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Today, Mark Scott, the consultant from Microsoft who is on campus to provide consulting for MSU folks supporting Windows systems, forwarded a memo from Microsoft that has the dates for the release of Windows XP Service Pack 2. SP2 will be distributed as a Critical Update. This means that after SP2 is available -- scheduled for Monday, August 16 -- the next time a user initiates Windows Update (or Windows Update starts automatically) SP2 will be offered. This rollout coincides with back to school at MSU which may lead to some interesting issues. As Scott Thomas recently posted, ACNS has prepared a "Protect Your PC" CD which Housing will deliver to students at checkin, one for each student in residence halls. Because that CD will turn on Automatic Update -- and because many students will otherwise have turned on AU -- these students will be prompted to download and install the update. We're still mulling the implications. According to WinNetMag: "The size of the SP2 download will depend on how you obtain it. Automatic Updates and Windows Update downloads can be much smaller, depending on the number of patches you've already installed. Microsoft notes that the maximum download size is about 95MB for XP Home Edition and 110MB for XP Professional Edition." Microsoft promises a free CD version of SP2, orderable via their Web site. The attached document from Microsoft, telling how an organization can temporarily block Windows Update, isn't viable for us. /rich ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Subject: Important Information about Windows XP Service Pack 2 To: [log in to unmask] Date Dear _____, I am pleased to inform you that Windows XP Service Pack 2 released to manufacturing on Friday August 6, 2004. Windows XP Service Pack 2 contains major security improvements designed to provide better protection against hackers, viruses, and worms. Windows XP Service Pack 2 also improves the manageability of the security features in Windows XP and provides more and better information to help users make decisions that may potentially affect their security and privacy. On Monday, August 9, 2004, the full network installation package for Windows XP Server Pack 2 will be posted on the Windows XP Service Pack 2 site on Microsoft TechNet (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/winxpsp2). This site is also the best resource for accessing the most up-to-date technical information regarding Windows XP Service Pack 2. On-line distribution will be the primary distribution vehicle for Windows XP Service Pack 2 and below is a summary of the key milestones of the distribution plan: 8/6 Release to manufacturing 8/9 Release to Microsoft Download Center (network installation package) 8/9 Release to MSDN subscription site (CD ISO image) 8/10 Release to Automatic Updates (for machines running pre-release versions of Windows XP Service Pack 2 only) 8/16 Release to Automatic Updates (for machines NOT running pre-releases versions of Windows XP Service Pack 2) 8/16 Release to Software Update Services Later in August Release to Windows Update for interactive user installations Because of the significant security improvements outlined above, Microsoft views Windows XP Service Pack 2 as an essential security update and is therefore distributing it as a "critical update" via Windows Update (WU) and the Automatic Updates (AU) delivery mechanism in Windows. Microsoft is strongly urging customers with Windows XP and Windows XP Service Pack 1-based systems to upgrade to Windows XP Service Pack 2 as soon as possible. Temporarily Disabling Automatic Update Installation Of SP2 For Unmanaged PCs While recognizing the security benefits of Windows XP Service Pack 2, we are aware that some organizations have requested the ability to temporarily disable delivery of this update via Automatic Update and Windows Update. These organizations have populations of unmanaged PCs for which they have enabled Automatic Update to ensure that these unmanaged PCs receive all critical security updates. Since SP2 will start to be delivered to PCs via AU on Monday, August 16th, these customers would like to temporarily block the delivery of Windows XP Service Pack 2 in order to provide additional time for validation and testing of the update. In response to these requests, Microsoft is providing guidance, resources, and communication vehicles outlined in the attached document. If this situation applies to your organization, I encourage you to review the information included in this document. We are confident that Windows XP Service Pack 2 is a significant step forward in helping increase the resiliency of your desktops and we look forward to partnering with your organization to ensure a successful rollout of Windows XP Service Pack 2 in your organization. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need further information on Windows XP Service Pack 2 and our products. Sincerely, Sales Rep Name Microsoft Corporation