Microsoft starts auto-installing Windows 7 SP1 on
consumer PCs Tuesday
Preps customers for April demise of support for Windows 7
RTM
By Gregg Keizer
March 18, 2013 03:48 PM ET
Computerworld - Microsoft today said it will start
automatically pushing Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) to customers as a
last-ditch move before it drops the original 2009 edition of Windows 7 from
support next month.
Windows 7 RTM -- the latter stands for "release to
manufacturing," Microsoft-speak for a launch edition -- will be retired
from support, including security updates, after April 9, next month's
regularly-scheduled Patch Tuesday.
Although Microsoft has made Windows 7 SP1 available via
Automatic Updates -- Windows' default consumer update service -- for more than
two years, customers were required to approve the new version before it
installed.
As of tomorrow, any Windows RTM-powered consumer PC with
Automatic Updates enabled will receive Windows 7 SP1, said Microsoft in a Monday
blog.
"Installation will be fully automatic with no user
action required for those who already have Automatic Update enabled,"
wrote Microsoft spokesman Brandon LeBlanc.
Businesses that manage Windows updates and patches with
tools including WSUS (Windows Server Update Services) and SCCM (Systems Center
Configuration Manager) will not be affected by the automatic install.
"[WSUS and SCCM] administrators still have full control over the release
of Service Pack 1," LeBlanc noted.
The blocker tool that some used to bar Windows SP1 from
reaching their PCs has long expired -- it gave up the ghost in February 2012 --
so those who want, for whatever reason, to stick with Windows 7 RTM must
disable Automatic Updates.
After April 9, Windows 7 RTM will no longer receive fixes
or, more importantly, security updates.
Microsoft has promised to support Windows 7 SP1 with
non-security bug fixes and security patches until Jan. 13, 2015, and with
patches only for another five years, or until Jan. 14, 2020.
Windows 7 SP1 debuted in February 2011, but the process
was marred for some customers when the upgrade triggered PC crashes and
freezes.
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