|
Internet Explorer 7 launches in October with distribution through Automatic Updates to follow. Prepare your organization with Microsoft resources.
Overview
Microsoft will release the final version of Internet Explorer 7 (English) in October. Internet Explorer 7 provides significant enhancements in security, platform management and usability and Microsoft recommends that all genuine Windows customers install this upgrade.
Shortly after it is released, Microsoft will distribute Internet Explorer 7 as a high-priority update via Automatic Updates to help consumers become more secure and up-to-date. However, to ensure customers are prepared to upgrade, Internet Explorer 7 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 Internet Explorer 7 through Automatic Updates and is providing a Blocker Toolkit.
Internet Explorer 7 runs on Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, and Windows Server 2003. This announcement provides an overview of Microsoft resources and recommended actions IT Administrators should take to ensure your company's Web sites are ready for Internet Explorer 7 and that your browser-based applications will continue to work seamlessly with Internet Explorer 7.
This announcement updates previous information about AU delivery released in July.
Key Delivery Details
- October 2006 – target date for Internet Explorer 7 (English)
- November 1, 2006 – date by which customers wishing to block AU delivery of IE7 should have blocking measures in place
Note: Product quality will determine the final release date.
Call to Action for IT Administrators
To prepare for the release of IE7 in October and subsequent distribution via Automatic Updates, customers should:
- Use the IE7 Readiness Toolkit to prepare for the release of Internet Explorer 7
- Test and resolve any issues with their Web sites and applications using the Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.0 (ACT 5.0)
- Determine if your organization is ready for Internet Explorer 7 or needs to delay deployment. Find Information on deploying the non-expiring IE7 Blocker Toolkit on our website.
About the Automatic Updates Delivery Process
To help minimize disruption, automatic delivery of Internet Explorer 7 includes the following provisions:
- Automatic Updates will notify users that an upgrade to Internet Explorer is available prior to starting installation.
- Internet Explorer 7 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.)
- Microsoft has made available the Internet Explorer 7 Blocker Toolkit, which allows IT Administrators to prevent users from receiving Internet Explorer 7 as a high-priority update from Automatic Updates and the Windows Update and Microsoft Update sites.
- Users will be able to rollback to Internet Explorer 6 by removing Internet Explorer 7 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 Internet Explorer 7 (e.g., to allow time for user training or additional testing of browser-based internal applications and websites). 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 Internet Explorer 7:
1. Download and deploy the Internet Explorer 7 Blocker Toolkit. The non-expiring 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 Internet Explorer 7 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 Internet Explorer 7
4. Instruct users to decline Internet Explorer 7 when Automatic Updates notifies them that the update is available to install. All users will have the ability to decline installation.
Find additional details and screenshots of the notification process on our web site.
About these resources from Microsoft
- The Internet Explorer 7 Readiness Toolkit provides the following:
- Pointer to the latest publicly available build of Internet Explorer 7
- Developer checklist including new features and changes of interest to application and Web developers
- Testing guidance and tips for isolating and identifying a particular compatibility problem
- Tools for development and testing
- Links to resources, technical articles and helpful blog posts
- Various methods to provide feedback to Microsoft
- The Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.0 (ACT 5.0) enables you to test your browser-based applications and ensure they will work seamlessly with IE7.
Additional resources and complete links
Internet Explorer 7 via Automatic Updates
*This Posting Created In Microsoft Word 2007. Published Using the File>Publish>Blog Feature Built In To Word 2007! |
