Resgistry trick to download Vista SP1 beat for free!

http://itsvista.com/2007/10/how-to-hack-windows-update-to-download-vista-sp1-beta/

Now running SP1! Is this illegal?

 

As much as I didn't want to comment on this, I pretty much have to. This does exactly as stated. You create a batch file which adds two lines into your registry. These lines make a call to MSUpdates and allow SP1 to be downloaded complete from Microsoft.

I have done it. It works perfect.

In the past two hours of using my computer, I have found the network to work much faster at loading as well as individual selections to be much quicker.

I keep thinking things can't be much faster than try things like this that find away to do better yet.

I don't know how really right this is but it can't be an illegal download if Microsoft is downloading to your computer through updates.

Im gonna mull over this as a tweak...

Negatives??? Zero so far. My system is running great.

 

Isn't SP1 just going to be automatically updated free-of-charge on any machine that runs a licensed version of Vista?

 

Well flamenko this isn't the complete SP1, it's still a beta, it's not gamma yet. It'll be gamma maybe around a month before MS releases SP1, but for now it's still the beta. Maybe it's the latest copy but it's still a beta. Also i don't think you should make it a tweak because it is just a system update, and all your doing is forcing it to update before it should. I also don't think it's illegal because MS gives this beta out to beta testers freely but it's best if you are an official because if this f**** up your system and you don't have an HD image on a second HD or something then it's your own fault. Another thing to consider why this shouldn't be a tweak. I'm going to leave this alone because i don't want any trouble with my barely problematic system. =\

 

Yes. But not until it's out of beta and ready. Whatever Vista SP1 anyone gets right now is subject to change. I'm content to wait.

 

Thought so.

 

Agreed with regards to it not being a tweak...but for those interested, I have only seen positive thusfar from the update.

 

I would probably install a beta service pack (obtained via official channels) if my notebook came with a real Vista DVD rather than the OEM vendor system restore DVD.

I'll probably get the real OS DVD after it is available with SP1 or SP2 already built into it.

 

i did this and it only installed 3 things (restarted and checked each time)...only about 3 mb total...

 

Did you already have the sp1 beta installed from somewhere else? It seems pretty odd that you would only get 3mb. Maybe you did something wrong.

 

well i installed the released packages before that were "part of the sp"...idk. i did it right. the files i got before were the ones listed here several days ago.

 

WOAH it took some time... the update is there now...600+mbs!

 

See i told you you were doing something wrong before. Also 600mb+ isn't that much IMO.

 

no i dont think its a lot either. im just playing halo 3 and watching it dl

 

Well make sure you have a backup, so that when you tell us your experience it's not a sob story of how your computer BSOD'd you and you can't do anything.

 

Is it possible to uninstall this easily? Or do you have to restore from a full backup?

 

i have images of my computers...so im ok

 

well it finished downloading and installing...took a while! everything seems a ok!

 

This appears to be interesting...maybe I should pick up a copy of Vista Business through my school's MSDN connection and test it out virtually...

 

good luck!

just in case people have doubts this works...look at this picture

http://pctipguys.com/images/sp1.JPG

 

All's fine here...so far.

And....noticeably faster.

 

If anyone has every done any official beta testing for Microsoft (I have) you would know that, Microsoft USUALLY has you uninstall the beta BEFORE you install the gold (release) version of any software. This may present a real conundrum with this surreptitious download of SP1.

Before you can apply the REAL SP1, when it comes out you may need to uninstall this beta. For those who intend to rely on images, what are you going to do about OTHER software you install or update between now and the time the official SP1 comes out? If you revert back to that image you'll have to update (or install) all of this stuff again.

This is not to say this can't be accomplished, just that you need to keep good records of what you install and or update over the next few weeks while we await the official release.

For those of you who just plan to uninstall the beta SP1 and then install the new one, you MIGHT be OK with that approach. But on the off chance that Microsoft supplies some app to assist in the uninstall of the beta SP1, and we don't have the secret code for getting that app (like we now have the secret code for getting the beta) we might be screwed.

I've been in IT for almost 40 years and many years ago a very wise system programmer taught me a VERY important lesson. He said before you change ANYTHING make damn sure you have a plan in place that will allow you to retrace your steps.

Or as they used to say on "Hill Street Blues" be careful out there!

Cover your asses and make sure you have a way to undo this beta if you have to. You can be almost certain you WILL need to do so before you can apply the real one once it comes out.

