Microsoft tests Windows 7 update with fake patches

The release candidate updates do not deliver any new features or fixes

Microsoft is to test the update mechanism in its forthcoming Windows 7 software by pushing out a number of fake patches to users of the latest release candidate.

The patches will start being issued on 12 May and will mimic a similar rollout used in February to test an earlier release.

Windows 7 manager Brandon LeBlanc noted in a blog post that Microsoft will release up to 10 test updates to PCs running the Windows 7 release candidate in order to verify its ability to deliver and manage updates in real-life situations.

"These updates do not deliver any new features or fixes. This is the second set of test updates we've released to test the updating mechanism for Windows 7. The first set were released on February 24," he wrote.

Responses to the messages have been mixed. Some users of the release candidate are apparently pleased to see the features being tested, while others have called for existing features to be patched or new ones to be added.

"The updates already work fine, why waste time doing tests? Give us some real updates for drivers," noted one commenter.

Another added: "'Please wait while Windows configures updates.' I guess we'll see this for hours on Windows 7 SP1 as well. + No real slipstreaming ability= Deployment hell."

Microsoft said that users should change their Windows Update control panel settings if they want to avoid downloading the releases.