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Microsoft tool blocks Windows Server update

Ina Fried Former Staff writer, CNET News
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley.
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Ina Fried

As it did with Windows XP Service Pack 2, Microsoft is offering businesses a tool to block their machines from being automatically upgraded to Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1.

The software tool, available from Microsoft's Web site, will block the software upgrade until March 30.

"For those enterprise customers that require additional time to prepare for the download and deployment of SP1, Microsoft will provide a 'Blocker' tool kit," Microsoft said on Tuesday.

The software maker released Service Pack 1 in March, but it has not yet started pushing it out through Windows Server's Automatic Update feature. That is slated to happen starting on July 26.

Microsoft said it expects only a "handful of enterprise customers" to need the blocking tool since most businesses use other programs to manage server software updates.