Leaked Windows 8.1 Update 1 Might Not Be the Final Release

Did you load the leaked version of Windows 8.1 Update 1 a week ago? I know many of you did because I saw talk about it in emails, in forums, in articles and blog posts, and over social media networks. If you're one of those that just couldn't wait until Microsoft released it officially, you might be in for a surprise when it does actually rollout on April 8, 2014. You might need to update again – or worse.

According to an article on Neowin today, there a different version of Windows 8.1 Update 1 referenced in a Microsoft KB Article released today than the one leaked last week. The article pertains to a Hotfix that is being made available prior to the Update 1 release. Microsoft does this sometimes in preparation to fix a known issue. Most times, because it only affects a small number of installations, they'll stick reference to it in the Release Notes instead of including it in the update. 

The version leaked last week is 6.3.9600.17031 and the version listed in the KB article is 6.3.9600.17042, suggesting that Microsoft has done some additional work on Update 1 since the leak. Those I saw commenting on installing the leaked version also talked about some potential bugs and annoyances. Coloring the update in that light, what leaked was probably not the finished code.

How might this affect early installers? That remains to be seen. Hopefully, installing early won't result in a required Windows 8.1 refresh or that you may be unable to get the most current code. Of course, we know no one would've installed it on a production machine, right?