Microsoft Automatic Delivery of Internet Explorer 7

Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1

what's new in Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1
We are excited to announce the public availability of the Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1 (RC1). With this release, we're strongly encouraging web developers, enthusiasts, and IT professionals to finalize their testing and ready their environments for the final availability of Internet Explorer 7. We are confident that websites and applications that are optimized with this build will be compatible with the final version when it is released later this year. For an easy path to compatibility, we encourage technical audiences to download the free Readiness Toolkit.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...0D-2718-47F1-AA86-1E32D526383D&displaylang=en

Internet Explorer 7 RC1 is available for download on Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, and Windows Server 2003 systems. This build is available today in English, and all localized versions of Internet Explorer 7 RC1 will be available in September, including Arabic, Finnish, German, and Japanese; French and Spanish versions will also be available for the first time in September.

The Internet Explorer 7 RC1 build includes improvements in performance, stability, security, and application compatibility. With this build, Microsoft has also made enhancements to the fit and finish of the user interface, completed CSS platform changes, added language support, and included an auto-uninstall feature in Setup, which automatically uninstalls prior betas of Internet Explorer 7, making installing the new build even easier.

As previously announced, to help our customers become more secure and up to date, Microsoft will also distribute Internet Explorer 7 as a high-priority update via Automatic Updates soon after the final version is released for Windows XP later this year.

Be sure to download Internet Explorer 7 RC1 today and keep the feedback coming as we get ready for the final release later this year.

Thanks again to all of you who downloaded the previous beta versions and provided us with valuable feedback to help improve the web experience.

The Internet Explorer team
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx


Please note that Validation is Required
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...41-2907-4415-8F72-DA7C2C2ACE09&displaylang=en

A note from me in that do remember to uninstall all previous builds of IE7

 

Re: Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1

IE7 Is Coming This Month...Are you Ready?
The final release of IE7 is fast approaching … and I mean really fast … and will be delivered to customers via Automatic Updates a few weeks after it’s available for download. We want to ensure that you are ready and the information below will help get you there.
Compatibility with sites, extensions and applications has been a very high priority for us as we develop new features, enhance the existing features and move the platform forward to be more secure and standards compliant. We are continually listening to feedback from our customers, partners and leaders in the industry to resolve major compatibility issues to ensure our common customers have a great experience with IE7. As we make key improvements in areas such as layout and security, some changes need to be made by site owners to work smoothly with IE7. We have produced detailed documentation, tools and other resources to assist site, extension and application owners in their testing and development efforts to ensure they are compatible with IE7. We have also proactively worked with hundreds of companies to resolve issues that were reported through our beta testing to ensure those issues were resolved before IE7 is released.

These efforts have been ongoing since last year and have been extremely successful but we can’t ensure 100% compatibility without your help. We need you to test and ensure your sites, extensions, and applications are ready for IE7. We strongly encourage you to do the following ASAP:

http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/20...s-Month_2E002E002E00_Are-you-Ready_3F00_.aspx

 

Re: Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1

http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/10/11/IE7-Installation-and-Anti_2D00_Malware-Applications.aspx

 

Re: Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1

Toolkit to Disable Automatic Delivery of Internet Explorer 7
Brief Description
The Internet Explorer 7 Blocker Toolkit enables IT Administrators to disable automatic delivery of Internet Explorer 7 as a high-priority update via Automatic Updates and the Windows Update and Microsoft Update sites.

Overview
To help our customers become more secure and up-to-date, Microsoft will distribute Internet Explorer 7 as a high-priority update via Automatic Updates for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 soon after the final version of the browser is released (planned for fourth quarter 2006). Microsoft is making a non-expiring Blocker Toolkit available for those organizations that would like to block automatic delivery of Internet Explorer 7 to machines in environments where Automatic Updates is enabled.

Note:
The Blocker Toolkit will prevent machines from receiving Internet Explorer 7 as a high-priority update via Automatic Updates and the “Express” install option on the Windows Update and Microsoft Update sites. The Blocker Toolkit will not expire.
The Blocker Toolkit will not prevent users from manually installing Internet Explorer 7 as a Recommended update from the Windows Update or Microsoft Update sites, from the Microsoft Download Center, or from external media.
Organizations do not need to deploy the Blocker Toolkit in environments managed with an update management solution such as Windows Server Update Services or Systems Management Server 2003. Organizations can use those products to fully manage deployment of updates released through Windows Update and Microsoft Update, including Internet Explorer 7, within their environment.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...F7-5D44-482B-9DBD-869B4A90159C&displaylang=en

 

Re: Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate Final is coming

To help customers become more secure and up-to-date, Microsoft will distribute Internet Explorer 7 as a high-priority update via Automatic Updates and the Windows Update and Microsoft Update sites shortly after the final version of Internet Explorer 7 is released (planned for the 4th quarter of 2006). Internet Explorer 7 will be available for users of genuine Windows XP SP2, Windows XP 64-bit Edition, and Windows Server 2003 SP1.

This announcement provides an overview of the delivery process and options available to organisations to prevent delivery to their users. Microsoft will revise this announcement once the specific date for start of automatic distribution has been set.
Automatic Updates Delivery Process

The automatic delivery process will notify users an update is available and allow users to choose whether to install Internet Explorer 7. The process is described below and screenshots are included at the bottom of this page.[/B]

Automatic Updates will only offer Internet Explorer 7 to users with local administrator accounts. Automatic Updates will notify all such users (including those with Automatic Updates configured to automatically download and install updates) when Internet Explorer 7 has been downloaded and is ready to install. The notification and installation process will not start unless and until a user who is a local administrator logs on to the machine. Users who are not local administrators will not be prompted to install the update and will thus continue using Internet Explorer 6.

After clicking on the Automatic Updates notification balloon, users will see a welcome screen summarizing key features of Internet Explorer 7 and presenting three options - Install, Don’t Install, and Ask Me Later.
•

If a user selects “Install”: The installation process will commence and require Windows Genuine Advantage validation and a re-boot to complete. Installation of Internet Explorer 7 will not override a user’s default browser choice and will transfer the user’s previous homepage, favourites, search settings and compatible toolbars. When the user launches Internet Explorer 7, a first-run experience will be offered highlighting new features and changes.
•

If a user selects “Don’t Install”: The notification process will not re-prompt the user to install at a later time; however, any user who is a local administrator will be able to install Internet Explorer 7 at any time as an optional update from the Windows Update and Microsoft Update sites or from the Microsoft Download Center.
•

If a user selects “Ask Me Later”: The install process will not proceed and Automatic Updates will start notifying the user that an update is available using the same process (notification balloon and welcome screen) within approximately 24 hours.

Internet Explorer 7 will replace Internet Explorer 6 on a user’s machine. However, users will be able to roll back to Internet Explorer 6 by uninstalling Internet Explorer 7 via the Windows Control Panel Add/Remove Programs utility.

For further information with regards the deployment of Internet Explorer 7 and Automatic Updates Delivery Experience Screenshots
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/updatemanagement/windowsupdate/ie7announcement.mspx

 

Yes it should. The IE Program Manager has a blog you may care to look at which will keep you informed prior to the deployment of IE7

http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/10/09/Last-Expert-Zone-Chat-Before-We-Ship-IE.aspx