Microsoft To Kill Vista, XP Upgrade Blockers

[OhioChick]

The software maker is warning customers that tools designed to prevent automatic installation of service packs are nearing expiration.

By Paul McDougall
InformationWeek
February 2, 2009 09:32 AM


Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) 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.

More: http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=213000295

[FreakinDJ]

1. We don't want no software made in India

don't send me that fucked up update

[hendo]

4. feel the hate

if you don't want software from India, you might not want to buy many new programs.

[Hugabear]

2. Fuck Microsoft. Maybe we can finally go after them.

It's time to break up Microsoft, drive a dagger through their heart.

[hendo]

5. so much violence nt

[Hugabear]

6. Defend the corporate monopoly. Good for you.

BTW, your signature image is very offensive.

[hendo]

11. microsoft haters can suck on it

I don't particularly like them, but I don't feel the need to go out of my way to bash them Get over yourself.

[AsahinaKimi]

3. Oh.. so thats what it is...

How do I hit, control-alt-delete on this thing?

[Mojorabbit]

7. Ok I'll admit I am in the dark about what this means

I have xp. It automatically installs the updates. I don't understand what a blocker is or what this means.

[emilyg]

8. You're not alone.

[intaglio]

9. Say you have a favourite program

and it runs happily on your computer, then M$ send out a service pack.

Your favourite no longer works well or at all ... or the SP is flawed in some other way.

Remember SP1 for XP which was a disaster

[Sherman A1]

10. Yeah,

I know it screwed up my desktop PC. Which was my main computer at the time. Now I am back with a Mac, but still need to download some files from it.