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.
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27.5.2009 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.
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9.11.2007 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).
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10.5.2008 Microsoft Got Hacked!
The official Microsoft U.K. Domain was attacked and defaced by a hacker identified as rEmOtEr. Microsoft confirmed that the hack has been successful. rEmOtEr altered a webpage in the Microsoft.co.uk domain with two images and multiple references to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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1.7.2007 Xbox 360's Firmware Hacked!
A hacker who calls himself "TheSpecialist" stated that he
has installed his own custom firmware into the Xbox 360. He claims that with the custom firmware, he is able to create directly bootable backups of original DVD games. The firmware, claims TheSpecialist, circumvents the Xbox 360?s content checking by ignoring the required disc signatures that are present on retail games. However, TheSpecialist states that he will not release his firmware due to obvious piracy concerns.
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17.3.2006 Microsoft Comments on "Hacked" Xbox
The core security system has not been broken. However, it is reported that the authentication protocol between the optical disc drive and the console may be attacked, which if accurate could allow people to play illegally copied games.
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23.3.2006 New iPhone Firmware 1.1.2 Hacked Before Release
Apple's latest effort to thwart iPhone and iPod touch hacking futile.
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10.11.2007 Hundreds of Thousands of Microsoft Web Servers Hacked
Hundreds of thousands of Web sites - including several at the United Nations and in the U.K. government -- have been hacked recently and seeded with code that tries to exploit security flaws in Microsoft Windows to install malicious software on visitors' machines.
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28.4.2008 Pwn2Own: IE8 hacked & Microsoft responds in less than 12hrs
The 3rd annual Pwn2Own contest kicked off its second day today at CanSecWest this morning. If you missed it, check out yesterday's browser carnage (with pics).
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22.3.2009 Vista hacked on 3rd day thru Adobe Flash. Linux Undefeated.
After Mac was hacked in 2 minutes at the CanSecWest Conference, it was now the time for Vista to get hacked on the 3rd day.
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30.3.2008 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.
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31.8.2009 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.
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24.4.2008 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.
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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.
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9.9.2009 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.
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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.
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26.7.2006 Microsoft to push Windows Server 2003 SP2 via Automatic Updates on Patch Tuesday
On June 12, this month’s 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.
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10.6.2007 Microsoft: We Didn’t Change Automatic Updates
Software giant says users are responsible for the modifications that generated claims of unauthorized patch installs.
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20.10.2007 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.
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10.7.2008 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.
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3.7.2009 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).
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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.
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12.5.2007 Windows Update versus Ubuntu Update
A few months ago, Steve Ballmer publicly noted that Windows Vista was “a work in progress.” That inspired a predictable outpouring of Vista-bashing.
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15.7.2008 Microsoft plans to issue non-update update for Win 7
Microsoft will spit out dummy updates for Windows 7 beta testers next week that will probe the forthcoming operating system’s updating abilities.
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20.2.2009 An Update For Windows Update
An infrastructure update has been planned for Windows Update client. The gradual roll-out of this update will begin in late July.
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6.7.2008 You Don't Want This Windows Update
Today, I got an e-mail warning of a new Windows virus and where to get the update to protect against it. Oh, those wicked phishers.
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19.2.2009 You Don't Want This Windows Update
Today, I got an e-mail warning of a new Windows virus and where to get the update to protect against it. Oh, those wicked phishers.
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21.2.2009 Update for Windows (KB913538)
Install this update to prevent Windows Management Instrumentation enumerations from being canceled before the client computer can finish using the enumerations. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
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22.2.2006 Windows update without Microsoft Genuine 2
Not only will it keep you up to date with the latest updates from Microsoft, it will also keep software and drivers from other vendors updated. However, that functionality is currently missing.
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Update for Windows XP (KB900485)
Install this update to resolve an issue in which you receive a ?stop 0x7e in aec.sys? error message on a computer that is running Windows XP Service Pack 2. The error may occur during startup, or after the system has started. AEC.SYS is the acoustic echo canceling driver. After you install this update, you may have to restart your computer.
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9.1.2006IE8 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 -
11.04.2009IE 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 -
20.03.2009Microsoft to push IE8 as an automatic update
Microsoft has announced it plans to offer IE8 via Windows Update. In a move that will likely anger rivals such as Apple and Google, Microsoft will be
pushing Internet Explorer 8 via Windows Update. Google raised concerns back in 2006 when IE7 was originally released via Windows Update. Apple
received negative press last year when it tried to push Safari to iTunes users. Many users never had Safari installed but it was listed under
Apple's software update program for install. The IE8 update will be released as the highest priority update for each operating system. For
Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, it will be listed as Important.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
07.01.2009Is 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...
