News

Internet Explorer 8 Coming Next Month Via WSUS

• By Kurt Mackie
• 07/01/2009

Microsoft is planning to deliver Internet Explorer 8 (IE 8) via Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), starting on Aug. 25.

The service will update older Microsoft browsers, such as IE 6 or IE 7, on Aug. 25 or thereafter. The update only works with Windows operating systems that support IE 8, such as Windows Vista and Windows XP, along with Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2003.

Those running Windows 7 release candidate likely won't be affected by the WSUS update because Microsoft typically doesn't update test versions of its products in that way. WSUS is a free Windows Server add-on for getting Windows product updates in environments where multiple PCs are managed.

Microsoft provided notes for IT organizations that want to delay upgrading to IE 8 via WSUS. Turn off Automatic Update in WSUS server before August 25. Alternatively, if it's after August 25, organizations can synchronize the WSUS server and reject the IE 8 update. The Internet Explorer blog explains the details here.

Organizations that maintain legacy Web-based applications using older browsers typically might delay getting the IE 8 upgrade. The upgrade can be blocked either through WSUS or Microsoft's System Center management products.

WSUS shouldn't be confused with Windows Update and Microsoft Update. Those services typically deliver updates to individual Windows users, either by requested download or automatically.

A recent Windows Secrets article suggested that Windows Update has been delivering changes to Windows users' PCs without their consent. The updates were being installed after shutdown was initiated on Windows Vista- and Windows XP-based machines, according to the article.

Microsoft, without citing the article, has noted the complaint. The company is still investigating the issue, according to a team blog.