• March 16, 2005 •
Windows XP Service Pack 2 Automatic Update Blocker to be Lifted
By: Arie Slob
When Microsoft introduced Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) last August, it provided IT professionals & System Administrators with a tool that would block the delivery of SP2 via the Automatic Update feature of Windows XP.
Microsoft allowed people to install this block to provide IT professionals & System Administrators additional time for validation and testing of the SP2 update.
Initially the blocker was limited to 120 days, but last September Microsoft doubled that time to 240 days (8 months) from August 16, 2004 to April 12, 2005. After this date, Windows XP SP2 will be delivered to all Windows XP and Windows XP Service Pack 1 systems who have Automatic Updates enabled.
You can find your Automatic Update settings by going to Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > System and selecting the Automatic Updates tab (Figure).
This upcoming change affects only computers use in businesses, for which system administrators used specific software to "roll out" updates across an organization, such as Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 or Software Update Services (SUS).
For more information about deploying Windows XP SP2, visit the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Deployment Information Web site.
Give your comments on this article.