Windows 7 SP1 available to TechNet subscribers

Nick Mertes 29 Jul, 2010 at 12:28am ET Article published in Tech

A beta version of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) has been released to TechNet subscribers. The beta is available in five languages (English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish), although the final version will be available for the full complement of currently supported languages.

According to Microsoft’s release documents, SP1 will include no new features for Windows 7, though the service pack will contain well over 450 hotfixes and security updates, including KB971033, otherwise known as Windows Activation Technology, formerly known as “Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA)”. It validates copies of Windows 7 with Microsoft, ensuring users are running genuine copies and not using activation exploits to run pirated copies. Should WAT determine a copy of Windows is not genuine or detect an activation “hack”, the background will be set to solid black, the licensing files will be repaired, and the user will be notified that their copy of Windows may not be legitimate. Pirates beware.

The final version of SP1 should be available to the world “sometime in the first half of calendar year 2011”.

Comments

29 Jul 2010 ~ 5:23am Matt So you actually have to install KB971033? Does this mean people on pirated versions may be screwed
29 Jul 2010 ~ 9:19am mertesn It looks that way. SP1 won't be forced on anyone for a while, so folks have plenty of time to get a legit copy.
29 Jul 2010 ~ 9:40am Garg If SP1 is nothing but a collection of other previously-published updates, couldn't a pirate avoid it indefinitely?
29 Jul 2010 ~ 10:55am mirage I think MS is targeting the pirated copies of unaware users. Targeting the pirates is a lost case; they will find their way around as always.
29 Jul 2010 ~ 11:04am PirateNinja Why people spend $150 on bottled water, fast food, 200 cable tv channels, etc. every month but they refuse to actually just buy an OS they will use for years to come is beyond me.
29 Jul 2010 ~ 11:06am mirage I am sure if they could pirate water and fast food, they would
29 Jul 2010 ~ 2:15pm Thrax Why Microsoft insists on policing legitimate users is beyond me.
29 Jul 2010 ~ 2:59pm mirage They have too many employees to keep busy, I guess.
29 Jul 2010 ~ 3:00pm Cliff_Forster

Thrax wrote:

Why Microsoft insists on policing legitimate users is beyond me.

Exactly. If someone wants to circumvent the system they will. There is always a way around it.

It just creates an unnecessary headache for everyone thats doing it the right way.
30 Jul 2010 ~ 2:25am Leonardo

I think MS is targeting the pirated copies of unaware users.

Yes, I believe you're correct. There's a seller on our local Craigslist computer pages that routinely sells old, minimum spec, P4-class computers for $125 or less. Oh yeah, they all come loaded with Windows 7, "genuine" no less. She will continue ripping customers off until the roof caves in on her...which it probably won't.
30 Jul 2010 ~ 10:15am Cliff_Forster

Leonardo wrote:

Yes, I believe you're correct. There's a seller on our local Craigslist computer pages that routinely sells old, minimum spec, P4-class computers for $125 or less. Oh yeah, they all come loaded with Windows 7, "genuine" no less. She will continue ripping customers off until the roof caves in on her...which it probably won't.

I sell PC's here and there, and I always let the customer know about the EULA per contract. I give them the OEM disk, I put the sticker on the side, activate it properly, the whole nine, and I tell them this is part of the deal, you paid for it.

Still, I don't think any reasonably informed consumer thinks they are going to get a Windows 7 build for $125. That customer shoulders some of the blame because they don't care, they just want a cheap fix just like anyone else.... I mean you don't buy wrist watches from the guy in the trench coat, or DVD's from the guy laying them on the blanket on some street corner do ya?

Now, I tell ya what, if I see something fishy going on in the Baltimore Metro area, I'm going to report it, because the way I see it, they are dipping into my pocket by undercutting me, doing it the wrong way.
30 Jul 2010 ~ 1:26pm primesuspect "reasonably informed" doesn't really apply to mass market/first time computer buyers. My parents, for example, have no CLUE what Windows even IS. They just know "a computer" and if computer A is $125 and computer B is $250 they'll take A. They represent a vast swath of computer buyers.
30 Jul 2010 ~ 1:59pm Cliff_Forster

primesuspect wrote:

"reasonably informed" doesn't really apply to mass market/first time computer buyers. My parents, for example, have no CLUE what Windows even IS. They just know "a computer" and if computer A is $125 and computer B is $250 they'll take A. They represent a vast swath of computer buyers.

True, we both know plenty of users like this, but I think most adults know a thing thats "too good to be true" Or at least they have a reasonable sense of it.

So, what we are saying, is MS will install the patch, bork peoples systems that had no clue, then outrage will lead them to go after the people that swindled them?

Does that really work?