I just got this from Microsoft in my e-mail. I’m reproducing it for the benefit of others. (Hopefully Microsoft won’t sure me for it.)
Important note from Microsoft. Please review the action items and contents of this bulletin.
Overview
Microsoft will release the final version of Internet Explorer 7 (English) in October 2006. Internet Explorer 7 (IE7 ) provides significant enhancements in security, platform management, and usability. Microsoft recommends that all genuine Windows customers install this upgrade.
Shortly after it is released, Microsoft will distribute IE7 as a high-priority update through Automatic Updates to help consumers become more secure and up-to-date. However, to ensure that customers are prepared to upgrade, IE7 will not install without user consent. Microsoft recognizes that, as part of a managed deployment plan, some organizations may wish to block users from receiving IE7 through Automatic Updates and is providing an IE7 Blocker Toolkit.
IE7 runs on Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, and Microsoft Windows Server 2003. This announcement provides an overview of Microsoft resources and recommended actions that IT administrators should take to ensure their company’s Web sites are ready for IE7 and that their browser-based applications will continue to work seamlessly with IE7.
Determine if their organization is ready for IE7 or needs to delay deployment. Find information on deploying the nonexpiring IE7 Blocker Toolkit on our Web site.
About the Automatic Updates Delivery Process
To help minimize disruption, automatic delivery of IE7 includes the following provisions:
1.
Automatic Updates will notify users that an upgrade to Internet Explorer is available prior to starting installation.
2.
IE7 will not install until a user who is a local administrator accepts the update. (Users may also choose to decline installation or ask to be reminded to install later.)
3.
Microsoft has made available the IE7 Blocker Toolkit, which allows IT administrators to prevent users from receiving IE7 as a high-priority update from Automatic Updates and the Windows Update and Microsoft Update sites.
4.
Users will be able to roll back to Internet Explorer 6 by removing IE7 through the Windows Control Panel Add/Remove Programs utility.
Find additional details and screenshots of the notification process on our Web site.
Options for Blocking Automatic Delivery
Microsoft recognizes that organizations may wish to postpone deployment of IE7 (for example, to allow time for user training or additional testing of browser-based internal applications and Web sites). Organizations using Automatic Updates to keep their unmanaged computers current can take one or more of the following steps to prevent users from automatically receiving IE7:
1.
Download and deploy the IE7 Blocker Toolkit. The nonexpiring Blocker Toolkit includes both a Group Policy template and a script that sets a registry key to prevent Automatic Updates and the Windows Update and Microsoft Update sites from offering IE7 as a high-priority update. The Blocker Toolkit and FAQ were released on July 26.
2.
Deploy an update management solution that provides full control over the updates you deploy to computers in your network. Microsoft offers the free Windows Server Update Services and the more advanced Systems Management Server 2003 update management products.
3.
Prevent users from running as local administrators on their computers. Users who are not local administrators will not be offered the update and can be restricted from manually installing IE7
4.
Instruct users to decline IE7 when Automatic Updates notifies them that the update is available for installation. All users will have the ability to decline installation.
Find additional details and screenshots of the notification process on our Web site.
To sign up for Microsoft newsletters, receive information about our products or services, or review information you’ve given us, visit the Microsoft.com Web site.
This communication was sent by the Microsoft Corporation
1 Microsoft Way
Redmond, Washington, USA
98052
Michael Sauers is currently the Technology Manager for Do Space in Omaha, NE. Michael has been training librarians in technology for the past twenty years and has also been a public library trustee, a bookstore manager for a library friends group, a reference librarian, serials cataloger, technology consultant, and bookseller since earning his MLS in 1995 from the University at Albany’s School of Information Science and Policy. Michael has also written dozens of articles for various journals and magazines and his fourteenth book, Emerging Technologies: A Primer for Librarians (w/ Jennifer Koerber) was published in May 2015 and more books are on the way. In his spare time he blogs at travelinlibrarian.info, runs The Collector’s Guide to Dean Koontz Web site, takes many, many photos, and typically reads more than 100 books a year.
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