Microsoft to push fake updates to Windows 7 RC

Obligatory automatic updates, so what? As the beta, the RC is also meant to be for testing purposes so any users who don't like it just shouldn't install in the first place. Using a feature complete, reasonably bugfree OS for free for 1 year is more than enough compensation for playing along with the developer.

God forbid a company wants to test its own software in a pre-release version users willingly accept and download. They do it knowing this is in no way a product they purchased, but a trial version of what is to come.

Freaking people are so spoiled to be handed 1 year free of Windows 7 RC and then complain they have to submit to a rudimentary test, an empty update that will prod the update feature which is to be used for years to come.

Why is this even a story? Should it be titled "Company QA's Its Software Before Release! Confusion Ensues" ?

Mighty fine journalism, Lou.

Well, this whole situation only pertains if you've already chosen to install their *pre-release* (a.k.a. testing) software for *free*.

No-one made you do it.

I'll chime in on the "This is not news" party.

Pamela Jones: Welcome to product testing, you accepted to be part of that the hours you downloaded and installed the thing. And you did so for free so shut your f****** h***.

Thanks..

Has anyone noticed the label "For testing purposes only" on 7 RC desktop? This is a testing release. You get it free. You accept this. Or you don't donwload it and buy a copy of a production state OS.

Give it up, that's makes like a dozen Windows 7 bashing turds (can't call them articles) in the last week the inquirer has posted, give it up! your making yourselves look pathetic.

Try covering something interesting, like the Linux Sucks! Video from LinuxFest NW

http://lunduke.com/?p=429

Windows 7 RC was released to people who wished to test it knowing full well that it was for testing purposes only. This is all part of the testing process so if you dont want to be part of the tests, dont install it, I am quite happy to perform the test updates. This might be important if it was for fully released OS but it's not.

I call this useless news

... those who said that it's a beta product and these tests are a small price to pay... they don't think on the long run - why do you think MS is doing so? just for fun? no, they are doing it just to test a procedure to be used when the final product will be released, that's why. Call me paranoic, but they WILL force updates whenever they want, if these updates we are seeing now will succeed without people complaining about them.

You muppets! Its a release candidate, this is what its there to do: test things. You moan about bugs when Microsoft release new software and then when they test it...you moan!

I don't see the problem with this. Really, everyone who loads any form of Microsoft software is involved in testing (as 8 years later, virus outbreaks still "test" Windows XP and Office, and these 8 years of patches have still not managed to render these products secure).

At least with this release candidate marketing maneuver, you are not paying money (as you did in the past) for a short period of time for the "privilege" of testing Microsoft's software. If you agree to pay for (or test) and load closed-source software, you essentially are signing away your control of your system to an external agency. Microsoft takes over and does what they want with your computer.

Those who do not like this can always load open source code which can be audited by third parties (or themselves) to ensure they can actually control their own computers, cell phones, or any other devices that they purchase. It is a free market (as long as people realize that freedom is indeed an option which is available to them).

I downloaded the Win7 RC with intentions of installing it, but after reading this I think I will just delete it to reclaim some hard disk space. I really have no desire to have Microsoft tampering with my computer and my data, and this just points out to me that I have basically no control whatsoever over what their software does.

There is no such thing as a free lunch as far and Microsoft is concerned, and I might as well just download OpenSuse or Ubuntu (at least that will keep working for as long as I want it to, and will do what I want it to do, for free).

And why wouldn't they want to test the RC version Windows Update?

Fir really cool updates, 28 in all, install office 2007 free trial, don't forget internet office package.

Next day you get wonderfull additional 445 Mb of updates to install. Isn;t that just Marvelous?

beta. The entire purpose of its existence is testing. You install it: you're a tester. Don't want to be? Uninstall it.

M$ are entitled to do this. It's a free O/S, it's a test version, they need to test it. What's the big deal?

That idiot who wants to get paid to recieve updates should get a life!

"M$ are entitled"

I'm not sure they are entitled to do this at all.

Pushing, is the practice of modifying system files on a client without the client knowing about it, agreeing to it , or in any way having consented to it.

have you all gone crazy in agreeing this is in any way a good for you ?

Its basically them taking absolute control over your computer and doing whatever the f*ck they like with it.

Now if you think that this is fine, for any reason in any situation,be it beta testing or whatever, then you forthwith , agree to wave any rights you think you may have to your computer and what's on it. You basically give up everything to do with freedom and security for some false sense of good.

Pushing should be made illegal, ASAP. Because if they can do, and the doors have been placed to allow them to do it, a 14 year old hacker from India will be doing it to a computer near you real soon.

once you build those doors in , its just a matter of time before they get used way beyond their original intention.

How else do you expect M$ to test the automatic update without using it?

I'm sure you'd be at the front of the line bitching if your full release Win7 machine's auto update refused to work.

Random nit-pick but, Tuesday, May 10th will not come around until 2010. That's a little late to release updates for a beta. I'm not running the RC so it doesn't bother me.

I will asume that you meant either Monday the 11th or Tuesday the 12th.

Release Candidate: Pre-release version. Nobody paid a dime for it. What's not to understand?

In the Beta version MS did 'fake updates' as well. It's just a test of the system. It's not adding spyware or extremely large useless files as some have implied.

As for the person deleting the download, I'm sorry, but if this is all that it takes for you to pass on a test O/S, put your computer back in the box and send it back to the manufacturer.

What's this rant about 'pushing' for? MS has been doing updates for years and to good purpose! I don't mind it and I know most people don't mind it. And, if you like, you CAN turn it off.

If the author is not Charlie, then I swear he is one of his best friends...

"How else do you expect M$ to test the automatic update without using it?"

how about just not having an automatic update? aka pushing.

and where exactly is the problem or issue with :
"productX has detected that there is an important update available.ProductX requires your permission to download(using your bandwidth) install and update(changing the way the software works and possibly preventing you from being able to work after the update)".

insert visible warning notice , clarifying for the user the pros and cons of saying yes or no.

Does product X have your permission , yes or no.

yes.
download install.

no.
would you like to be reminded again about this update?
yes.
1 hour
ect

no.
never hear from it again unless you explicitly want to get it manually.

where is the problem? all this exists already and is the way vista does things from the off. and then they go change the entire security paradigm by injecting stuff without telling you,

it doesn't matter if its beta or full product , this practice must stop and o r be made illegal.

"Whose computer is it, anyway? If they want to use my equipment to test their software, I think they might want to ask me and then pay me."

The fact that you're using beta software kinda means that you give them permission to test their software on your equipment...

If you dislike the product, use something else ... you do have choices. You chose freely without coercion to use the "beta" product, so stop carping about the process you agreed to.

Some people's children......

In the responses, there are some people against these 'forced updates'. I'm suprised.

As many have clarified, this is a Release Candidate (RC) version of Windows. It is released so people will test it. They did not buy it. There are disclaimers about using it for critical purposes. Forcing updates is not outside of 'reasonable' for testing purposes.

Now, what does concern me, is they have obviously built-in the ability to 'force updates', which gives Microsoft (and whomever else) the ability to change and install whatever they want on your computer and probably without ever informing you. I doubt this 'feature' will go away with the final release. And we'll probably see something to this affect in the licensing agreement of Windows 7 when it is sold. Be prepared.