SP 2 downloading postponed per article

[Redoak]

Below is a excerpt from an article indicating MS is delaying "forcing" 'SP
2' on folks who run automatic update.
Microsoft to Temporarily Stop Auto-Update of SP2
Posted: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 10:54:34 GMT
Author: Matt Cameron


Microsoft said that they will be giving customers a tool to prevent SP2 to
from being automatically installed on their computer via Automatic Update or
Windows Update. Microsoft originally was going to "force" the new service
pack upon users but because there is so much controversy over the potential
of applications no longer working after install the Service Pack, Microsoft
has decide to make it a choice of the users.

"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." said a Microsoft spokesman.




After 120 days from August 16th, "SP2 will be delivered to all XP and XP SP1
systems," said Microsoft. There are some ways to prevent the Service Pack 2
from being installed on your systems after the 120 days. Active Directory
users can use group policies via a downloadable Active Directory template.
You can also run a small tool to prevent the update, which Microsoft will
provide you.

Disabling the SP2 installation is mostly for corporate networks where they
have not yet had enough time to test whether or not the service pack will
run smoothly with all of their applications. Microsoft is still urging all
users, especially home users with just one system, to upgrade ASAP.

{redoak}

 

[Guest]

Below is a excerpt from an article indicating MS is delaying "forcing" 'SP
2' on folks who run automatic update.
Microsoft to Temporarily Stop Auto-Update of SP2
Posted: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 10:54:34 GMT
Author: Matt Cameron


Microsoft said that they will be giving customers a tool to prevent SP2 to
from being automatically installed on their computer via Automatic Update or
Windows Update. Microsoft originally was going to "force" the new service
pack upon users but because there is so much controversy over the potential
of applications no longer working after install the Service Pack, Microsoft
has decide to make it a choice of the users.

"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." said a Microsoft spokesman.




After 120 days from August 16th, "SP2 will be delivered to all XP and XP SP1
systems," said Microsoft. There are some ways to prevent the Service Pack 2
from being installed on your systems after the 120 days. Active Directory
users can use group policies via a downloadable Active Directory template.
You can also run a small tool to prevent the update, which Microsoft will
provide you.

Disabling the SP2 installation is mostly for corporate networks where they
have not yet had enough time to test whether or not the service pack will
run smoothly with all of their applications. Microsoft is still urging all
users, especially home users with just one system, to upgrade ASAP.

{redoak}

Good morning from a rather damp England,

The article you quote is interesting but as far as I am aware, ever since
auto update was invented, the facility has existed to download updates
automatically while not installing on download - this in case an install
forces a restart at a time which may not be convenient to you.

The article clearly states that the main intent of allowing that 120 buffer
is for corporate networks to evaluate SP2 against their own Applications but
for the majority of home users and small businesses using proprietary
software there will be no problems.

It's Friday lunchtime here and I've had SP2 all week with no problems. I am
a Beta tester of another non Microsoft product and many of my fellow testers
have also downloaded and worked with SP2 for three or four days. We are a
disparate group with a variety of systems ranging from virtual 486s to top
range self builds with everything in between. We also run a diverse range of
software and no-one has reported any problems to date. Even my own
amateurish VisualStudio.Net creations still work.

It cannot be possible to compile fixes and patches into a service pack
without someone, somewhere hitting a problem but I still believe SP2 is worth
downloading and installing in a domestic or small network environment, sooner
rather than later. Don't expect bells and whistles or acres of "what's new"
print - it's only a service pack. You paid for it when you bought XP - open
your mind to it and take it.

Roger Lemon

Newport Pagnell,
England.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Below is a excerpt from an article indicating MS is delaying "forcing" 'SP
2' on folks who run automatic update.

If you are not prepared in due course to install SP2, then there will be
no point of having Auto Update on at all. The object is to give
corporate systems (who really *ought* to have been taking advantage of
the Preview that has been available) a window in which they can still
take other updates automatically. Then in due course deploy SP2 in a
controlled way, using a complete Network type download at a point they
choose.