If your itching to get your hands on the Windows Vista Service Pack 1 you could try the following fool-proof method that downloads the new service pack right from the Microsoft Windows Updates server. Currently, only a beta version for Windows Vista is available but that is probably better than nothing at this time.
Apparently, all you need to do is to install a small registry fix which will then display the Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta as an available update at Windows Updates. The Service Pack 1 adds a watermark to your screen saying ‘Evaluation copy, Build 6001′ which can be removed with another script as well.
You should be aware that this is a beta version of the Service Pack for Windows Vista which means that it could harm your computer or files. I know that some of you guys still want to give it a go and I can fully understand that. Everyone else who is probably working with a Vista computer right now should probably better wait until the Service Pack is officially released by Microsoft.
Downloading Windows Vista Service Pack 1 from Windows Updates:
- Download Windows Vista Service Pack and unpack it to your system.
- Run SP1Beta_Hack.cmd with administrator privileges and Windows Updates afterwards. It should show KB935509 which you should download and restart afterwards.
- Run Windows Updates again, it should display KB937287. Download and restart your PC afterwards.
- Run Windows Updates for a third time. Download the now appearing KB938371, restart your computer.
- Finally, visit Windows Updates again and you should see the Service Pack 1 Beta for Microsoft Windows Vista available for download.
Removing the Evaluation Copy message:
- This is fairly easy to accomplish. Run watermark_fix.reg first
- Rename user32.dll.mui to user32.dll.mui.old in C:\Windows\System32\en-US\
- copy user32.dll.mui from the archive to that location
- Reboot Windows Vista
Several websites claim that this is the legal way to download Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta. I’m not a lawyer and can only use my judgment here but I really can’t see a huge difference between downloading the Service Pack from Torrent sites or the Microsoft website. Both are not really authorized downloads somehow.
Update:
The old hack is not working anymore, visit Download Windows Vista SP1 Beta through Windows Update again for a working hack.
Related posts:
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta DownloadMicrosoft Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Pre-Beta Released
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC1 Available
Download Windows Vista SP1 Beta through Windows Update again
Download Windows Vista SP1 RC1
Download the Windows XP Service Pack 3
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 RC Download
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Update Errors
38 Responses to “Download Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta”
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[...] what do you have to do? I’ll direct you over to Ghacks for the nice step-by-step rundown, but I did take the liberty of installing this on one of my test machines. The process was actually [...]
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[...] Via GHacks [...]
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[...] CyberNet News relata (através do Ghacks) que uma simples mudança no registro exibirá “Windows Vista SP1″ como uma [...]
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[...] you still want to proceed then the instructions can be found at Ghacks but please keep in mind what I said above, it may (or may not) cause stability issues and this [...]
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[...] Ghacks blogs has a nice hack which allows you to download and install Vista SP1 via Windows Update. Essentially, one has to run [...]
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[...] a way that you can take Windows Vista SP1 beta for a spin . Remember though that this is a beta and could trash your system, so take care and make [...]
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[...] Windows Updates server, is. All you have to do is a little registry hack, as exemplified by GHacks. Open a notepad file and copy paste the following code. Make sure to save the file with a name [...]
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[...] SP1 Here are the instructions for those who may not want to burrow through the article for them Download Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta Seems like a lot of reboots not to mention I had SP1 beta installed before and I noticed not one [...]
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[...] Read a lot more and see some guides here and here. [...]
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[...] you have to do is a little registry hack, as exemplified by GHacks. Open a notepad file and copy paste the following code. Make sure to save the file with a name [...]
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[...] Identically to Service Pack 1 beta, Microsoft has started distributing the magical GUID to shove into select testers’ registries (via batch file). For those with build string fetishes, and ultimate improve SEO scores, here you go: 6002.16489 (lh_sp2beta.080924-1740). [...]
Did somebody download the service pack already and what are the experiences? I hope that somebody can tell us whether it is good or buggy.
Well, I’ve installed it. Its running pretty well except for the fact that it causes one of my games to flicker while running.
Ok, i downloaded the first one it restarted and i checked again and no new updates……wats up???
it worked but this is weird when i click on the “welcome center” it just wont work or when i right click on desktop and try to go personalize again it wont work … any ideas?and i dont have a 15 day trial… at least it doesnt say!
ahhh shit and now i cant even access installed updates. damn… i wanna remove this how do i do it?!
