Microsoft quickly closed the hole that allowed all users with a fully patched English version of Windows Vista to download the Windows Vista Service Pack 1 through Windows Update. What they did however as well was to open another way for their beta testers to download the service pack which is now available for everyone again.
If you want to download and test Windows Vista SP1 you can do so with a few Registry tweaks. At the end Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta 6001.17036 v. 652 should be available and ready for download.
Please be aware that this is a beta version of the new service pack. It could lead to problems and should only be downloaded by users who know how to fix them.
Download a zip here which contains the necessary registry keys to allow the computer to download Windows Vista SP1 through Windows Update. Take a look at it first, maybe backup your Registry.
Execute that bat file as an administrator by right-clicking it and selecting Run As Administrator. Start Wndows Update afterwards and go through the process three times in total downloading (KB935509) – v1.005, (KB937287) -Build 6001.17036 (x86) and (KB938371) v1.018 in each consecutive try.
The computer has to be rebooted after every try which means that you start Windows Updates three times and reboot the computer as many times as well. Once this is done you start Windows Update once again and Windows Vista SP1 Beta – 6001.17036 (x86) should appear on that list.
Download it as well and reboot the computer afterwards. Et Voila, the Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta has been installed on your system.
Users who already have an older version of the Service Pack 1 installed have to uninstall it before they can download the new one. Just use the normal way to uninstall a software.
Special thanks to FredBone and The Hotfix
Update:
The SP1 beta is no longer available, take a look at Download Windows Vista SP1 RC1 for the newest working hack.
Related Articles:
Download Windows Vista Service Pack 1 BetaWindows Vista SP2 Beta Download
Download Windows Vista SP1 RC1
Windows Vista SP2 Beta 2 Download
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta Download
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This makes Vista Ultimate what RTM should have been.. smooth, feels good, and Fassssst. 17603 is the way to go… it can only get better.
Thanks to GHacks for the patch….
When I did this windows update never showed KB935509, but it downloaded the other updates and SP1. Is this pack no longer necessary?
I have downloaded SP1 Beta, thanks gHacks.
All 3 updates after the registry hack were downloaded and installed 1 by 1 and after this the SP1 – It showed up from the 2nd check.
This SP1 – is not that good, the activation is not accepted there ! Shit… I needed System Restore to do for taht.
Listen to Mihail. I have two machines that I installed this beta on, and only one of them still boots. I don’t know what would cause the activation to mess up, but they are both LEGIT copies of Vista Business. The broken machine will boot to the activation screen, but when I attempt to activate, it says Unable, so I re-entered the key and went to it again. Still failed. I went to the phone option, and there are NO NUMBERS where the activation code should be. (the number you read to the automated phone system) – BEWARE!
Then you have a non-compatibly problem boot to DVD -> command prompt -> type”rstrui.exe /offline:c:\windows” wait a bit and the last known good image will restore.
v.17042 patch still works as of 11:15 last nite. and cmd restore line was tested in SP1-B v.17036.. after ea patch recommend you make a restore 17042.final then you know its there. Seems not every install makes a Restore after final..
ohh god… my thing comes up in the updates
but it just wont download…
any ideas on that one guys?
Welp, I’ve tried again with the new stuff for the new SP1 Beta, and the first update works fine, but yet again KB938371 (the second update on this round), does the SAME EXACT THING it did before… Something on my laptop is preventing that very 3.1mb update from working! ARGH!!!
JB, sorry it does not work.. but a simply question is your version Full. RTM or OEM or Retail.. the black, blue and fast versions do not work.
Soul must have a weird version also…I;m quite happy with the SP1′s that I have tried,
currently 17042… but hey \just a thought you might clean the BUFFER – Cache and all cookies then retry.. also I had one system that after ea KB I found the only was to REBOOT then look for #2 reboot then #3 then etc etc etc.
Um…I have version 6.0.6000.16509 retail.
Not sure what the deal was but, it was a total disaster.
