Microsoft Killed AutoPatcher – No More Third Party Windows Updates

[feedback]

Microsoft strikes again.The AutoPatcher project is dead, courtesy of Microsoft. Antonis Kaladis, AutoPatcher Project Manager broke the news on August 29, revealing that Microsoft killed the initiative designed to supply offline Windows updates. AutoPatcher debuted back in 2003, and functioned with no issues or legal hassles from the Redmond company for four years. Now, Microsoft has changed its tune in relation to the project and issued a response involving a cease and decease letter. Subsequently, although the official AutoPatcher website is still up and running, the download page returns a 404 error. Additionally, Microsoft is also focusing
on alternative online locations distributing AutoPatcher.

"Today we received an e-mail from Microsoft, requesting the immediate take-down of the download page, which of course means that AutoPatcher is probably history. As much as we disagree, we can do very little, and although the download page is merely a collection of mirrors, we took the download page down. We would like to thank you for your support. For the past 4 years, it has been a blast. Unfortunately, it seems like it's the end of AutoPatcher as we know it", Kaladis revealed.

Before it was shut down, AutoPatcher was offering updates for Windows 2000, Windows XP and even Windows Vista. The package had an immense advantage over Microsoft's official Windows Update infrastructure allowing users to get their hands on a large collection of updates via a single download and deploy it offline. "AutoPatcher combines the advantage of both Windows Update (presentation and description of updates and automated installation), and the special administrative updates (portability and installation without the need of an Internet connection)," reads a fragment from the description of the now defunct project.

Microsoft is very sensitive on the issue of the redistribution of its software. The Redmond company aims to be the only online source for updates, and taking AutoPatcher down is an illustrative example of Microsoft's policy concerning independent distributors and its proprietary software. Until the time of this article Microsoft failed to offer an official explanation related to the faith it decided for AutoPatcher.
Link to source located HERE. (http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Killed-AutoPatcher-No-More-Third-Party-Windows-Updates-64002.shtml)

[Dr.Khron]

Bastards.
(note that I'm pretty much an MS fanboy, so thats some harsh words from me.)

MS might have a leg to stand on if their products didn't require more then a few patches... but with the absurd amount of patches that you have to apply to clean install (even with SP's slipstreamed in), its ludicrous to think that there should only be one legitimate source for the updates.

Being able to download a monolithic update pack is more then just convenient, it adds a LOT of value over the Windowsupdate process. I think the moral thing for MS to do is to offer a torrent file with all the updates in one pack. Of course, that would make WGA useles...


Hmmm... "value". Maybe Microsoft is planning to monetize this somehow? Like, if you want a faster Windows update server that offers monolithic downloads, you have to pay to use it?

[mitsubishi]

Never used that one, is there something particular about it, or will WindizUpdate, Unofficial SP3 and RyanVM's pre-install pack come under fire also?

[LoRd_MuldeR]

There also is c't Offline-Update:
http://www.heise.de/ct/projekte/offlineupdate/

English information:
http://www.heise-security.co.uk/articles/80682

[laserfan]

I'm looking at my purchased AutoPatcher CD as I write this; "the energy drink for windows".

I've had ISPs where downloads were next-to impossible for the large SP updates, so was really glad to find them, and always surprised they were allowed to get away with re-distributing MS software.

MS needs to have something like it--they shoulda bought 'em out like they did sysinternals...

[Sharktooth]

http://windowsupdate.62nds.com/ - works with firefox and opera too.

[clsid]

I use Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer. It's a free tools and gives direct download links to the patches.

[HyperHacker]

So did they ever give a specific reason? I have a funny feeling it's because they want to force WGA validation to get the patches. :-/

[Sharktooth]

@clsid: BSA scans only for security patches. Automatic updates will do the same even on pirated OSes.

@HyperHacker: that could be very possible.

[rockefeller]

Are there any OS better than Microsoft? I'm not suggesting it's the best but most of the softwares are more compatible with Microsoft.

[Sharktooth]

well, most of the "commercial" softwares...
there are tons of alternative OS softwares that do the job even better than the commercial ones...
so there's no native Photoshop for linux, but you can run it thru wine or use Gimp instead...
if you dont want to walk the open source way there is always the Apple alternative. it's expensive but it's quite good actually... or even better than the M$ offering...

[HyperHacker]

If you know a decent bit about computers and aren't really into PC gaming then try Linux. You can use programs like Wine and Crossover Office to run most Windows apps.

[sportcenter]

damn...this was very helpful when re-installing new OS's

[Sharktooth]

autopatcher is goingo to make a comeback...
Last week AutoPatcher was down for the count as Microsoft stepped in to 'protect' its precious updates but now things are slowly settling in as the team behind the project is reevaluating its options and planning a comeback. Although they have lost a member, due to objective reasons, the AutoPatcher crew is set on bringing the package back, most likely as 'a web-oriented solution' which is claimed to offer two benefits - easier and more efficient upgrades and easier "all-in-one" creation.

