Users have more time to prepare for Windows XP Service
Pack 2 (SP2). Microsoft has doubled the time a special registry key
will prevent PCs from automatically downloading and installing the
update.
The company last month made available a tool that allows users
to set a Windows registry key that instructs the system to skip
downloading and installing SP2 for 120 days, but still download
other critical updates.
Microsoft has now doubled that period to 240 days.
The blocking mechanism will now prevent Automatic Updates and
Windows Update from delivering SP2 to Windows computers until 12
April 2005.
"Beginning on Tuesday 12 April 2005 Automatic Updates and
Windows Update will deliver SP2 regardless of the presence of the
blocking mechanism," Microsoft said. The company has scheduled a
monthly security update on 12 April.
The extension is Microsoft's latest move to help users deal with
SP2. The software maker earlier postponed automatic distribution of
the service pack to PCs running Windows XP Professional Edition so
users had more time to install the blocking mechanism.
Microsoft has also published several documents detailing the
changes SP2 makes to Windows XP and potential application
compatibility problems.
SP2 is more than the usual roll-up of bug fixes and updates; it
makes significant changes to Windows in the name of increased
security. As a result, SP2 can render existing applications
inoperable. Because of those changes, many businesses want to hold
off on installing the update and are taking time for testing.
Automatic Updates initially did not give users that
flexibility.
Although Microsoft advises consumers to enable the Automatic
Updates feature in Windows, the company recommends businesses use
patch management tools such as its Systems Management Server and
Software Update Services or third-party products.
The initial schedule called for Microsoft to begin pushing out
the already delayed SP2 via Automatic Updates to all editions of
Windows XP on 16 August.
Joris Evers writes for IDG News Service