Earlier this week, Microsoft announced the Customer Preview Program for Service Pack 2 Beta for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 and the public beta for MSDN and TechNet Plus subscribers. Here’re the direcet download links for you all.

Download links

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta and Windows Server 2008 Beta 2 can be downloaded from the following locations:

• Windows Vista en Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Beta
  Windows Update Experience Kit
  This is the hassle free way to get Service Pack installed on your Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 and/or Windows Server 2008 (includes Service Pack 1) boxes. The 2KB cmd file and the docx file for dummies included in this download allow you to unlock Service Pack 2 Beta from Windows Update. You can then download Service Pack 2 with all the benefits of the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) and the Windows Automatic Updates Service. (WuauServ) 
• Windows Vista en Windows Server 2008 ServicePack 2 Beta ISO 
  Have a need to install Service Pack 2 Beta on multiple systems and/or multiple architectures? Use this 1210 MB weighing DVD image file for English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 installations. The file includes the x86 and x64 version of Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and the x86, x64 and IA64 version of Service Pack 2 for Windows Server 2008.
• Windows Vista en Windows Server 2008 ServicePack 2 Beta x86 
  Still enjoying your x86 installations of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008? This stand-alone installer for Service Pack 2 is made for you! 388 Megabytes brings you the glory of Service Pack 2 for English, German, French, Spanish and Japanese versions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.
• Windows Vista en Windows Server 2008 ServicePack 2 Beta x64
  Have you transitioned to 64bit computing already? Take the next step on Route 64 and install the Beta build of Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista x64 and Windows Server 2008 x64. Pedal to the floor on Route 64!
• Windows Server 2008 ServicePack 2 Beta IA64 
  A collectors item at the moment it was released! This update may not be excluded in any serious Microsoft Update collection. Also very useful to update Intel Itanium versions of Windows Server 2008 to Service Pack 2 Beta…

Getting started with SP2

Microsoft provided excellent resources to get started with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Beta and what to look for in this release to ensure a smooth upgrade of your environment to Service Pack 2:

• Frequently Asked Questions: Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Beta and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta 
• Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta Release Notes
• Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Beta Release Notes
• Notable Changes in Windows Server 2008 SP2 Beta and Windows Vista SP2 Beta 
• Windows Vista SP2 Beta and Windows Server 2008 SP2 BetaTest Focus Guide 
• Release Notes for this Beta Release of Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 
• Hotfixes and Security Updates in Service Pack 2 
• Installing this Beta Release of Windows Server 2008 with Service Pack 2 
• Windows Server 2008 SP2 Deployment Guide