Windows Serviceability is pleased to announce the release of the Beta 1 release of Service Pack 2 for Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP x64 Professional customers. Congratulations on joining our beta program, we look forward to partnering with you to make Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP x64 Professional even better. Service Pack 2 is a conventional service pack consisting of all security updates, all individual hotfixes released to customers and fixes to reduce top customer support issues as well as increase reliability, robustness, and security. Service Pack 2 is the first Service Pack for Windows XP x64 Professional SKU. Service Pack 2 also updates customers running Windows Server 2003 RTM, SP1 and/or R2 releases. You can find more information on Windows Server Service Pack 2 on the Connect site. As more information comes available we'll be sure to update you.

Service Pack 2 builds are available in the download section. There are many large downloads so please choose carefully to get the correct file the first time. For this beta release, integrated (where SP2 is integrated with the OS) and standalone update SP2 packages are available for download in three architectures - 32-bit (x86), x64 (AMD), and ia64 (Itanium), and three languages - English, German, and Japanese. English and German are available now, and Japanese will be available within one week. Note: for this release, some x64 image files are too big to fit on a CD and you will need to burn them to a DVD instead. Also, checked build standalone update packages will be provided at beta refresh. Please join us in the newsgroups for questions and comments. Your input is welcome and we're committed to using it to improve the product and the beta process based on your feedback.