Microsoft Update Product Team Blog : Windows Server Update Services

Announcing New Office Sustained Engineering Blog for all Office update information

muteam — Tue, 20 May 2008 03:21:00 GMT

Hi all,

If you use Microsoft Office, a great new resource has recently come online to help you understand how Office updates work. The Office Sustained Engineering blog features release announcements, known issues, explanations of update behavior, and other information about Office updates. If you work with Office updates, it’s worth monitoring this page for the latest info, such as the recent announcement that Office 2007 SP1 will be delivered through Automatic Updates starting in mid-June. Check it out!

Hope this is helpful,

The MUTeam

Hyper-V RC availability on Windows Update April 8th

muteam — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:51:00 GMT

Good afternoon folks!

As you may know, Hyper-V Release Candidate (RC) was made available on March 19th via the Microsoft Download Center. Tomorrow, we are making the RC package available as an Optional Update via Windows Update for all Windows Server 2008 SKUs, available for interactive download. It will also be published (classified as an update) to WSUS. Hyper-V RC is a feature-complete version that provides improved stability, usability and performance and enables users to test the support for additional guest operating systems. Find more details about Hyper-V and the RC here.

A couple of quick notes:

Hyper-V is now closer to RTM, but do note that it is still a pre-release version and is only intended to help evaluate the scenarios and get ready for the RTM version. Hyper-V is still on target for RTM within 180 days of Windows Server 2008 (i.e. by August 2008).
The big benefit of applying this update is that systems wit Hyper-V RC can now smoothly upgrade to Hyper-V RTM when that becomes available.

For more detailed instructions, please refer to How to Install Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V Release Candidate.

And, just a reminder, you can always find information about new and changed updates that are released here under WSUS Updates.

thanks,

The MUTeam

Windows Vista SP1 Prerequisite Releases

muteam — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:16:00 GMT

Hi all,

This week we're releasing two more prerequisites for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 that will be coming later this quarter. We wanted to let you know about them because they are both marked as Important updates (and they’re a little different than usual).

KB938371 is a multi-component update that supports the successful install of SP1 and allows it to be uninstalled. KB937287 updates the Windows Vista “Servicing Stack.” Both updates (required before SP1 will be offered via Windows Update) are being made available now to reduce the number of reboots and make installation of the service pack easier.

Even if you're not ready to install the service pack once it's released, you'll want to install these updates because they'll help increase performance and reduce failures for the installation of other updates.

Thanks,

MU Team

New Product Family Expression coming Tuesday, 1/22/08!

muteam — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 03:15:00 GMT

Next Tuesday, 1/22/08, we are adding a new product family to your WSUS server - Expression. The Expression product family will include updates for all Expression products, including service packs, optional updates, and critical or security updates. For additional information on Expression Studio Products see: http://www.microsoft.com/expression/. Tuesday, 1/22/08 we will be publishing the first Expression Media Service Pack (SP1) to the Microsoft Update Site, and making it available (depending your on settings ) via Automatic Update, and to Windows Server Update Services (WSUS).

We recommend WSUS admins having Expression deployments in their corporation; select this new product family to synchronize associated update classifications of your choice. Additionally, Expression updates will be available from the Microsoft Update Catalog http://catalog.update.microsoft.com.

Thanks,

The MU Team

But wait.......there's more.... Another new product family, Silverlight coming Tuesday, 1/22/08 !

muteam — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:32:00 GMT

We are also excited to announce a new product named Silverlight, is being made available to Microsoft Update site and WSUS customers Tuesday, January 22nd! The Silverlight product family will include installers and updates for the Silverlight browser plug-in for Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, enabling simplified delivery of media and rich Internet applications that blend animation, audio/video, and interactivity. To learn more about Silverlight 1.0 visit the website at http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight.

The Silverlight 1.0 installer will be published to the Microsoft Update site and available to WSUS servers. It will be applicable for both Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003 systems. For users visiting the Microsoft Update site, Silverlight 1.0 will be published as “optional” and available to download and install interactively.

WSUS Admins, this new product family will appear in the "Products and Classification" selection dialog of your Microsoft Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) server, so be sure to select it if you want the Silverlight 1.0 installer to synchronize down to your server. The Silverlight 1.0 installer, will be classified as a “feature pack” for WSUS (so you’ll need to be sure you have that classification selected too), and will require EULA acceptance before approving to targeted managed clients. Additionally, Silverlight 1.0 will be available from the Microsoft Update Catalog http://catalog.update.microsoft.com.

