Platform Update for Windows Vista Technologies KB 971644 – updated technologies for Windows Vista SP2 from Windows 7 RTM

Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 October 2009 01:18 Written by Mire_B Wednesday, 28 October 2009 11:29

Windows Vista will receive bits and pieces of Windows 7 via Windows Update (Automatic Updates), Windows Server Update Services and the Microsoft Download Center. But only is Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Vista is already in place. I already told you about the Platform Update for Windows Vista – Beta Download Script (KB971644) a while back. Now the Platform Update for Windows Vista KB 971644 is done and heading to Vista SP2 computers worldwide. The same is valid for the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

Vista SP2 will be enhanced with collections Windows 7 RTM of runtime libraries. Vista SP2’s evolution toward Windows 7 involves: Windows Graphics, Imaging, and XPS Library; Windows Automation API; Windows Portable Devices Platform; Windows Ribbon and Animation Manager Library.

Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB971513) – The Windows Automation API library contains the latest version of the Microsoft User Interface Automation (UI Automation) and Microsoft Active Accessibility libraries that are provided in Windows 7.

Update for Windows Vista (KB971512) – The Windows Graphics, Imaging, and XPS Library contain the latest advancements in modern graphics technologies for gaming, multimedia, imaging and printing applications. It includes updates to DirectX, DirectCompute, and XPS Library.

Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB971512) – The Windows Graphics, Imaging, and XPS Library contain the latest advancements in modern graphics technologies for gaming, multimedia, imaging and printing applications. It includes updates to DirectX, DirectCompute, and XPS Library.

Update for Windows Vista (KB960362) – The Windows Ribbon and Animation Manager Library contains the Windows Ribbon API, a command framework that enables developers to quickly and easily create rich ribbon experiences in their applications, and the Windows Animation Manager API, an animation framework for managing the scheduling and execution of user interface element animations.

Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB960362) – The Windows Ribbon and Animation Manager Library contains the Windows Ribbon API, a command framework that enables developers to quickly and easily create rich ribbon experiences in their applications, and the Windows Animation Manager API, an animation framework for managing the scheduling and execution of user interface element animations.

Update for Windows Vista (KB971513) – The Windows Automation API library contains the latest version of the Microsoft User Interface Automation (UI Automation) and Microsoft Active Accessibility libraries that are provided in Windows 7.

From the Windows Team Blog:

We are announcing the final release of the Platform Update for Windows Vista. The Platform Update for Windows Vista features a set of runtime libraries which add support for new technologies making it easier for developers to develop for Windows 7 and Windows Vista without impacting their users.

The Platform Update for Windows Vista will be available for free via Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services and the Microsoft Download Center. You will need to have Windows Update “recommended settings” enabled in order to automatically receive the update without additional action.

These updates include the following:

• Windows Ribbon and Animation Manager Library: contains the Windows Ribbon API, a command framework that enables developers to quickly and easily create rich ribbon experiences in their applications, and the Windows Animation Manager API, an animation framework for managing the scheduling and execution of user interface element animations.
• Windows Graphics, Imaging, and XPS Library: components for developers to leverage the latest advancements in modern graphics technologies for gaming, multimedia, imaging and printing applications. It includes updates to DirectX to support hardware acceleration for 2D, 3D and text based scenarios; DirectCompute for hardware accelerated parallel computing scenarios; and XPS Library for document printing scenarios.
• Windows Automation API: allows accessibility tools and test automations to access Windows user interface in a consistent way across operating system versions.
• Windows Portable Devices Platform: supplies the infrastructure to standardize data transfers between an application and a portable device, such as a mobile phone, digital camera, or portable media player.

Note that the Windows Automation API will also be made available as a separate download for PCs running Windows XP.

For specific details about the Platform Update for Windows Vista as well as the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008, click here.

By making these libraries broadly available through the Platform Update for Windows Vista, we expect customers will find an increasing number of applications using new features in Windows 7.

From Microsoft Support:

The Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 and the Platform Update for Windows Vista are collections of runtime libraries that make it easy for developers to target a wider customer base.

Notes about the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008

* All the updated technologies in the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 are already included in Windows Server 2008 R2. The Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 is not required for Windows Server 2008 R2.

* To apply the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008, you must have Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 installed.

Notes about the Platform Update for Windows Vista

* All the updated technologies in the Platform Update for Windows Vista are already included in Windows 7. The Platform Update for Windows Vista is not required for Windows 7.

* To apply the Platform Update for Windows Vista, you must have Windows Vista Service Pack 2 installed.

Vista SP2 6.0.6002.18005 RTM

Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 April 2009 08:43 Written by Mire_B Wednesday, 29 April 2009 08:41

On the heels of Office 2007 SP2 RTM, Microsoft also announced the finalization of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2. Vista SP2 RTM features the following build string 6.0.6002.18005. It’s only a shame that Microsoft plans to release it to the public in the coming months. Just as much of a shame is the fact that torrents with Windows Vista SP2 RTM are already available for download. Again, no you won’t get a download link from me, but what you will get, just in case you decide to live on the edge is the following information:

32-bit (x86) Windows Vista SP2 RTM and Server 2008 SP2 RTM (English, Japanese, Spanish, German and French)
CRC: 3368C777
MD5: C9394FD32DB15619328AF4FF0315750A
SHA1: 106C0484D7449CC4B70353C21D0C0D63E4BA66C3

64-bit (x64) Windows Vista SP2 RTM and Server 2008 SP2 RTM (English, Japanese, Spanish, German and French)
CRC: 1737E14D
MD5: A3BCB1FFDB366397FA5FAB0898EB098D
SHA1: BE8D74ADC029FA7350FC1F0D32BEF853C0519A92

32-bit (x86) Windows Vista SP2 RTM and Server 2008 SP2 RTM (36 Languages)
CRC32: 8D07A886
MD5: cad218b99fc301836e385049c75f5eaf
SHA-1: 7f8aa802e157282d84cf47950281de53a8c26f22

64-bit (x64) Windows Vista SP2 RTM and Server 2008 SP2 RTM (36 Languages)

CRC32: 19C1676E
MD5: db35df98ae5a6fd085386580a6ee8b55
SHA-1: f0e46deb7734b8ed277b0cf2304ee2babc4d9b1c