Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit - Block Vista SP2 Automatic Upgrades
Microsoft is offering Windows Vista SP1 users the chance to block automatic upgrades to Service Pack 2. In addition to making available Vista SP2 RTM as a standalone download, DVD ISO image, the bits are also released to Windows Update, and subsequently served to Vista SP1 users who have Automatic Updates enabled.
download -
comments -
3.7.2009 Windows Update Blocker Tool Kit - Block Automatic Windows Vista SP2 Update
After availability of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 for public download I am sure many users would have already installed Vista Service Pack 2 to see the performance improvements and its advisable to install Windows Vista sp2 as it has many noticeable changes and also includes all the fixes released after Vista sp1.
common -
comments -
27.5.2009 IE7 Coming Through on WSUS, Blocker Toolkit or Not
Larry Seltzer here, pointing you to this recent Knowledge Base article with Microsoft's announcement that Internet Explorer 7 will be distributed through WSUS (Windows Software Update Services) on Feb. 12, 2008, which is the next Patch Tuesday. It will appear as an "Update Rollup."
microsoft -
comments -
22.1.2008 Microsoft: We Didnt Change Automatic Updates
Software giant says users are responsible for the modifications that generated claims of unauthorized patch installs.
windows -
comments -
20.10.2007 Vista SP1 and XP SP3 Blocker Tool Kit Draws Close to Expiration
Soon, there will be nothing standing between Windows XP and Windows Vista users and the automatic distribution of the latest service packs for the two operating systems. Microsoft provided a heads up related to the imminent expiration of the Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit, a tool that is designed with the sole purpose of blocking the delivery and installation of Service Pack 3 for XP and SP1 for Vista through Windows Update and Automatic Updates.
windows -
comments -
24.4.2009 Microsoft Office 2007 SP1 releasing to Automatic Update
As we noted when we released Office 2003 Service Pack 3 via Microsoft Update (MU), we are committed to providing at least 30 days notice before making Office service packs available via Microsoft Update automatic distribution (for Vista and XP).
microsoft -
comments -
10.5.2008 Microsoft sets Windows XP SP3 automatic download for Thursday
The vague timetable that Microsoft gave Monday for pushing out Windows XP SP3 to most users got specific Tuesday as the company quietly said it would release the upgrade on Thursday at 10 a.m. PDT.
windows -
comments -
9.7.2008 Automatic Windows 7 Installs via the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 RTM
Microsoft has made available for download the gold version of its solution accelerator designed to automate the deployment of its latest Windows client and server operating system released.
windows -
comments -
9.9.2009 Microsoft to push Windows Server 2003 SP2 via Automatic Updates on Patch Tuesday
On June 12, this months Patch Tuesday, Microsoft will be delivering more than its usual bundle of security fixes and patches for Windows, Office and other products. The company also will be starting to push Windows Server 2003 Service Pack (SP) 2 to customers via its Automatic Updates patching mechanism.
windows -
comments -
10.6.2007 IE Automatic Component Activation Now Available
Jefferson Fletcher: The IE Automatic Component Activation (IE ACA) update is now available as part of the April 2008 Internet Explorer Cumulative Update.
microsoft -
comments -
9.4.2008 Internet Explorer 7 and Automatic Updates
Microsoft plans to use its Automatic Updates patch-distribution service to push its stand-alone Internet Explorer 7.0 browser to customers once the product is ready to ship in the fourth quarter of this year.
microsoft -
comments -
26.7.2006 IE Automatic Component Activation - Changes to IE ActiveX Update
Back in April 2006, we made a change to how Internet Explorer handled embedded controls used on some webpages.
microsoft -
comments -
9.11.2007 Windows 7 Automatic Installation Kit Limitations
The Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK or WAIK) is among the free tools of choice when it comes down to building custom Windows 7 images and deploying them in a specific environment.
windows -
comments -
31.8.2009 Toolkit to Disable Automatic Delivery of Internet Explorer 7
To help our customers become more secure and up-to-date, Microsoft will distribute Internet Explorer 7 as a high-priority update via Automatic Updates for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 soon after the final version of the browser is released (planned for fourth quarter 2006).
