the version that RTM (Microsoft confirmed Vista SP1 RCR2 from WU is indeed RTM). Both has version build of 6001.18000.080118-1840. If you believe and bet that both are the same, [...]
February 9th, 2008 19:15
[...] asa l-am instalat eu, de 3 zile deja. Instructiuni complete aici si aici. [...]
February 18th, 2008 13:01
[...] 1 (SP1) through Windows Update (WU) in an email to TechNet subscribers. It further confirms that SP1 RC Refresh2 (RCR2) is indeed RTM version of SP1, and hints that probably English version of Vista can now get SP1 via Windows Update without [...]
February 20th, 2008 03:32
[...] marking the ending of beta and release candidate testing phase. The email further confirming that Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh 2 with build version 6001.18000 is the valid RTM version with the same build numbers. The email thanks the testers for the work on helping to test Vista [...]