Microsoft puts the brakes on XP SP2 auto-update

Microsoft is offering cautious customers a tool that will delay the delivery of Windows XP Service Pack 2 to PCs until businesses have had a chance to test it.

The software giant said that, because SP2 contains major security improvements, it is being distributed as a "critical update" via the Windows Update or Automatic Update delivery mechanism in Windows.

The company "strongly urges" customers with XP and Windows XP Service Pack 1-based systems to update to XP SP2 as soon as possible.

But Microsoft admitted that, although its customers recognise the security benefits of SP2, some have asked for the ability to "temporarily disable delivery" of this update via Windows Update or Automatic Update.

Microsoft said in a statement: "Since SP2 will start to be delivered to PCs running XP or XP with SP1 via Automatic Update starting on 16 August, these customers would like to temporarily block the delivery of SP2 in order to provide additional time for validation and testing of the update.

"In response to these requests, Microsoft is providing guidance, resources and communication vehicles to meet the needs of these customers."

The mechanism will disable delivery of SP2 for 120 days from 16 August. "At the end of this period, SP2 will be delivered to all XP and XP SP1 systems," said Microsoft.

The company advised that, as a best practice approach to implementing a managed rollout of SP2, customers should use a corporate update management solution such as Systems Management Server 2003 or Software Update Services.

But for companies where this is not an option, customers can temporarily disable delivery of SP2 via Windows Update and Automatic Update, while still allowing critical security updates to be delivered.

See also:

Windows XP SP2

XP Service Pack 2 provides some security improvements which users cannot afford to ignore, but some existing apps may need to be tweaked to run at their best  17 Aug 2004

Microsoft lists apps affected by XP SP2

Nearly 50 apps will need fixes, warns Redmond  17 Aug 2004

Microsoft changes XP SP2 rollout plans

Home users must wait as enterprises given more time to install and test update  17 Aug 2004

Sites give XP SP2 verdict

A range of problems with Windows XP SP2 prompt cautious upgrade warnings  16 Aug 2004

XP SP2 set to be mother of all downloads

Delays and throttled downloads can't hide the benefits of SP2  12 Aug 2004

XP SP2 upgrades 'could take months'

But security concerns mean that users cannot afford to ignore it  10 Aug 2004

XP SP2 finally rolled out to manufacturers

Much-delayed Windows service pack is released at last  09 Aug 2004

Microsoft embarrasses itself over XP SP2 delay

Aussie office shoots Redmond in the foot after jumping the gun  06 Aug 2004

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