If Your Organization is Still Running Internet Explorer 6 (IE6), READ THIS!!!
This is going to be one of those months. Most of you all knew it was coming with the announcement a few months ago. Be aware this only applies to WSUS customers who have changed the default setting. What does this mean for your apps? Well if you haven't tested all your internet apps on IE7 but you have changed the default update policy for WSUS, then you probably should continue reading this post.
On February 12, 2008 Microsoft will release the Windows Internet Explorer 7 Installation and Availability update to Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) marked as an Update Rollup package. Windows Internet Explorer 7 Installation and Availability Update is a complete installation package that will upgrade machines running Internet Explorer 6 to Windows Internet Explorer 7. Microsoft Knowledge Base article 940767 contains more information on the Windows Internet Explorer 7 Installation and Availability Update.
Customers who have configured WSUS to "auto-approve" Update Rollup packages – which is not the default configuration – will automatically upgrade machines running Internet Explorer 6 to Windows Internet Explorer 7 after February 12, 2008 and consequently, may want to read KB 946202 to manage how and when this update is installed.
Customers will need to take action if:
· They use WSUS to manage updates in their organization.
· They have Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)-based computers or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1)-based computers that have Internet Explorer 6 installed.
· They do not want to upgrade Internet Explorer 6 machines to Windows Internet Explorer 7 at this time.
· They have configured WSUS to auto-approve Update Rollups for installation.
This information only applies to distribution via WSUS. Most territories already receive Internet Explorer 7 through automatic update (Internet Explorer 7 is already available in 23 languages via Windows Update and Automatic Update. Internet Explorer 7 will also be made available in Japanese via Windows Update and Automatic Update on February 12th, 2008).
The Internet Explorer Blocker Toolkit only blocks installation via Windows Update and Automatic Update; it does not block distribution by WSUS. Customers who use WSUS and have previously deployed the blocker toolkit will want to read KB 946202.
Note: This does not apply to Windows Vista because Windows Internet Explorer 7 is a component of Windows Vista.