14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft was supposed to make available for download an open source tool designed to streamline the creation of Windows 7 RTM bootable media and subsequently, the installation of the operating system this week; however, this will not be the case. In a genuine case of a “take 2,” the Redmond company promised to re-release the Windows 7 RTM USB/DVD Download Tool, after it was found that the utility lifted code from an open source project hosted on CodePlex while managing to break GPLv2 in the process.
Just 10 days ago, the software giant confirmed that Windows 7 RTM USB/DVD Download Tool indeed contained code from an open source program, labeled ImageMaster, which is available via the Microsoft open source repository CodePlex. The confirmation also meant that Microsoft was acknowledging the tool was breaking GPLv2, by not disclosing the fact that it contained open source code and by not being delivered as an open source project itself, complete with the source code.
Microsoft set up to offer the source code as well as binaries for the Windows 7 USB/DVD Tool available in the week of November 23rd, under the terms of the General Public License v2. This won’t happen, revealed Peter Galli, the Open Source Community manager for Microsoft's Platform Strategy Group, indicating that the tool’s release was delayed.
“While we worked extremely hard to try and get the code ready for release by today, we still need to test and localize it. Our goal is now to release the tool in all languages on the same day in the next few weeks,” Galli explained. “We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to make the Windows 7 USB/DVD Tool available once again.”
Galli noted on November 13th that the Redmond company found itself unintentionally in the controversy related to the Windows 7 USB/DVD Tool. Microsoft had contracted a third party to put together the utility and had missed the fact that open source code was included in the WUDT during the review process.
“The WUDT is a free tool that was offered by the Microsoft Store and which enabled customers to create bootable USB drives or DVD backup media from the electronic software (ESD) edition of Windows 7 that comes in an ISO format,” Galli added.