Let's face it, even those who do like using Windows (us included) aren't too fond of Windows Update -- and don't even get us started on what sysadmins have to go through keeping Windows boxes up to date (yeah, we used to do that too). Which is why we're so glad there's always a healthy 3rd party ecosystem in place to help fill in the gaps and get users get what they need and how they need it. Like AutoPatcher, the popular Windows Update substitute that's been around for the last four years. Well, kiss it goodbye. The AutoPatcher team is reporting that Microsoft has laid down the smack on them and their ops, demanding the immediate shutdown of the service. We understand it's kind of dubious (if not outright illegal) to redistribute Microsoft's code (in the form of Windows update patches), but try though we might, we just can't see what damage these guys are doing to Microsoft -- only good -- so we've got our fingers crossed the AP guys can figure out a way to re-enable service without future infringement. Won't someone please think of the chil -- sysadmins?
Read - AutoPatcher sounds like it's calling it quits
Read - The takedown notice Microsoft sent to the AutoPatcher team
posted August 30th 2007 6:37PM
Ok - everyone switch to Heise and grab the c't offline update. Does a wonderful job and even burns a CD for you with all selected update patches.
http://www.heise.de/software/download/ct_offline_update/38170
Not all people who are responsible for smaller netowrks of PCs or very small business IT have the possibility to have WSUS and the normal windowsupdate is just a pain in the ass for anyone in IT organisation.
Germanys best and most renowned IT magazine, Heise, maintains a script that pulls all current windows updates from microsofts servers for offline installation.
It's all from their microsofts own servers, so it probably won't be shut down anytime soon.
The english version can be found here:
http://www.heise-security.co.uk/articles/80682
so, if you are in need of some replacement software, might wanna try this ;)
That's fantastic! Thanks!
(direct link)
http://www.heise-security.co.uk/articles/80682/3#download
Then AutoPatcher should make a script to import them from that download directory to their program directory. PROBLEM SOLVED.
Just when I start thinking that maybe microsoft isn't so bad after all, they go and do something stupid like this. They're acting like total asses!
As a business owner who services and repairs other peoples computers, WSUS is absolutely useless. If I go to a customer's house to repair their computer, and it needs a large refreshing of the updates, I have to run windows update and wait exceedingly long amounts of time, and usually many reboots. This doesn't even include those customers without broadband, or on dialup... try doing Windows Updates on those systems.
On the other hand, AP can let me literally run the program, and then leave the customer (saving them money) because it will simply reboot the machine after everything is done. Even if I stay for the install (as I often do, since MS patches can sometimes cause more problems than they fix) it's faster than running windows update.
So, WSUS is useless in such situations. And WU is not easy nor helpful either.
If you're not on broadband or dial-up, what are you on!?
How about everybody just download FireFox and go to
http://windizupdate.com/
This site will update your crappy ass Windows XP with newer crappy files, but the site is very good.
Besides.. Firefox is 100x better than that I.E. crap
I live in a third world country, where many friends have computers and no internet access or have to visit an internet cafe on occasion to acquire updates. I'm having many of them move to Linux as I can put updates on a CD and easily share them.
Another post mentions using Windows when work needs be done, and we've found the opposite to be more correct. Often we must use Linux to do things which cannot, or cannot easily be done in Windows. And best of all, we've not experienced a single OS crash on any Linux boxes, nor have we been infected by any viruses. Not true of our Windows boxes.