Windows 8.1 update leaks to the web, direct from Redmond
Summary: The much-anticipated Windows 8.1 spring update, released to manufacturing days ago and due for public distribution in early April, leaked to the web early. The source isn't a shady Eastern European download site but Microsoft's own Windows Update servers.
The much-anticipated update to Windows 8.1, which is scheduled for release to the general public in early April, has leaked to the web early.
And this time the leak comes from an unexpected source: Microsoft itself.
After being released to manufacturing a couple days ago, the update was supposed to roll out on a carefully graduated schedule, first to 'dogfooders' inside Microsoft, then to MSDN subscribers, and finally to the public via Windows Update.
But thanks to some accurate instructions on the MyDigitalLife forum, anyone can download the update files directly from Microsoft, using direct links or by tweaking the registry to enable the update to appear in Windows Update.
The registry edit successfully enabled the updates on one test system, a Surface Pro running Windows 8.1 Pro. It didn't work on a desktop system running Windows 8.1 Enterprise edition.
The complete package consists of six updates, the largest of which contains the Windows 8.1 Feature Pack. On an x64 test system, that download was approximately 761 MB in size.
The date on the update file corresponds with recent reports that Microsoft had finalized this release. It's possible that there will be additional minor changes between now and April 7, when the update is scheduled for general release.
Asked for comment, a Microsoft spokesperson said, ''We look forward to sharing details about the update soon.'
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