Internet Explorer 7 Update Blocker

If you’re a regular Bits from Bill reader you probably know I’m not a big fan of automatic updates. Many security experts don’t agree with my recommendation to wait 7–10 days before downloading and installing Windows updates.

Under some circumstances I will download and install one of Microsoft’s security updates but depending on the threat level I usually wait and let others beta test these patches. 

Next month Microsoft will take a HUGE step and offer Internet Explorer 7 as part of a scheduled Windows Update for Windows XP(SP2) and Windows Server 2003.

There are some folks who don’t want IE7 to be “offered” as part of an automatic update.  Microsoft has created a toolkit designed for Administrators to disable automatic delivery of Internet Explorer 7 as a high-priority update.
To download IE7BlockerTookit.exe click: “Toolkit to Disable Automatic Delivery of Internet Explorer 7”

Run will not block the update. It will only install the tookit in the folder of your choice. You’ll still need to go into a command line and run “IE70Blocker.cmd /B”

But WAIT!
Before you go through the trouble of downloading this tool you could read Internet Explorer 7 Blocker Toolkit: Frequently Asked Questions.  You’ll find out that…

Internet Explorer 7 will not install automatically – the Automatic Updates delivery process will include a welcome screen that offers users choices of Install, Don’t Install, and Ask Me Later prior to installation.

You’ll also learn that for individual users the toolkit adds a single registry key.

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Setup\7.0
      DoNotAllowIE70 = 1  (DWORD)

When you’re ready for IE7 you can remove this key
or run “IE70Blocker.cmd /U”. 
At anytime you can also go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx and manually download IE7.