What version do you have, Pirate?
did anyone else only have to update once, before having sp1 display, only to have it stop downloading at 8% ??
sorry scratch that, microsoft is just uploading EXTREEMLY slow. (what is this, the file is only 50 MEGS??¨)
only the first update file showed up
rebooted and then no new updates :(
Probably Microsoft closed down this hole too. I will wait for the official SP1, so there will be a crack and It will work best with no BSODs or all other staff like that.
well…the file did download, and it installed, but upon reboot it gets passed the microsoft green loading bar, then it starts this file check with a total of 68627 files and gets to the 67733 file and stops telling me “!! 0xc0000034 !!” its listed as (\registry\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Win…) and thats all it gives me. ive tryed to load in safe mode (all of them) and it never gets passed the file load! try to repair os from install cd, to no avail, it shows me a restore point of microsoft sp1 but it only can get to the point “finalizing restore”
i cant get my sytem to boot no mater what i do, CAN ANYONE PLEASE GIVE ME SOME ADVICE FOR HOW TO GET VISTA BACK UP AGAIN!!!!!
…oh ya and i have an oem copy (home premo 32bit), dont know if that should make a diffrence
gnugeek, if might be nice if you READ the instructions… it does say reboot then manually ask for updates…
rechik your error normally = INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE -
Pirate, I am using the OEM version of 32-bit UIltimate that came with my computer. I’m thinking it’s either a Dell issue, or maybe one of my programs (Comodo? NOD32? SpySweeper?).
Either way, if the final SP1 requires that same download, looks like I may be boned… :o\
yea sry
finally installed latest sp1 now
kinda no hassles
windows remained activated
JB, only other thing I can think is
rename edb.log and remove cat2 from windows/system32. Instruction on the MS site for how to if you have problems..
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822798
had to use this several time on old XP…
After uninstalling the old SP1 Beta, the update worked like a charm. However some of the Patch updates where a little different in their versions (since I am running 64 bit). Also, once SP1 is install my version is listed as: Service Pack 1, v.658
Wonder if that is due to me also being 64 bit…
I have just followed the steps given here and my first update has just shown up in windows update. got to restart my computer now but just wanted to say thnx and give a big thumbs up :D
Odie, v.17036 was changed to v.17042 so you have the correct version… has nothing to do with X64 or X32. Service Pack 1, v.658
is RC1 Review.
Thanks Pirate for the link. I tried everything I could on that Microsoft page, and nothing worked.
Basically, I install, restart, get to the “Configuring Updates” part (which takes a minute or two), then it goes immediately to “Shutting Down”. Then upon restart, Startup Repair is launched. Looking at the “Startup Repair” details, it says “Boot Manager failed to find OS loader.”
After Startup Repair, all is well, but the update fails with an Error “Code 80004005″.
Not sure WTF is up. Any other ideas guys?
Installed the 3 updates but service pack 1 doesn’t come up in win update.
Pale you have to reboot after every KB is installed.. failure to reboot fails the next step. then you should as the instructions say. manually check for updates… duh.
instructions:
Please check for updates in Windows Update.
Right click on sp1_rc_17036_v652_web_updater.cmd file and click on “Run as Administrator�.
Log off from Vista system and then log in again.(REBOOT-1)
Open Windows Update and check for updates.
Install Update for Windows Vista (KB935509) – v1.005, and reboot-2 the system.
Open Windows Update and check for updates again.
Install Update for Windows vista (KB937287) – Build 6001.17036 (x86 or x64).(reboot-3)
In Windows Update, check for updates again.
Install Update for Windows Vista (KB938371) – v1.018, and then restart the computer.(reboot-4)
Wait for about 5 to 10 minutes.
Open Windows Update and check for update again. Repeatitively(this means manually check) check for updates until Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta – Build 6001.17036 (x86 or x64) is shown.
Install Windows vista Service Pack 1 Beta – Build 6001.17036 (x86 or x64).
REBOOT-5
Yep Pirate, did that. And 3 hours later and a couple of reboots, still no servicepack.
Thx for the help.
Guys, have been checking with others.. couple have had same prob. CLEAN the cookies to MS..
all the MS cookies.. If the cookies show any SP pack prior to then it thinks you have it..
not sure why.. after you clear the cookies, reboot… wait 3 min…(you do know how to manually check the MS cookies) then manual check for SP1 pack… confirmed 1 UK,1 SP, 2 US stating – OK it now works.. one from TX-US stated he only had 2 KB’s then SP1
Raytheon117X !
All I can say again is [B]READ the INFO[/B].