Windows SP Blocker Expires Soon

Quick heads up for the sysadmins out there. Microsoft’s Windows Service Pack Blocker Toolkit is going to expire for Vista SP1 and XP SP3 soon. Stop surfing the FS/FT forum and finish your compatibility testing or figure out another way to stop the service packs.

This code temporarily prevents the installation of a service pack through Windows Update, typically for one year after general availability of the service pack. The expiration date for the Service Pack Blocker Tool for Windows Vista SP1 isApril 28, 2009; for Windows XP SP3 the tool expires May 19, 2009.

just use WSUS and don't accept the SP3 package, it won't be deployed until you say it can, problem solved

Originally Posted by JMke

just use WSUS and don't accept the SP3 package, it won't be deployed until you say it can, problem solved

Yup.

Although out of over 100 PCs, I have SP3 to brick one of them. Repair install fixed the problem but 99% success rate is pretty darn good.

i had about 40~50 machines out of 800 get bricked by SP3... so not too bad i guess

Wait, what is this? Can someone explain to a newb please? I see "service pack blocker" and it sounds to be like, you wont be able to download SP3 through windows update if you dont already have it? I dont get it.

it means those that were trying not to update their os to the new service packs will now have no choice besides the methods mentioned above. No more install later

Ah, Microsoft is forcing SP3 down our throats! Interesting that a BLOCKER is required to stop it lol. Thanks for the clarification.

Service Pack blockers are used by some companies to prevent users from installing a service pack that has not been properly tested in their environment. Usually, sysadmins will use WSUS to administer this type of thing but in small environments, these SP blockers work in a pinch.