download -
comments -
27.7.2006 Microsoft's fix for Automatic Updates lockup not working
Windows XP systems are still locking up during patch update attempts -- even after users deployed the fix suggested by Microsoft Corp.
windows -
comments -
12.5.2007 Automatic distribution of Windows Vista SP1 begins today
We're excited about the progress we've made with Windows Vista Service Pack 1. On March 18th, Windows Vista SP1 was made available for customers who chose to manually download and install it from the Microsoft Download Center or Windows Update in English, French, German, Spanish, and Japanese.
windows -
comments -
24.4.2008 Starting today, July 10, 2008 - Windows XP SP3 Is Live via Automatic Updates
The third and last service pack for the 32-bit version of Windows XP has debuted on the path to automatic distribution today, July 10, 2008. Initially, Microsoft was shy about pinpointing the actual deadline for XP SP3's availability through Automatic Updates, and only referenced an abstract "early summer" in order to give users a clue as to when they should get ready.
windows -
comments -
10.7.2008 Microsoft releases free ebook: Introducing Microsoft Visual Basic 2005
Get a focused, first look at the features and capabilities in Microsoft Visual Basic 2005, Visual Studio 2005, and the .NET Framework 2.0. If you currently work with Visual Basic 6, these authors fully understand the adoption and code migration issues you'll encounter.
microsoft -
comments -
12.4.2006 Microsoft SQL Server Management Pack for Microsoft Operations Manager 2005
The Microsoft SQL Server Management Pack provides both proactive and reactive monitoring of SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2000 in an enterprise environment. Availability and configuration monitoring, performance data collection, and default thresholds are built for enterprise-level monitoring. Both local and remote connectivity checks help ensure database availability.
microsoft -
comments -
5.6.2006 Microsoft Pre-Release Software Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 - September CTP
The Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 (formerly known as WinFX), is the new managed code programming model for Windows. It combines the power of the .NET Framework 2.0 with new technologies for building applications that have visually compelling user experiences, seamless communication across technology boundaries, and the ability to support a wide range of business processes.
download -
comments -
24.9.2006 Podcasts: Microsoft IT Showcase: How Microsoft IT Architects and Configures DFS Replication
Edit: Something close to my heart! I sure hope the R2 changes to DFS are as good as they sound in all the marketing documents!
microsoft -
comments -
25.2.2006 Microsoft Showcases Platform Advancements in the 2007 Microsoft Office System
Second annual Microsoft Office System Developers Conference highlights opportunity for custom solutions development utilizing innovations in the 2007 release.
microsoft -
comments -
23.3.2006 Microsoft set to beta Microsoft Security Essentials June 23
Microsoft confirmed today that they plan to release a public beta of Microsoft Security Essentials (formerly codenamed Morro) on June 23.
microsoft -
comments -
18.6.2009 Microsoft is 30 years old today! have a look at the Microsoft Timeline
It's hard to believe that Microsoft is already 30 years old. The company that made Redmond, Washington, a household name was actually founded in 1975 in another city by two young Seattle men, one of whom was a college dropout. From this inauspicious beginning came an equally improbable vision: A personal computer on every desk and in every home. Thirty years later, it seems so obvious. But at the time, when only a handful of people knew what a personal computer was, it was a great leap of faith and daring.
common -
comments -
Microsoft Windows Microsoft Application Verifier 3.2.0038
Application Verifier is a runtime verification tool for unmanaged code that assists in quickly finding subtle programming errors that can be extremely difficult to identify with normal application testing.
download -
comments -
26.7.2006 Microsoft executive: Pirating software? Choose Microsoft!
Microsoft doesn't want you to pirate their software, but if you must choose between illegally installing Windows or a competitor's operating system, Microsoft would prefer that you choose them.
microsoft -
comments -
15.3.2007 Microsoft releases new Ultimate Extras - Microsoft Tinker
Microsoft has silently released 3 updates for Windows Ultimate users today.
windows -
comments -
23.9.2008 Microsoft trademark reveals Microsoft Store logo
A fortnight ago, detailed plans of the long anticipated Microsoft Store were revealed in all its theoretical glory when Gizmodo published over 50 slides from a Powerpoint presentation prepared by the projects consultancy firm.
microsoft -
comments -
5.8.2009 Microsoft Launches Microsoft TalentLab in The Netherlands
Demand for ICT specialists is growing; new portal site advertises job vacancies at Microsoft partners with guaranteed training.
microsoft -
comments -
25.3.2007 Microsoft 4 Patas
Four different wallpapers with those that are considered men best friend. Besides that, icons and sounds give a special touch in this theme, that is already a success in those that love dogs.