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15.10.2007XP 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.
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09.07.2008Microsoft 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...
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09.05.2008Windows Vista SP1 Update Resumes Tomorrow
From the Windows Vista Blog: I have a quick update for you about Windows Vista SP1. The Microsoft Update Blog contains some important information
about updates to the SP1 prerequisite distribution plan. Starting tomorrow, we are resuming the automatic update and installation of the Servicing
Stack Update.
In mid-April, we will begin distributing SP1 (in the first 5 languages) using the Automatic Update system. We have a lot of
Windows users, so not everyone will get it on the same day. In fact, it will go to a small percentage of Windows Vista users each day. The exact
timing of when you will receive it depends on when your PC is ready for Windows Vista SP1.
In addition to starting the automatic delivery
of the first 5 languages, I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you that also we're on track for the initial release of SP1 in the remaining
languages in mid-April.
neowin.net -
07.04.2008Windows 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 -
24.04.2008New Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 Update
An update is available to enable automatic approval of definition updates and to fix two problems in the Update Services component of Windows Small
Business Server 2003 R2.
This update provides 2 fixes and introduces 1 new functionality.
New:
-
Automatic approval of definition updates (No longer have to manually approve them)
Fixed:
- Not getting approvals as expected when the
update level is set to Low
- In some scenarios, some updates may not be synchronized as expected.
Check the following for more
details:
940357 - An update is
available to enable automatic approval of definition updates and to fix two problems in the Update Services component of Windows Small Business Server
2003 R2
Expect to see this update on Microsoft Update and WSUS.
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22.09.2007Microsoft Offers Manual Fix to 'Stealth' Windows Update Bug
It turned out to be an insignificant problem after all, rather than something on the order of a rootkit: the discovery that Microsoft's Windows
Update feature updates itself even when users turn off "automatic updates" - a fact that Microsoft had actually documented quite well, but
which few had apparently read. But now, a claim that the self-updating update subsequently unregistered Microsoft's Windows Update drivers in
XP-based systems forced its own drivers to become unregistered...
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28.09.2007Why installing Vista SP1 might fail via Windows Update
When you try to install Windows Vista SP1 via Windows Update you can get error: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is not available for installation from
Windows Update and is not offered by Automatic Updates.
To help ensure a positive update experience, Windows Update will temporarily not
offer Windows Vista SP1 to systems that have the following device drivers. In some cases, these device drivers are problematic on Windows Vista-based
computers when you update to Windows Vista SP1. By installing updated device drivers, you will resolve the issue and enable Windows Update to offer
Windows Vista SP1.
Click read more to view a list of drivers that don't work well with Vista SP1:
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
20.03.2008Microsoft planning updated UI for Windows Update
Beginning next month Microsoft will start an upgrade to the Windows Update and Microsoft Update services. Microsoft plans to start the
infrastructure update in late August, claiming "it will take a couple of months to complete the rollout." The update is required to "maintain and
improve service quality, reliability, and operations." The update will simply improve the user interface for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
computers running Windows Update, adding a more visible and detailed description of updates as well as improvements in how users are notified about
service packs. If you currently apply your updates automatically then this update will not modify the look and feel of Automatic Updates.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
17.07.2009The Windows Update Stealth Affair Explained
It was widely reported last week that Microsoft had automatically updated systems that had Automatic Updates set to "Check for updates but let me
choose whether to download and install them". Nate Clinton, a Windows Update Program Manager at Microsoft posted a response on his blog shortly after
the widespread
reporting had gone out.
One question we have been asked is why do we update the client code for Windows
Update automatically if the customer did not opt into automatically installing updates without further notice? The answer is simple: any user who
chooses to use Windows Update either expected updates to be installed or to at least be notified that updates were available. Had we failed to update
the service automatically, users would not have been able to successfully check for updates and, in turn, users would not have had updates installed
automatically or received expected notifications. That result would not only fail to meet customer expectations but even worse, that result would lead
users to believe that they were secure even though there was no installation and/or notification of upgrades.
