Microsoft Poised To Post XP Pro SP2 On Automatic Update

The Redmond, Wash. software giant has already issued the Automatic Update for Windows XP Home Edition, but delayed Windows XP Pro SP2 to give customers and partners time to gear up for a significant phase of SP2 corporate deployment. Microsoft has confirmed that more than 50 applications break or clash with the SP2, which was first made available to OEMs on August 6.

Microsoft also released a network installation version for IT pros and developers on August 10. This next release of SP2 is of particular concern to partners, since it allows users to download SP2 at will if their company has not disabled Automatic Update or established a deployment policy.

"This is going to be huge. We do expect to have issues in the field once this becomes available," said Mike Healey, president of Technology Execution Network (TEN), a Needham, Mass., solution provider and system builder. "Some people are going to download this and it'll cause problems. It will mean more business for VARs."

On Tuesday, Jon Murchinson, a program manager in the Windows group, said Microsoft is advising customers and partners to test SP2 before deployment to check against incompatibilities with in-house applications. While many companies have begun that testing process, it's hard to predict what will happen, Murchinson said.

"We have had more corporate users using AU than we had anticipated," Murchinson told CRN. "There are also larger enterprises using AU as well."

Microsoft also advised customers and partners to use Systems Management Server 2003 and Software Update Services to deploy the Service Pack. Meanwhile, third-party ISVs are pitching Windows desktop management and patch management offerings to help deal with the deployment process.

ScriptLogic, of Boca Raton, Fla., for example, offers Desktop Authority, software specifically aimed at easing the SP2 deployment process. According to ScriptLogic executives, Desktop Authority is fully compatible with Windows XP SP2 and allows IT administrators to enable or disable the Windows Firewall, open or close ports to any computer or local subnet and selectively target deployment of the service pack at logon or logoff.

Brian Styles, CTO of ScriptLogic, said many companies don't use Automatic Update, yet he still expects some fallout from application incompatibilities.

"I know there will be problems," said Styles, noting that Desktop Authority can be used to quickly fix those issues. "People will deploy [SP2], and when they do, it'll break things."

Microsoft has also released two tools that enable companies and partners to disable Automatic Update as they test SP2.