Install it now! download -
comments -
5.1.2006Windows Server 2003 SP2 Blocker Tool to be removed from Windows Update and Automatic Update
Ward Ralston: Just a reminder - It has been a little over a year since we released
Windows Server 2003 SP2. When we release a Service
Pack at Microsoft, we want to make sure that IT professionals and system administrators have ample time to assess the service pack and choose when to
deploy it.
As with other service packs, we offered support for Windows Server 2003 SP2 within the
Windows Service Pack Blocker
Toolkit. This allowed administrators to block the automatic deployment of Windows Server 2003 SP2 for a period of one year.
Now that time has expired, organizations should be aware that over the next month, support for Windows Server 2003 SP2 within the blocker tool
will be phased out Windows Server 2003 SP2 will then be automatically offered, downloaded and/or installed (depending on user or administrator
settings) through standard mechanisms including Windows Update and Automatic Update.
winbeta.org -
28.05.2008IE8 via Automatic Update for users running IE6 or IE7
Microsoft plans to distribute Internet Explorer 8 to computers running previous versions of IE (IE 6 or IE 7) via Automatic Updates starting from the
3rd week of April. The update will be rolled out gradually from a small user base to large number of users. The update will be a 'high
priority' update for systems running Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 and is an 'important' update for Windows Vista and Windows Server
2008. The final version of IE8 was distributed via automatic update recently to users still running pre-release versions of IE8, Beta 2/RC1.
Organizations can use the IE8 Blocker Toolkit to block automatic delivery of IE8.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
11.04.2009Mozilla ends Firefox 1.5 support, releases Firefox 2.0.0.4 and 3.0 Alpha 5 Preview
Mozilla Corp. issued the last
security update for its
open-source Firefox 1.5
browser Tuesday. It included
an automatic update mechanism
to give users the option of
upgrading to Firefox 2.0.
"The upgrade offer will
be enabled within in a few
weeks," said Mozilla in a
blog on its developer center.
The long-anticipated
end to Firefox 1.5 support was
originally slated for April
24, but last month, Mozilla
pushed back the drop-dead
date, saying it needed more
time to craft the automatic
updater. When Mozilla triggers
what it has called "major
updates," users will be
offered an in-place upgrade to
Firefox 2.0, which they can
decline if they wish. Users
can also permanently suppress
the upgrade message so it
never appears again. ..
winbeta.org -
31.05.2007Don't Want To Upgrade?
Just a reminder for Internet
Explorer 6 users, if you do
not wish to upgrade to
Internet Explorer 7, it is
recommended that you install
the Internet Explorer 7
Blocker Toolkit on your system
or network before the end of
the month.
Internet Explorer 7 will be
made available via Automatic
Updates towards the beginning
of Novemeber and will
automatically be installed on
all systems unless the toolkit
is installed.
jcxp.net -
30.10.2006Windows Server 2003 SP2 hits Automatic Update on June 12th
FYI next week on Tuesday, June
12th Microsoft will begin
releasing Windows Server 2003
SP2 through Automatic Updates
(AU.)
To ensure more
control over when and how SP2
is deployed, users will need
to click on the AU Updates
are ready to install balloon
notification, accept the end
user license agreement and go
through the Welcome screen.
Customers can also use the
http://www.microsoft.com/downl
oads/details.aspx?familyid=fc1
45b0b-c148-445a-82ba-9b2f3aef6
e60&displaylang=en>SP2 blocker
tool if they wish to disable
delivery via AU completely.
WSUS admins are also
required to explicitly accept
the SP2 EULA in order to
enable automatic deployment.
winbeta.org -
07.06.2007Microsoft to push XP SP3 via AutoUpdate July 10
Microsoft is going to release Windows XP Service Pack (SP) 3 via its Automatic Update (AU) service on Thursday July 10, company officials confirmed
this week.
