IE11 for Windows 7 update blocker released

[truemate]

In July, Microsoft released a "developer version" of Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 7 to the general public, followed by a Release Preview build in September. This week, Microsoft launched a new program that could be a clue that the company is very close to a final, non-beta, IE11 Windows 7 release.

Microsoft now has the Internet Explorer 11 Blocker Toolkit available to download from its site. The program has been set up mostly so that businesses can block automatic downloads of IE11, if those companies feel they are not yet ready to upgrade their older versions of Internet Explorer on their network. The toolkit, which also supports Windows Server 2008 R2, does not block manual downloads of IE11.

Microsoft states:

Even if you used the Blocker Toolkit to block Internet Explorer 8, Internet Explorer 9, or Internet Explorer 10 from being installed as a high-priority or important update, you will still need to use the Internet Explorer 11 version of the Blocker Toolkit to block Internet Explorer 11 from being installed. There are different registry keys used to block or unblock automatic delivery of Internet Explorer 8, Internet Explorer 9, Internet Explorer 10 and Internet Explorer 11.

The fact that Microsoft has released this program is a likely sign that the launch of the final, non-preview, version of IE11 for Windows 7 is close at hand. It's more than possible that it will be made available next week

There are four additional notes on the Toolkit to Disable Automatic Delivery of Internet Explorer 11 page at the Download Center to take note of:

• For computers running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2, the Blocker Toolkit prevents the machine from receiving Internet Explorer 11 via Automatic Updates on the Windows Update and Microsoft Update sites.
• The Blocker Toolkit will not prevent users from manually installing Internet Explorer 11 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 System Center 2012 Configuration Manager. Organizations can use those products to fully manage deployment of updates released through Windows Update and Microsoft Update, including Internet Explorer 11, within their environment.
• Even if you used the Blocker Toolkit to block Internet Explorer 8, Internet Explorer 9, or Internet Explorer 10 from being installed as a high-priority or important update, you will still need to use the Internet Explorer 11 version of the Blocker Toolkit to block Internet Explorer 10 from being installed. There are different registry keys used to block or unblock automatic delivery of Internet Explorer 8, Internet Explorer 9, Internet Explorer 10 and Internet Explorer 11.

So if you have good reason to hold off on the automatic update to IE11 when it is released then you will need this download.

Download -

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40722