Update (2/26): Today we made the Silverlight 1.0 Installer available to Windows Vista systems! WSUS admins will see it available as a "feature pack" and Microsoft Update users will see it as an "optional" update.

Thanks,

The MU Team

Another note regarding KB935509...

muteam — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:33:00 GMT

We had a small number of early customer reports, that in some cases, this update (KB935509) was being offered for installation on all Windows Vista editions vs. just Ultimate and Enterprise. A quick adjustment of the applicability logic was released shortly there-after to refine the edition offering behavior. For systems set to download and install updates automatically, the update will not install even if it has already downloaded, so most people will not be affected by this at all. Customers who installed the initial release of the update on editions other than Ultimate or Enterprise should not be concerned as the update will have no negative impact on their systems – it was designed to install on all versions of Windows Vista, it is just not required on any of the others for SP1.

MU Team

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Note regarding KB935509...

muteam — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 01:50:00 GMT

Hi all,

Just dropping a quick line to let you know about one of the updates we're releasing this week to Windows Update (it's a little different than usual). The update, KB935509, is a prerequisite to Windows Vista Service Pack 1, which will be coming later this quarter.

The update is being released this week, for Windows Vista Ultimate and Enterprise editions, so that the required reboot will be bundled with other updates requiring reboots.

Check out the Windows Vista Team blog to learn more.

WSUS customers: you can find more guidance on this update specific to you on the WSUS blog.

MU Team

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

WSUS admins... additional updates from Windows Live (Photo Gallery and Toolbar)

muteam — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:10:00 GMT

Today, Windows Live will release two additional critical updates:

1. Update for Windows Live Photo Gallery (KB 944990)

2. Update For Windows Live Toolbar (KB 944786)

Update for Windows Live Photo Gallery (KB 944990)

This critical update will apply to the latest version of Windows Live Photo Gallery Beta users. The RTM version of this software fixes critical issues, performance issues, and bugs in the beta software. It is recommended that all beta users move to the released version of the software.

All WSUS admins are recommended to approve the update so that managed machines can move from beta to the more stable and secure released versions of the Photo Gallery software. This update will only update machines with the latest beta versions installed (Photo Gallery).

See KB article for more details - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/944990

Update For Windows Live Toolbar (KB944786)

This critical updates will move all Windows Live Toolbar 3.x users to Windows Live Toolbar 3.01.0000.0146. The 3.01.0000.0146 version of this software fixes critical and crash issues in previous 3.x version of the software.

All WSUS admins are recommended to approve the update so that managed machines can move to the more stable and secure 3.01.0000.0146 versions of the Toolbar software. This update will only update machines with the Windows Live Toolbar 3.x versions installed.

See KB article for more details - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/944786

MU Team

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

WSUS Admins…Windows Live BETA applications are being updated to their released (RTM) versions

muteam — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 19:43:00 GMT

Today Windows Live will ship two updates:

1. Update for Windows Live Mail (KB 944990)

2. Update for Windows Live Writer (KB 944990)

These updates will apply to all Windows Live Mail Beta and Windows Live Writer Beta users. The RTM version of this software fixes critical issues, performance issues, and bugs in the beta software. It is recommended that all beta users move to the released version of the software.

All WSUS admins are recommended to approve the update so that managed machines can move from beta to the more stable and secure released versions of the Mail and Writer software. These updates will only update machines with the beta versions installed (Writer and Mail).

See KB article for more details - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/944990

[Updated: Wanted to note that these are classified as Critical updates and are applicable only to the latest beta versions installed]

Nate Clinton

Program Manger

Microsoft Update

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

WSUS Admins…New Product Categories appearing in WSUS

muteam — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:52:00 GMT

A new product family called Microsoft HealthVault is being added. Microsoft HealthVault enables consumers to store health and fitness information for themselves and their family in a single place in the cloud, and manage their wellness in new ways with an emerging breed of applications and websites. A new product category called HealthVault Connection Center is also being added under the Microsoft HealthVault product family. The HealthVault Connection Center product category contains updates/upgrades for the HealthVault Connection Center desktop application, which provides Windows and device integration for Microsoft HealthVault. Optional upgrades can be released through this category quarterly. Security and critical updates can be released as needed. For additional information, see http://www.healthvault.com.

