IE7 coming at you (whether you like it or not)

With its February 12, 2008, Patch Tuesday release, Microsoft has decided, for security reasons, to push out Internet Explorer 7, even to businesses that have previously blocked the automatic upgrade.

According to this Microsoft knowledge base article the software giant will release the Windows Internet Explorer 7 Installation and Availability update to Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) marked as an Update Rollup package. Microsoft says for business customers who have "set WSUS to 'auto-approve' Update Rollup packages (this is not the default configuration), Windows Internet Explorer 7 will be automatically approved for installation." Microsoft introduced the delay feature to give companies a chance to test the browser.

In particular, Microsoft says companies that need to take action before February 12 include those that:

Use WSUS 3.0 to manage updates in their organization

Have Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)-based computers or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1)-based computers that have Internet Explorer 6 installed

Do not want to upgrade Internet Explorer 6 machines to Windows Internet Explorer 7 at this time

Have configured WSUS to auto-approve Update Rollups for installation

The knowledge base article cited above provides step-by-step instructions for companies wishing to continue to block the automatic installation of Internet Explorer 7.

This February rollup package does not apply to Windows Vista users since that operating system shipped with Internet Explorer 7.