One misconception is that
people wrongly assumed that Microsoft had updated systems when the option for Automatic Updates was turned off, in this instance the machines were not
updated, only those that had the Automatic Updates tool turned on. The only stealthy thing about the whole affair is that the Windows Update service
was updated without consent of the user, Nate explains above why this is so. It updated a tool to check for updates which seemed to be the problem all
round.
Not such a big deal if you ask me. Oh Nate also goes on to say that Windows Update, or Automatic Updates have upgraded themselves in
the past in the same manner, only now it seems has it become an issue!
neowin.net - 20.09.2007
Windows 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 - 28.05.2008
Office 2007 SP1 Update Availability Clarification
Bobbie Harder: Posting this as I've noted just a little bit of confusion with how Office 2007 SP1 is made available for download after it's release
yesterday. As you know, Office 2007 SP1 was released yesterday to Microsoft Update, and to WSUS as part of the Tues, Dec 11th release.
As planned, Office 2007 SP1 was not pushed via Automatic Updates. There has been some confusion where Windows Vista customers are seeing
Office 2007 SP1 listed as available with an option to install in their Windows Update control panel applet. The new Vista experience of the Windows
Update applet combines the convenience of the Microsoft Update site, by isting all applicable available updates, and the best of the Automatic
Updates behavior. This allows users to specify what update types they want to automatically download and install (and when), as well as combines the
interactive experience of the Microsoft Update site.
winbeta.org - 13.12.2007
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. 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 - 09.04.2008
Automatic Update Not Making Unauthorized Change
Microsoft has responded to recent web posts claiming that last weekÂ’s automatic update actually changed peoples update settings on their computer.
The company is still looking into the issue, if you experienced weirdness after updating last week, hit the link above and report it.
We have been hearing some questions recently regarding TuesdayÂ’s update release changing automatic updating settings. We have received some
logs from customers, and have so far been able to determine that their AU settings were not changed by any changes to the AU client itself and also
not changed by any updates installed by AU.
jcxp.net - 15.10.2007
Microsoft suspends auto update of Vista SP1 prerequisite
Yesterday Microsoft suspended automatic installations of KB937287, a
servicing stack update required prior to installing Windows Vista SP1 and marked important.
Nick White made the announcement on the Windows
Vista Team Blog, in which he stated: "Immediately after receiving reports of this error, we made the decision to temporarily suspend automatic
distribution of the update to avoid further customer impact while we investigate possible causes." according to White, only a small amount of
customers are affected and only in unique circumstances, he also went on to say that Microsoft are working to identify possible solutions and will
make the update available again shortly after the issue has been addressed.
Microsoft has advised anyone who is affected by the issue to
use System Restore or contact 1-866-PC-Safety for help troubleshooting.
Read full story.....
neowin.net - 20.02.2008
An explanation of Windows Update automatic updating
The Microsoft Update team has posted a statement addressing the current community
discussion on Windows Update's self-updating behavior. The upshot is that a longstanding procedure in Windows Update requires it to self-update
before it is able to recognize that new updates are available (note: WU does not conduct a self-update event each and every time it checks for
updates). This self-updating is done regardless of whether the user has enabled automatic checking, download and/or installation of updates. It does
so in an effort to avoid WU misleading the user to think s/he is up-to-date simply because s/he was not receiving notification that updates are
available. Put another way, WU cannot alert the user that there are security updates available if it is not in the necessary updated state that will
allow it to recognize those updates (see "chicken and egg"
dilemma).
However, we do recognize that we should have been clearer in our explanation of this process earlier in the game; the
MU team's blog post is an effort to rectify that oversight.
In short, this is a poorly understood process, so I invite you to
take a look at the details in the MU blog post to learn more.
Questions on this behavior are best addressed directly to the team
via the MU blog.
winbeta.org - 14.09.2007
Microsoft responds to mysterious Automatic Updates issue
A quick note regarding automatic update settings getting changed...
We have been hearing some questions recently regarding
Tuesdays update release changing automatic updating settings. We have received some logs from customers, and have so far been able to determine that
their AU settings were not changed by any changes to the AU client itself and also not changed by any updates installed by AU.
We
are still looking into this to see if another application is making this change during setup with user consent, or if this issue is related to
something else. We are continuing the investigation, and as I have more information I will update this post.
If you are running
into this issue, your help would be greatly appreciated. You can contact support, and they can walk you through the steps necessary to provide logs and other useful data.
Nate
Clinton
Program Manger
Microsoft Update
winbeta.org - 13.10.2007