Gary

 

while i can not say i have as much experience as you in this, i have beta tested many microsoft things in the past. I have never had an issue. I'm not saying this will or will not bring one, however, i am prepared to wipe and reinstall windows. I have my data on separate partitions, and backed up on multiple external drives as well as my server. But like you say, it is beta, know its not for most people. Unless you are prepared to face the risks of everything going south, or have the know how to fix it so it does't, dont do this. But if your brave, do it and be happy cuz it works great

 

I tend to think its best practice to install a SP on a fresh install. So I'll wipe and reinstall. I've got my plan.

 

Gary,

Would it be safe to apply this "SP1" on a copy of Vista Business if I ran it through Virtual PC? I assume so, but your post now has me doubting even that.

 

flamenko and nizzy1115; can you tell us about the changes ? How does the OS feel, faster? slower ?

 

i will riks a clean install as well when the official SP1 is there... (still 2 quarters to go...)

 

how do i create images of my computer?

 

is this a silent install? or did they pull it already? SP1 is not found in the "Updates you want to install" list?

 

there are many programs. i personally use ghost and zenworks.

 

needed to run the batch file as admin (RTFM)

 

Guys, i just turned on my computer this morning and look what i see...

http://pctipguys.com/images/evl.JPG

WTF, i have a legal copy, how do i fix this? Windows still says its activated...

 

Nah, that would be fine. Just remember anything you do to a virtual machine affects only that instance. It does nothing to the host operating system. Think of the Las Vegas commercials: "Anything done in VM stays in VM." ...big ol' grin...

Now that you're not worried about your host OS, remember that this beta SP1 might hose your VM instance. But it's easy to have a backup plan for that, just make a copy of your virtual machine file before you start. If it's not too big burn it to a dual layer DVD.

Gary

 

I ended up reinstalling this morning. I was getting an incredibly long shutdown time and tried everything to track the culprit down with no luck...easier to just go back and skip the update...

 

yeah guys, dont do this. this is a a pre-beta release, not even there real beta.

my system is fine...minus the eval copy in the corner. so im debating whether or not to system restore this.

 

Thanks Gary. Actually I'm not worried about what might happen to the virtual machine if I go for the SP1 Beta and then the real SP1 comes out later this year or early next year. Since I am a student I can get copies of Vista Business for very cheap, so this is just to mess around with.

Thanks again.

 

I think you should opt for system restore...since you did just install the "SP1 Beta" yesterday. Lucky that your copy of Vista wasnt labeled as counterfeit, otherwise WGA would disable Aero and other features, and I think your screen would go black after like an hour.

 

Well, I did a system restore on my laptop, and it took only about 30 minutes to complete. When Windows loaded, it stated that the system restore was not completely successful. From everything i can see though, it was successful. I will just wait for the official beta to come out before i try this again.

 

The official beta was already out but only to special people who entered as beta testers. I think you might mean wait 'till the official gamma comes out.

 

Installed this SP1 today, what a bunch of crap! it crappd out my 8400m-G and went back to the standard VGA, after reinstalling 156.66 i could not work with extended desktop anymore (one panel just went black) also Security center started to moan that there was not antivirus installed (even after i re-installed AVG) So i went back to a fresh Vista install, with the latest drivers and released patches. No more Beta SP1 for me.... It ruined a perfectly running system.

 

"if it aint broke dont fix it"

the reason i went and did it was because of audio skipping in vista (none of peoples tricks to fix it work for me) and for also my usb devices not working after going on battery. It DIDN'T fix either....grrr.

 

I've tested the network throughput as well, wasn't any higher than with last week patches either. So i could not see ANY upside in this patch whatsoever....

 

Works fine for me, no real problems.

 

There is no way I would even attempt to install this. Right now SP1 is in beta and I have felt the sting of beta software in the past , so I will stay away and let others test it.

My vista is in good working order right now so until they actually release this as an official update it will stay off my notebook.

 

right, if it aint broke dont fix it. however for some of us, well a lot of us, it is broke, so this is an attempt to fix it. However, it didnt fix it for me

 

i'm trying it

 

It is very simple. Check here: http://www.msfn.org/board/Tutorial_Remove_Evaluation_Watermark_D_t82868.html

But somehow, I did not get this watermark in my desktop.

SP1 works great, so far so good. Thanks for providing a way for downloading it "legally".

 

I assume that there is no simple way to uninstall sp1 beta and upgrade to the final version?

 

Sure there is. It's as easy as reinstalling Vista

 

Lol... that's outside my definition of easy. I guess I'll wait until the official version is released.