A new product family called System Center Virtual Machine Manager will be added to your WSUS server in the few days. The System Center product category will include updates for the Microsoft® System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007, including service packs, optional updates, and critical or security updates. Virtual Machine Manager updates are going to be offered through Microsoft Update and WSUS.

Updates offered through this category will apply only to computers running System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 software.

For additional information on the System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 product family, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=85920

A new product family called Office Communications Server has been added to your WSUS server. This category contains updates to components offered for various components of Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 . Office Communications Server 2007 manages all real-time (synchronous) communications including: instant messaging, VoIP, audio and video conferencing. Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 also powers presence, a key benefit of Microsoft unified communications that unites all the contact and identity information stored in Active Directory with the ways people communicate. Security updates can be released through this category periodically.

Due to the variety of applications/components that can reside under this product family, subscribing to this product family is recommended. We will send out additional information if anything changes.

Finally, a new product category is being added to your WSUS server under the Office Communications Server product family. The Office Communications Server 2007 product category will include updates for the Microsoft® Office Communications Server 2007 , including service packs, optional updates, and critical or security updates. We expect most of Office Communications Server 2007 updates will be offered through WSUS. Updates offered through this category will apply only to computers running Office Communications Server 2007.

For additional information on the Office Communications Server 2007 product family, see http://www.microsoft.com/uc/products/ocs2007.mspx

Nate Clinton

Program Manger

Microsoft Update

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

How Windows Update Keeps Itself Up-to-Date

muteam — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:57:00 GMT

There have been some questions raised about how we service the Windows Update components and concerns expressed about software installing silently. I want to clarify the issue so that everyone can better understand why the self-updating of Windows Update acts the way it does.

So first some background: Windows Update is designed to help our consumer and small business customers (customers without an IT staff) keep their systems up-to-date. To do this, Windows Update provides different updating options: 1) Install updates automatically, 2) Download updates but let me choose whether to install them, 3) Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them, and 4) Never check for updates. Our goal is to automate the process wherever possible so that we can increase the likelihood of a system being secure and up-to-date, while giving customers the flexibility to control how and whether updates are installed. The reasons for this are both philosophical and practical. Philosophically, Microsoft believes that users should remain in control of their computer experience. Practically, customers have told us that they want to have time to evaluate our updates before they install them. That said, and to the benefit of both customers and the IT ecosystem, most customers choose to automate the updating experience.

So what is happening here? Windows Update is a service that primarily delivers updates to Windows. To ensure on-going service reliability and operation, we must also update and enhance the Windows Update service itself, including its client side software. These upgrades are important if we are to maintain the quality of the service.

Of course, for enterprise customers who use Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) or Systems Management Server (SMS), all updating (including the WU client) is controlled by the network administrator, who has authority over the download and install experience.

One question we have been asked is why do we update the client code for Windows Update automatically if the customer did not opt into automatically installing updates without further notice? The answer is simple: any user who chooses to use Windows Update either expected updates to be installed or to at least be notified that updates were available. Had we failed to update the service automatically, users would not have been able to successfully check for updates and, in turn, users would not have had updates installed automatically or received expected notifications. That result would not only fail to meet customer expectations but even worse, that result would lead users to believe that they were secure even though there was no installation and/or notification of upgrades. To avoid creating such a false impression, the Windows Update client is configured to automatically check for updates anytime a system uses the WU service, independent of the selected settings for handling updates (for example, “check for updates but let me choose whether to download or install them”). This has been the case since we introduced the automatic update feature in Windows XP. In fact, WU has auto-updated itself many times in the past.

The point of this explanation is not to suggest that we were as transparent as we could have been; to the contrary, people have told us that we should have been clearer on how Windows Update behaves when it updates itself. This is helpful and important feedback, and we are now looking at the best way to clarify WU’s behavior to customers so that they can more clearly understand how WU works. At the same time, however, we wanted to explain the rationale for the product’s behavior so our customers know what the service is doing: WU updates itself to make sure it continues to work properly. We are also confident that the choice to use Automatic Updating continues to be the right choice.

Before closing, I would like to address another misconception that I have seen publically reported. WU does not automatically update itself when Automatic Updates is turned off, this only happens when the customer is using WU to automatically install upgrades or to be notified of updates.

Providing and maintaining the WU service is important to enable us to service our customers and help them maintain safe, more secure and reliable computers. We take this responsibility very seriously and we are proud of the impact that Windows Update has had to help users with safety security and reliability over the years. Updating the client has been and remains a critical piece to this approach.

We appreciate the feedback and I hope that this post helps you to understand the situation and our strategy.

