• Windows 7 Beta Test Updates

    by  • February 20, 2009 • Uncategorized

    Don’t get too excited. These updates won’t add any new features or functionality to Windows 7. You’ll have to wait for the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) for those kinds of changes. However, Windows 7 will be getting updates next week, February 24, but they will just be test updates. It is a drill more or less just to make sure that Windows 7 is communicating properly with Windows Update and able to download and apply the updates. It is important to note though that these will not be automatically applied. You will have to manually visit Windows Update and select the updates.

    If you are participating in the Windows 7 Beta, please read the information below and participate in this Windows 7 update drill when the updates become available next week.

     

    Background

    The updates will be clearly described  as a test update in Windows Update, and they will not install automatically.

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    Rationale

    The updates will be offered interactively. This means that users will be notified of available updates, but they won’t install automatically. Users will need to go to the Windows Update control panel, select the updates, and manually start installation.

     

    These updates will simply replace system files with the same version of the file currently on the system, and will not deliver new features or fixes.

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    Effective dates

    Tuesday, February 24, 2009

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    Location

    Worldwide beta testers – all audiences

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    Who is affected

    All Windows 7 Beta (build 7000) users

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    Actions Requested

    Respond to beta tester inquiries as appropriate in Forums and Newsgroups.

    Provide context for updates, this is for test purposes only.  Inform and educate Windows 7 beta testers who are running build 7000.

     

    About

    Tony has driven security policies and technologies for antivirus and incident response for Fortune 500 companies, and he has been network administrator and technical support for smaller companies. He has written for a variety of other Web sites and publications, including BizTech Magazine, PC World, SearchSecurity.com, WindowsNetworking.com, Smart Computing magazine, and Information Security magazine. Tony is a CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) and ISSAP (Information Systems Security Architecture Professional). He is Microsoft Certified as an MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) and MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) in Windows 2000 and an MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) in Windows NT. Tony has been recognized by Microsoft as an MVP (Most Valuable Professional) in Windows security since 2006. In addition to his Web site and magazine contributions, Tony was also tech editor of PCI Compliance (ISBN: 1597491659 ) and author of Essential Computer Security: Everyone’s Guide to E-mail, Internet, and Wireless Security (ISBN: 1597491144), coauthor of Hacker’s Challenge 3 (ISBN: 0072263040) and a contributing author to Winternals: Defragmentation, Recovery, and Administration Field Guide (ISBN: 1597490792), Combating Spyware in the Enterprise (ISBN: 1597490644) Syngress Force 2006 Emerging Threat Analysis: From Mischief to Malicious (ISBN: 1597490563), Botnets: The Killer Web Applications (ISBN: 1597491357), and AVIEN Malware Defense Guide for the Enterprise (ISBN: 1597491640).

    http://www.tonybradley.com