10 fake updates for Windows 7

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 11 May 2009 at 10:39

Microsoft will roll out a series of fake patches for Windows 7, as it begins to test the Automatic Updates feature.

The fake updates will be pushed out to Windows Update beginning 12 May, as the company tests its "ability to deliver and manage updating of Windows 7 in certain real-life scenarios," according to a Microsoft blog post.

The updates will replace existing system files with exact copies, meaning no new features will be delivered to the system.

Microsoft ran a similar experiment when the Windows 7 beta was first launched, however, unlike that trial a number of the fake patches for the Release Candidate will be installed automatically.

"Many of the updates will install automatically, and a few will not," notes the blog. "One of the updates will test a new update notification feature that provides detailed information about available updates that need to be installed manually.

"Windows 7 RC users will be prompted to install this update and provided more information about this feature - it will not install automatically."

Anybody who doesn't want to be on the end of Microsoft's fake update experiment needs to select something other than "install updates automatically" in their Windows Update preferences. They will then be able to deselect the fake patches, which Microsoft says will be clearly marked.