Nate Clinton

Program Manager

Windows Update

WSUS Admins - New and modified categories for the Windows Live product family

muteam — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:15:00 GMT

In early September 2007, you will see eight new / modified product categories in the Windows Live family of products.

Following are the categories -

1. Windows Live contains updates/upgrades for all Windows Live programs. All Windows Live programs are compatible with both Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems.

2. Messenger Installation and Upgrades contains installation and upgrade files for Windows Live Messenger, an instant messaging, file sharing, and PC to PC free calling program.

3. Photo Gallery Installation and Upgrades contains installation and upgrade files for Windows Live Photo Gallery, a tool for editing photos and organizing and sharing photos and videos. This program expands and improves on features available in Windows Photo Gallery (part of Windows Vista), and works on either Windows XP or Windows Vista.

4. Mail Installation and Upgrades contains installation and upgrade files for an e-mail program that allows users to manage multiple e-mail accounts, newsgroups, and RSS feeds in one place. This program combines elements of Outlook Express and Windows Mail with new features and improvements that are unique to new Windows Live Mail.

5. Writer Installation and Upgrades contains installation and upgrade files for a program that makes it easier to edit and publish rich content to your blog. Writer is compatible with multiple blog services, including Windows Live Spaces.

6. OneCare Family Safety Installation contains installation files for a program that helps parents protect their children from access to inappropriate website content and contacts.

7. Sign-in Assistant Installation and Upgrades contains installation and upgrade files for a tool that simplifies switching between multiple Windows Live IDs. This program is used in conjunction with all Windows Live online services, and is therefore recommended.

8. Toolbar Installation and Upgrades contains installation and upgrade files for Windows Live Toolbar, an Internet Explorer extension that provides search, customizable buttons, and quick access to maps and other information.

In September, we will be submitting Beta releases for the above mentioned applications through these categories. The apps will be marked as Optional and Feature Packs. We will let you know when we ship the final release (RTM) version of the Windows Live software.

We recommend that if you chose to subscribe to updates for the above mentioned categories – subscribe as a group, treating all categories and updates to this family of products together.

MU Team

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

WSUS Admins - Windows Live Mail Category Rename

muteam — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:07:00 GMT

Starting 8/17, we are renaming the Windows Live Mail category (under the Windows Live product family) to Mail Installation and Upgrades. The Mail Installation and Upgrades category contains installation and upgrade files for an e-mail program that allows users to manage multiple e-mail accounts, newsgroups, and RSS feeds in one place. This program combines elements of Outlook Express and Windows Mail with new features and improvements that are unique to new Windows Live Mail. We recommend that you subscribe to updates for this product category.

Thanks!

MU Team

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

The Microsoft Update Catalog v1 is Live!

muteam — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 23:49:00 GMT

I am excited to announce that we have released version 1.0 of the Microsoft Update Catalog! With the new Catalog, you can search for updates available through the Microsoft Update service and download them to your machine (regardless of whether the update is applicable to your machine). You can also import updates from the Catalog directly into WSUS 3.0, System Center Essentials 2007, or System Center Configuration Manager 2007.

Some key features of the MU Catalog include:

- Full-text search: You can search using a keyword, KB article, MSRC bulletin, driver manufacturer, driver model, driver version, product, and/or classification.

- RSS: Save your searches in RSS and get notified when new updates match your criteria.

- Download with BITS: We use BITS to make the download experience robust and efficient.

- “Shopping basket”: You can select multiple updates (and multiple languages) and download them together.

- Integration with WSUS: You can import updates from your basket into Windows Server Update Services 3.0, System Center Essentials 2007 or System Center Configuration Manager 2007.

- Localization: The Catalog is localized in all core Windows Vista languages.

We hope you enjoy this new offering! Please give us your feedback. There are feedback options on the help page on the MU Catalog site.

NateC

Program Manger

Microsoft Update

WSUS and Windows Server 2003 Sp2

muteam — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 17:36:00 GMT

WSUS admins… a quick note regarding the delivery of Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2.

We have discovered that in some instances Windows Server 2003 SP2 fails to install automatically. While we investigate further, we have changed the behavior of the service pack so that it requires user interaction (i.e. flagging it for “Requires User-interaction”). Once we have determined the cause of the issue, we will change the behavior once again so that the package can flow automatically through WSUS without requiring user interaction. Note that this applies to WSUS only. Stay tuned for updates to this issue as they become available.

MU Team

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.