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Fuzzy Logic Windows Vista SP1 can be officially downloaded NOW – but don’t do it!
Fuzzy Logic Windows Vista SP1 can be officially downloaded NOW – but don’t do it! | Windows Vista SP1 can be officially downloaded NOW – but don’t do it! |
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| by Alex Zaharov-Reutt | |
| Tuesday, 12 February 2008 | |
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UPDATE: Story updated on page 2 and 3 to reflect a response to a reader comment which can be see on page 3 regarding my supposed misinterpretation of that blog posting, which is detailed further on in this article. UPDATE 2: Mike Nash of the Windows Vista Team Blog has explained why SP1 was delayed, and it wasn't because of bad drivers. You can find that story here. WinBeta says SP1 can be downloaded from Microsoft’s OEM partner site and, despite the OEM site requiring registration, WinBeta even posts a direct link to the SP1 download which, incredibly enough, actually works without registering for anything at all, and starts download to your computer. Unfortunately the fact that the download contains both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions means the file is a 1.13GB .img file which either needs to be burned to DVD or more simply extracted as a file to a hard drive. Then, you simply run the version of SP1 that matches the version of Vista you’re running – 32 or 64 bits. Before I realised there was a direct download link, I tried to access the OEM site, which seems very slow, as does logging in which I did with my existing Windows Live ID. This could well be because everyone has figured out how to get Vista SP1 right now and Microsoft is quite possibly letting lots of people download 1.13GB files as we speak. Anyway, after waiting what seemed like a couple of minutes in each case, I was then presented with the OEM registration screen, which lists the following information: “Enroll Your Company in the Microsoft Partner Program” This is followed by: “Enrolling is easy and takes about fifteen minutes. Follow the steps below to enroll in the program. If you would like additional detail about the enrollment process, download the Step-by-Step Enrollment Guide”. Microsoft then gives these steps to register: 1. If you do not have a Windows Live ID, create one now. 2. Sign in to the Partner Membership Center using a Windows Live ID. 3. Follow the prompts throughout the enrollment process to: - Supply your organization's contact information. - Accept the Microsoft Partner Program legal agreement. - Complete your individual profile. - Complete your organization profile. 4. Finish enrollment, and return to the Microsoft OEM Partner Center website.Your organization is now a member of the Microsoft Partner Program. But is it really 'legal' for just 'anyone' to go through this process, why would you bother if the direct download works without registration, and we do we advise consumers to stay away? Please read onto page 2... |
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