There is still no fixed date on the release for Windows XP Service Pack 3 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1. The whole world is eagerly anticipating the release of this 2 service packs as everyone hoping that it would bring new features and also fix many bugs. Actually both Windows XP SP3 and Vista SP1 Release Candidate (RC) version has been released which you can download from Microsoft and install it on your computer but I chose not post anything about it on this site. Although it’s official release from Microsoft, but it’s still a Release Candidate version. I personally think that it’s OK to install beta software but not installing update patches for operating system. Operating system is the MAIN thing for a computer. Once it is unstable, installing any software is useless until you fix it.
Both service packs will definitely be released this year and I don’t want my company’s workstations to either manually download the service pack from Windows Update Web site or via Automatic Updates. Reason is because I don’t want them to waste the bandwidth and slow down internet connection. Windows XP SP3 RC (windowsxp-kb936929-sp3-x86-enu.exe) is 336.1MB in size and Vista Service Pack 1 Release Candidate (Windows6.0-KB936330-wave0-X86.exe) is 436.3MB. If there are more than 10 workstations, a lot of bandwidth would go to waste.
So now is the time to start thinking about blocking the automatic install of these service packs on computers around your local area network.
You need to access registry editor and add a new value to block auto download and installation of service pack. Go to Start > Run and type regedit. Navigate to:
Right click > New > DWORD Value. Enter name as DoNotAllowSP. Double click the newly created DWORD value and set the value data as 1.
If you do not like to mess with registry, you can use this simple and useful tool called Service Pack Blocker from IntelliAdmin.
Just select “Prevent Vista SP1, or Windows XP 3 from installing” and click Apply. You can also use this tool to revert back to the original setting to allow Vista SP1, or Windows XP 3 to install.