Updated: July 11, 2020 (February 9, 2009)

  Analyst Report

Windows Service Packs Unblocked

My Atlas / Analyst Reports

385 wordsTime to read: 2 min
Michael Cherry by
Michael Cherry

Michael analyzed and wrote about Microsoft's operating systems, including the Windows client OS, as well as compliance and governance. Michael... more

Recent Windows service packs will no longer be blocked by the Windows service-pack blocking tool, which allows an organization to prevent or defer the automatic installation of a service pack. The change could affect organizations that used the blocking tool to prevent the Automatic Update client from installing the service pack from Windows Update (WU), Microsoft Update, or Windows Server Update Services. The current tool will no longer block Windows Vista SP1 after Apr. 28, 2009, or Windows XP SP3 after May 19, 2009.

The service-pack blocking tool enables administrators to prevent installation of specific Windows service packs on PCs that use Automatic Update to download and install software updates automatically. The service-pack blocking tool provides administrators with choices for deployment of the blocking tool: an executable program, a script, or a Group Policy template, any one of which sets or clears a specific Registry key that is used to detect and block the download of service packs from WU.

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