The client team has been vague about when it planned to push the latest version of XP to users. "Early summer" and
"sometime soon"were favorite comebacks when officials were asked for an AU timeframe for SP3.
Customers who have automatic updates
turned on but who dont want XP SP3 to be downloaded to user desktops this week for whatever reasons need to deploy the Microsoft Service Pack
blocker toolkit to delay pushed-delivery of SP3.
While Microsoft will begin pushing SP3 tomorrow, not all users will receive it
immediatly, as the company will be staggering the rollout.
Microsoft has postponed and temporarily halted the distribution of SP3 a
couple of times this year because of compatibility and performance problems.
jcxp.net -
10.07.2008Microsoft to Push IE 7.0 via
Automatic Updates
Microsoft plans to use its
Automatic Updates
patch-distribution service to
push its stand-alone Internet
Explorer 7.0 browser to
customers once the product is
ready to ship in the fourth
quarter of this year.
But just as it did
with a couple of service
packs?most notably Windows XP
Service Pack 2?Microsoft will
provide corporations with a
way to block IE 7.0's
distribution so they can
control when and if the
product is distributed to
their users. And unlike the
case with previous "blocker
tools," the one for IE 7.0
will not bake in a preset
download deadline. As a
result, corporations can set
IE 7.0 to download on any date
in the future they choose,
Microsoft officials said.
Because of the
myriad security fixes
incorporated into the product,
Microsoft plans to designate
IE 7.0 as a "high priority"
update, officials said. But
users and administrators will
be prompted to opt in and
accept the IE 7.0 download; it
won't happen automatically
without notification,
Microsoft officials stressed.
Users who have opted to hide
access to IE won't be
presented with the download
option at all, officials
said.
jcxp.net -
27.07.2006CNET Reviews Windows Vista SP1
A little more than one year after its release, Windows Vista will receive its first service pack update in March. Microsoft says the pack will offer
better compatibility with third-party hardware, increased reliability, tighter security, and better performance. But unlike the last Windows Service
Pack release, Windows XP SP2--which offered users a new Windows Firewall, an improved Automatic Updates feature, and a pop-up ad blocker for Internet
Explorer--Windows Vista SP1 is largely a code update, devoid of new eye candy, and very light on "must-have" features for home users. Most of the
features touted by Microsoft are for the Business, Enterprise, or Ultimate editions of the operating system. Our advice: Be patient, and don't
download it once it becomes available. Wait until Windows Vista SP1 is offered to your PC via Microsoft's Automatic Updates service.
winbeta.org -
08.02.2008Vista SP1 goes live on Automatic Updates, but gradually
It's apparently safe to try this now: Microsoft stated this afternoon it's going forward with plans to deploy Windows Vista Service Pack 1 via
Automatic Updates...
betanews.com -
24.04.2008Microsoft says controversial Office SP3 was never in Automatic Updates
The controversial Service Pack 3 was never distributed to Microsoft Office end users through Automatic Updates, Microsoft told BetaNews..
betanews.com -
09.01.2008Is Microsoft Re-updating Auto Update, and Does It Need Updating Again?
Just when it seemed Microsoft had averted a PR debacle after an update to its Automatic Updates service in Windows installed itself into users'
computers even when they thought it was turned off, now it appears something is turning back on many users' Automatic Updates...
betanews.com -
15.10.2007Microsoft to release Office 2007 SP1 via Automatic Update in June
Five months after the first service pack for Office 2007 was made generally available to customers, the company has determined it will be safe to
provide it over its automatic update service...
