I had a call from Microsoft Legal this morning and they have told me that we are no longer allowed to endorse AutoPatcher on Neowin.

Microsoft will only allow updates to be downloaded from its own servers.

AutoPatcher started in 2003 and has been redistributed in some of the worlds best computer magazine cover CD/DVD's. I have no explanation for why Microsoft allowed it to continue unchecked for 4 years before making this decision.

I asked the representative if Windows Genuine Advantage had anything to do with it and he categorically told me this was not the case, he added that Windows Update for pre-Vista versions of Windows can now be accessed using Firefox and that the concern at Microsoft had more to do with the possible malicious code that could be redistributed with certified Microsoft updates.

We have no grounds to challenge the decision by Microsoft.

I'd like to thank the whole AutoPatcher team for their continued work, unfortunately none of the team is online, but they have been contacted via the AutoPatcher.com website by Microsoft Legal.

The AutoPatcher forums have been disabled for guests and members.

Wow, that's harsh. I can't believe they would pull a move like this. Probably will be some serious backlash from the community!

This is truelly sadly news! AutoPatcher was one of my most appreciated applications and I never had a problem with it.

A big thank you goes out to the AutoPatcher team, you guys did a great job!

Idiots

I think microsoft will change their mind.

It saves us the effort of having to visit their site.

I doubt if this will be finished.

It's great for packaging offline patches, portability, and in many ways more flexible than updating through Windows Update. What does Firefox access on WU have to do with that?? That's not nearly the reason I believe most are using AutoPatcher, and I think Microsoft is missing the problem here, or more likely, they either pretend or don't want to realize the problem. I mean, all Windows users have IE installed anyway, including Firefox users.

AP is more for system administrators and experienced users wanting to package files for easy offline installs, possibly on a network scale.

And of course they'll deny it's for WGA reasons. They don't want to get into the debate of locking in users to their services out of inefficient antipiracy methods again. They'd probably even lie to not have to.

sad to hear this has happened. i think autopatcher is great. i hope that MS changes their minds. and thanks to the team for all their hard work on the program.

Great, just great... We will need to download 100+ patches every time we install XP now?
Seriously, that SUCKS Microsoft!

looks like some windows around will not be updated/ patched anymore... too bad... microsoft will regret and re-consider this stupid decision

While I don't see the need for MS to ban support for AutoPatcher, it is after all a great utility and something that has saved me hours and hours when repairing clients machines, I'm sure they (MS) must have their reasons for this.

I'll continue to support it as long as I can, but it is a massive blow to myself and to the community as a whole that MS have decided to take this action. But, as I've said there must be a good reason why, I'm sure it will all become clear in due course.

I'd like to express my thanks to all the team behind AutoPatcher for the sheer amount of hard work and dedication that they have all shown in making this product, and like others have said, it's a massive blow and it sucks - I feel for you guys.

Ad

This is sad. Odd it took 4 years, and a real shame - this was a well received tool!

Thanks Microsoft, way to **** off a community!

****.

F***ing shocking

corporate bull

****ing ****, they can't do that.
I have to subscribe to neowin now...

This post has been edited by apul: Aug 29 2007, 09:44

Lets hope MS come up with there own solution for it I vaguely remember before XP SP2 they did a security rollup where several updates where in the one download.

I think it would be nice if they offered this every now and then a single download that has all the updates in it after SP2 perhaps they could have it make you register the PC after you have ran the updates on it making it possible to update peoples PC’s for them when they are on dial up etc.