Posted on 02/02/2009 9:29:54 AM PST by smokingfrog
The software maker is warning customers that tools designed to prevent automatic installation of service packs are nearing expiration.
Microsoft wants users of its Windows operating systems to move to upgraded versions of the software, so it's killing a tool that prevents upgrades from automatically self-installing.
"I have some important information for those of you who have installed the Service Pack Blocker Tool for Windows XP or Windows Vista," wrote Brandon LeBlanc, Microsoft's in-house Windows blogger, in a Friday post. "The Service Pack Blocker Tool temporarily prevents the installation of a service pack through Windows Update, typically for one year after general availability of the service pack. We are announcing the upcoming expiration dates for the Service Pack Blocker Tool for Windows Vista SP1 and Windows XP SP3," LeBlanc wrote.
LeBlanc said the blocker for Vista SP1 will expire on April 28, while the blocker for XP SP3 will expire on May 19.
Despite the tools' expiration, LeBlanc noted that companies that don't want to upgrade to the Windows service packs won't be forced to do so. Users that have the Automatic Updates feature turned on will receive an alert from Windows Updates indicating that an important update is available for installation. Users can then elect to install the service packs or ignore the update.
Users that don't have Automatic Updates turned on will receive the alert only after manually checking for updates in Windows Update.
(Excerpt) Read more at informationweek.com ...
NIGYYSOB...
you thought you owned that PC? nope. MS does.
50% owners of MSNBC
And exactly why would any sane person want a Microsoft app, let alone one of their “upgrades”?
Each day that I work at the office (away from my home’s Microsoft-free environment), I am reminded how back in time Microsoft really is compared to Apple and Linux.
Bleghhhhh!
Not gonna GET SP3. So there.
Can’t automatic updates be turned off?
Heh, heh. My music computer that needs windows to run the software is not connected to the internet. The other one is soon going ubuntu.
Not a problem here...
I recently set up Ubuntu, XP and Vista on my laptop so when I boot I have a choice between two and half operating systems.
I've installed the Windows 7 beta over XP and Vista on every box in the house and it hasn't missed a beat.
Going to work is now like stepping back in time.
See paragraph two...
“Each day that I work at the office (away from my home’s Microsoft-free environment), I am reminded how back in time Microsoft really is compared to Apple and Linux.
Bleghhhhh!”
This has been your MS bash propaganda post of the day.
What MS should do is end support for anyone that wants to stop auto updates. They are under no obligation to support people that let updates, especially critical ones languish and then moan and cry when stuff goes wrong.
The SPBT is the only thing keeping some small businesses in business
“Yes, but now you can must get the very latest poorly debugged “upgrades”, whether you want them or not. “
Because WE ALL KNOW that every update for OSX and Ubuntu has been problem free and a wonderful experience, right?
Come on, you know you want to say that.
Generally, if 99% of your software installed that you use 99% of the time is Microsoft brand, no problems ever :0 - It’s real-world users that have issues! hahaha
Microsoft wants to force me to install updates before I'm confident they won't disable some critical function.
The first time a forced install error blocks internet access for its entire customer base, microsoft will die.
I love the idea.
A lot of users are just using Windows due to inertia. Pee in their face long enough and they'll finally bolt.
Installing some of those updates here at the office has caused us more than considerable heartache. Some of those updates change configuration settings for IIS and other applications that have disabled networks, access to the internet, etc.
Worse, MS doesn’t warn you that its doing it, or tell you that it’s done it.
They aren’t debugging their fixes well enough. I believe their philosophy is that in point of fact, you can’t debug it enough to satisfy everyone.
We stopped the automatic fixes, and even still some of our apps are updating themselves without telling us, and we don’t know how.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.