betanews.com -
09.05.2008IE 8:Expected Windows Update and Automatic Updates Schedule
Now that IE 8 is available for download via Microsoft Download website, users should expect IE 8 being delivered via Windows Update soon. TechARP is
reporting that Microsoft will release IE8 via Windows Update a week later and schedule automatic updates at the end of April, 2009. Refer the IE 8
release notes for more info on the known issues, compatibility issues and other issues. Microsoft released the Wave 0 (25 languages) which is the RTM
version of IE 8 yesterday.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
20.03.2009Expiration dates for Vista SP1 and XP SP3 blocks announced
If you're an IT professional and currently using Microsoft's Service Pack Blocker, the software giant recently announced that the current
blocks for Vista SP1 and XP SP3 are going to expire in a few months. The Service Pack Blocker Tool only temporarily prevents Windows from the
installation of a Service Pack via Windows Update, and the block is only effective for one year after the Service pack is released to the market via
Windows Update. Effective April 28th, 2009, Windows Vista SP1 will no longer be blocked by the tool and will be delivered via Windows Update. The
same goes for Windows XP SP3, but the block will be lifted on May 19th, 2009.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
30.01.2009XP SP3 Goes on Automatic Updates This Thursday
Although a Microsoft manager had mentioned that XP SP3 would arrive "shortly" to Automatic Updates on Monday, the timetable became specific as the
company quietly said today it would release the upgrade on Thursday at 10 a.m. PDT. Microsoft will add Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) to Windows
Update at that time, and trigger its automatic download and installation for users who have left the operating system's update service at its
default "Automatic (recommended)" setting.
" Updated applicability rules and updated metadata to target the update to Automatic
Update channel, " read a Microsoft support document revised Tuesday after the company unveiled its monthly security patches . " The Automatic
Update change will be published at 10:00 A.M. on July 10. " Microsoft delayed the distribution of Windows XP SP3 twice this spring, but the July
10 date seems firm; it was included in the cumulative list of all updates available via Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), the server-side update
tool many businesses use, as well as via the client-side Windows Update (WU) and Microsoft Update Web-based services. A Microsoft spokeswoman,
however, was not able to immediately confirm that July 10 will, in fact, be XP SP3's automatic update debut.
neowin.net -
09.07.2008Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit
A blocking tool is available for organizations that would like to temporarily prevent installation of Service Pack updates through Windows Update.
This tool can be used with:
- Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (valid through March, 2008)
- Windows XP Service Pack
3 (valid for 12 months following general availability)
- Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (valid for 12 months following general
availability)
This toolkit contains three components. All of them function primarily to set or clear a specific registry key that is
used to detect and block download of Service Packs from Windows Update. You only need to use the component which best serves your organizations
computer management infrastructure.
winbeta.org -
07.12.2007Windows XP SP3 Upcoming Release to Automatic Updates
Nick MacKechnie: Microsoft is committed to providing quality products to customers. As part of this commitment, we would like to remind you that
Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) will be released to Automatic Updates shortly. The third service pack to Windows XP includes the previously released
updates and hotfixes to Windows XP, creating a new baseline for servicing.
winbeta.org -
07.07.2008Windows Vista SP1 released to Automatic Update.
Windows Vista users will now receive the SP1 via the Microsoft Automatic Update service, Microsoft has said.
"We're excited about the
progress we've made with Windows Vista Service Pack 1. On March 18th, Windows Vista SP1 was made available for customers who chose to manually
download and install it from the Microsoft Download Center or Windows Update in English, French, German, Spanish, and Japanese. Last week, we made
the remaining languages available - giving WU users the ability to download and install Windows Vista Service Pack in any of 36 supported languages.
Today, we're happy to announce that we are beginning automatic distribution of SP1 in English, French, German, Spanish, and
Japanese."
neowin.net -
24.04.2008IE Automatic Component Activation Now Available
Jefferson Fletcher: The IE Automatic Component Activation (IE ACA) update is now available as part of the
April 2008 Internet Explorer Cumulative Update. The
"click to activate" behavior, formerly required for ActiveX controls embedded in some webpages, is now permanently removed from Internet Explorer.
For detailed information on IE ACA, see our
blog
post from last November announcing this update.
This update replaces the IE ACA previews released in December 2007 and February
2008.
neowin.net -
09.04.2008Save battery life, time, the world! Use a script blocker
Admittedly, its not difficult to imagine a scenario where less CPU cycles result in less power drain and this method isn’t going to magically
extend your battery life by much but its nice to see the theory tested to the extreme.
SecTheory.com took a notebook PC, a couple
of browsers and measured the battery drain on the Top 100 Alexa sites. They then took the worst offenders, that is, the ones that took the most power
drain, and blocked script and ads using
NoScript and
AdBlock Plus. The results were quite significant...
winbeta.org -
03.12.2008
