Microsoft has released instructions for administrators who want to avoid a forced upgrade to the latest version of its browser, Internet Explorer 7, which is due to occur on 12 February.

Users of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) -- Microsoft's software-update service for businesses -- who are currently using Internet Explorer (IE) 6 will be automatically upgraded to IE7 on that date, Microsoft announced on its manageability team blog on 14 January.

However, this can be avoided if WSUS is not configured to "auto-approve" update rollup packages, wrote Microsoft "manageability knowledge engineer" JC Hornbeck in the blog post.

The advice, available in greater detail on Microsoft's support site, only applies to those users who do not want to upgrade from IE6 to IE7, and who use computers based on Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Windows Server 2003 SP1.

Users of Windows Vista are already tied to IE7, as it comes as a component of that operating system.

http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa/Microsoft-explains-how-to-avoid-IE7-upgrade/0,130061733,339285330,00.htm?feed=rss