Things are still in their early stages now but hopefully AutoPatcher will be back soon, with Microsoft's unofficial approval.

[Waleska]

Every user-friendly, general-purpose OS currently in development is rubbish excepting for XP, and the reason is quite simple: best software is written for Windows.

Anyhow, XP, just like any OS, is not perfect out of the box, it takes some minor tweaking if you wanna get the very best out of it, but it toally pays off at the end.

[Sharktooth]

i wouldnt say that. linux is pretty functional and it's becoming more "user friendly" day after day at an impressive rate.
also remember there are a lot of excellent open source softwares doing the same things (and sometimes more) as commercial ones.

[Waleska]

http://marketshare.hitslink.com/chartfx62/temp/CFT0905_0820113BA66.png
http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=2

Numbers speak for themselves.

[mitsubishi]

Numbers speak for themselves.

:rolleyes: What has market-share got to do with "rubbish"-ness?

Is Vista twelve time more rubbish than XP?

There are many times more Nissan Micra's or Ford Ka's sold than McClarens, does that make them a better car?

[Waleska]

:rolleyes: What has market-share got to do with "rubbish"-ness?

Many user-friendly, general purpose OS' exist, including free ones everyoe can have access to, but most poeple have chosen to use XP instead. That translates as "Other OS' just don't cut it" and they don't cut it because the software available for them isn't as good as that specifically developed for Windows.

Is Vista twelve time more rubbish than XP?

I'd say 50, but that's just me.

There are many times more Nissan Micra's or Ford Ka's sold than McClarens, does that make them a better car?

Never heard about those cars before, I still drive my hubby's Mustang Shelby.

[GrofLuigi]

When the conversation comes to popularity of something (music, movies etc.) related to its quality, I always quote a line I read somewhere a long time ago:

20000000000000 flies eat sh*t every day. 20000000000000 flies can't be wrong. :eek:

GL

[Sharktooth]

well, windows is more spread coz it's the default OS on branded and OEM PCs and ppl buy a lot of those... so they havent any choice... they arent even asked to make a choice... the PCs are already stuffed with windows, period. there is only few amateurs that build their own PCs, but i can bet my ass at least half of them do not use Windows as a primary OS.
it's just a matter of how you intend the PC. if you think it's a sort of refrigerator, air conditioning thing or micro-wave oven, then windows is for you. if you think the PC is a personal thing that helps you having fun, work, communicate, living, doing things for you, etc... then you are the kind of person you deserve something better than windows...

[Inventive Software]

When the conversation comes to popularity of something (music, movies etc.) related to its quality, I always quote a line I read somewhere a long time ago:

20000000000000 flies eat sh*t every day. 20000000000000 flies can't be wrong. :eek:

GL

Man that's a lotta happy motorcyclists, the amount of flies eatin' their own shit! :D

[Waleska]

well, windows is more spread coz it's the default OS on branded and OEM PCs and ppl buy a lot of those... so they havent any choice... they arent even asked to make a choice...the PCs are already stuffed with windows, period

Try finding a Mac that doesn't come with preinstalled OSX and I'll give you a cookie.

People can choose what to buy and what to use.

there is only few amateurs that build their own PCs, but i can bet my ass at least half of them do not use Windows as a primary OS

So that's how you get your numbers, arse-gambling! :p

Now seriously, where are the statistics that support your claim?.

it's just a matter of how you intend the PC. if you think it's a sort of refrigerator, air conditioning thing or micro-wave oven, then windows is for you

I already had a fridge, an air-conditioner and a micro-wave oven when I bought my first PC.

if you think the PC is a personal thing that helps you having fun

www.gamesforwindows.com

work

www.office.microsoft.com

communicate

www.get.live.com/messenger/overview

living

Only geeks live in their PC's... www.live.com

fo things for you, etc...

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/3677/clipboard01mc4.th.png (http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/3677/clipboard01mc4.png)

then you are the kind of person you deserve something better than windows...

I could ask "like?" and have this purposeless OS pseudo-war go on forever, but I'm not in the mood :)

[Sharktooth]

well, i dont want to start an OS war. however there is a big difference in things i said and things you "linked". money ;)

[Hard Core Rikki]

Certainly, nobody needs to throw 700 dollars for an office suite., especially when even offices start leading the switching ;)

The enthusiast market is a better one to leverage, for software/OS adoption. Undecided people tend to follow recommendations from their regular "tech support" folks (usually kids or a local geek ;) ).
Given a nonsteep learning curve, people would be willing to switch.
Virtually none would use Terminal mainly, but switching to KDE shouldnt be confusing. People survived the DOS era (when you had to edit your boot parameters, make boot floppies, and setup files all the times, so while the era of terminal-esque OS handling is "over", the freely available alternatives aren't as bad as a MS follower would imagine.

Nothing in OpenOffice, as example, looks like bloat. The same can't be said about MS Office. Not everyone uses the whole range of it, but people are still forced to throw bills for stuff they dont *need*.