I was able to install the first 2 updates, but the third (KB938371) has failed EVERY TIME (for a total of 5 times so far). I download and install it, but when I restart, I get the “Please Wait/Configuring Updates” screen, and then a “Shutting Down” immediately afterwards. The resulting restart launches “Startup Repair”, which even if I stop and/or cancel or let it do its thing or even startup in Safe Mode afterwards, prevents the third update from working. I restart only see that the update has failed and is downloadable again.
HELP! How to I fix this? Seems maybe BOOTMGR is messed up after the third update, which forces “Startup Repair”? I don’t know what else to do, since you can’t run Windows Update in Safe Mode.
Any ideas???
Here’s an idea. Don’t put SP1 on your main system, like it said in the article.
RTFD.
My system is still working fine. The first 2 updates didn’t seem to do anything. I still can’t get the third to work. Startup Repair says something like there was no boot volume available or something like that. Not sure WTF the third one does, but I can’t get it.
There may be something Dell puts in their lappies that screws with something. OR, I disabled something. I DID use various tweak guides to tweak Vista how I like it and to be faster. And yes, that includes service tweaks/disabling. Perhaps there’s a service I needed on?
Anyone else?
Well i bit the bullet and put this on my main machine *shrug*.Upto now its fine,theres nothing that does’nt work.i went through the install process and it went without a hitch.
Just tried this today – no go. Seems Microsoft has fixed this exploit.
Same result here. The updates no longer appear with the hack.
yeah, it doesn’t work now.
Patch: re: Hack: Download Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta now
Actually its not a hack, But this script was provided at Connect to Beta Testers for getting Vista SP1 beta via WU.
And somebody has leaked that script which was available only to Connect testers.
Does not work the keys are there but can get a update.have they removed it in microsoft??
beats mee
yeha right i got 64-bit vista,the leak are to a 32-bit vista thank U and godbye
Can they tell to microsoft Coropation about add or change the things for Service Pack 1 in future: Laptop: -set up the power button: “When I close the lid” from sleep to Do nothing? Because they dont know how change, but they were complaining. And last thing: change turn off Account Control after installion Service Pack on CD?
Thank you!!!
Well it is not working for me now. Did microsoft plug this hack with an update.. that would be a dumb thing to do… but you will never know..
This is a new why to hack Windows Vista Service Pack 1 straight from Microsoft. To get it download available through the windows update. The new service pack build is 6001.17036 version number is v.652 . Here are the batch file which makes SP1 download available through the windows update.
@echo off
reg delete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\VistaSp1 /f 2> NUL
reg delete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\VistaSP1 /f 2> NUL
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\VistaSp1 /v Beta1 /t REG_SZ /d 37d55f36-65d6-4fe4-9dc7-892fcbe6222b /f
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\VistaSP1 /v Beta1 /t REG_SZ /d 37d55f36-65d6-4fe4-9dc7-892fcbe6222b /f
echo Vista SP1 registry key has been set. Please check for updates in Windows Update.
You can fine more info at. http://www.thehotfix.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=16809
I made a new post, take a look at this updated version:
http://www.ghacks.net/2007/11/10/download-windows-vista-sp1-beta-through-windows-update-again/
Note Bene:
SP1 beta v.6xx that I got working 2 hours ago ( and took (1.5 hours to install) is noticeably faster. But, there’s now an “Evaluation copy” water mark on the bottom right corner of my screen.
Can this be removed by looking through the registry?
I installed the beta sp1 as detailed above back in December i think.
I notice an RC for SP1 is now out but i must uninstall any previous versions of the SP1.
I goto the installed updates page to uninstall relevent items, and find an empty list.
How i do uninstall these files or how do i get the new RC released for SP1 on Vista
I don’t know why all of you can’t wait for the real SP1, istead of finding ways to get the beta…geez… at least let them work out all the bugs first.
Removing the watermark is a one thing, but the reality is that your system really is on evaluation period. and that sucks. if you type slmgr -dlv on the command prompt after 10-20sek windows script host windows appears, and at the bottom there is an evaluation period end time specified. in my case windows will stop working after 10months.
i just installed this SP1. installed nice and no probs so far ! :)
Ummm, hello? Do I need Windows Vista to do this or XP? Specifics are really important ya know!!!
NEED VISTA SERVICE PACK 1
PLEASE HELP TO INSTAL SERVICE PACK 1 ON MY COMPUTER THAT MAY ENABLE MY COMPUTER TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS TO INSTAL SOFT WARE OF a HP Deskjet F4283.