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Microsoft releases .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1

Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 is a cumulative update with service updates to the .NET 2.0 and 3.0 subcomponents, and contains many new features for the .NET Framework 2.0, 3.0, 3.5.

Quick overview of what’s new:

• ASP.NET Dynamic Data is now included, providing rich scaffolding framework for rapid data driven development without writing code. See What's new in ASP.NET and Web Development for more info.
• Addition to ASP.NET AJAX for managing browser history (back button support).
• Core improvements to the CLR (Common Language Runtime)
• Performance improvements to WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation)
• Additional functionality in WPF: better support for line of business apps, native splash screen support, DirectX pixel shader support, and a new WebBrowser control.
• ClickOnce application publishers can opt out of signing and hashing.
• Entity Framework (an evolution of the well known ADO.NET) is included and has new features like support for SQL Server 2008. See Getting Started with the Entity Framework for more info.
• LINQ to SQL and SqlClient (.NET Framework Data Profider for SQL) now support the date and file stream capabilities in SQL Server 2008.
• ADO.NET Data Services Framework is included, and enables data to be exposed as flexible REST (Representational State Transfer) data services.
• Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) has improvements to the DataContract Serializer.

Downloads & links:

• Release notes
• .NET FX 3.5 Service Pack 1 - Full Package

After installation, immediately install the update KB959209 to address a set of known application compatibility issues!

Labels: .NET, asp.net, download, LINQ, Microsoft, SP1, SQL, Visual Studio 2008

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  Posted by oVan on Wednesday, January 07, 2009 | PermaLink | 0 comments

Download Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta

Microsoft has released standalone versions of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Beta in this knowledge base article: KB948465.

Download SP2 Beta

SP2 Beta Standalone updates for computers with one or more of the following five languages: English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. If your computer has any other language installed this option will not work. Windows Update installation of SP2 for Windows Server 2008 x86/x64/ia64 and Windows Vista x86/x64 Five Language SP2 Standalone: ISO for Windows Server 2008 x86/x64/ia64 and Windows Vista x86/x64 x86 for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista x86 x64  for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista x64 IA64 for Windows Server 2008 ia64 TechNet Plus Subscribers Download integrated images, containing the full OS product and SP2 in a single image for clean install or upgrade scenarios     MSDN: Server08     MSDN: Vista     TechNet: Server08     TechNet: Vista     Install the SP2 Standalone package using the links in Non-Subscribers section

Some more information on these releases:

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Beta and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta is prerelease code offered to the public through our Customer Preview Program. Please see the Windows Server SP2/Windows Vista SP2 Customer Preview Program page on TechNet/MSDN for additional details, documentation, and forums.

Windows Vista SP2 TechNet
Windows Server 2008 SP2 TechNet

Windows Server 2008 SP2 Beta and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta apply to people, organizations, and technical enthusiasts who are comfortable evaluating prerelease software. This prerelease software is provided for testing only. Installation of Service Pack 2 Beta will result in Microsoft collecting information about the installation process, even if the installation is not completed. We do not recommend installing this software on primary or mission-critical systems. We recommend that you have a backup of your data before you install any prerelease software.

SP2 is an update to Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista that addresses feedback from our customers and partners. By providing these fixes integrated into a single service pack, Microsoft provides a single high-quality update that minimizes deployment and testing complexity for customers.
In addition to all previously released updates, SP2 will contain changes focused on addressing reliability and performance issues, supporting new kinds of hardware, and adding support for several emerging standards. SP2 will also continue to make it easier for IT administrators to deploy and manage large installations of Windows Server 2008.

Service Pack 1 is a prerequisite for installing Service Pack 2. Please make sure that your system is running Service Pack 1 before you install Service Pack 2.
Windows Server 2008 SP2 Beta and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta - Five Language Standalone version can be installed on systems with any of the following language versions: English, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish.

Support for Windows Server 2008 SP2 Beta and Windows Vista SP2 Beta can be received by visiting the Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 TechNet forum.

Labels: download, Microsoft, Server 2008, Service, SP1, SP2, Vista, Windows, Windows Vista

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  Posted by oVan on Saturday, December 06, 2008 | PermaLink | 0 comments

Microsoft Bluetooth 2.1 drivers for Vista SP1

Microsoft silently released Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless, which enables Bluetooth 2.1 support, a user interface for Unified Pairing and Windows Connect Now updates. Note: You must have Vista Service Pack 1 installed.

Update: Apparently you must contact your hardware manufacturer to obtain this feature pack. When I called Dell Gold Technical Support today, they had not heard of this update yet, and after an hour I got an email where they state that it will take another 3 to 4 weeks before it will be available from them.

Labels: Bluetooth 2.1, Microsoft, SP1, Vista

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  Posted by oVan on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 | PermaLink | 0 comments

VS2005 SP1 Update for Vista

Microsoft has made available the final version of Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 Update for Vista for download.

You can read the Release Notes here: Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 Update for Windows Vista release notes

More details from the download page:

Overview
If the machine participated in the Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 Update for Windows Vista Beta, please be sure to uninstall the beta first.

During the development of Windows Vista, several key investments were made to vastly improve overall quality, security, and reliability from previous versions of Windows. While we have made tremendous investments in Windows Vista to ensure backwards compatibility, some of the system enhancements, such as User Account Control, changes to the networking stack, and the new graphics model, make Windows Vista behave differently from previous versions of Windows. These investments impact Visual Studio 2005. The Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 Update for Windows Vista addresses areas of Visual Studio impacted by Vista enhancements.
Many of the Windows Vista enhancements are documented at the Windows Vista Development Center.

This download installs the Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 Update for Windows Vista for the following Visual Studio SKUs:


Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office
Microsoft Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition
Microsoft Visual C# 2005 Express Edition
Microsoft Visual J# 2005 Express Edition (English Only)
Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Premier Partner Edition
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Architects
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Developers
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Testers
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team Test Load Agent
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team Test Load Controller
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Code Profiler
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team Explorer

Labels: beta, Microsoft, SP1, update, Vista, Visual Studio 2005, vs2005

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  Posted by oVan on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 | PermaLink | 0 comments

Visual Studio 2005 SP1 Finally Released

The long awaited Service Pack 1 for Visual Studio 2005 is finally here, so I'm not going to waste your time further... get it here:
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 SP1

Labels: download, Microsoft, Pack, Service, SP1, Visual Studio 2005, vs2005

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  Posted by oVan on Friday, December 15, 2006 | PermaLink | 0 comments