Microsoft Killed AutoPatcher – No More Third Party Windows Updates
Microsoft strikes again.
Link to source located HERE.
Quote:
| 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. |
Windows update 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).
Using AutoPatcher is really easy. The most difficult part of the procedure will probably be the downloading, because, due to its size, it's not something a 56k modem owner would go for. Typically, an AutoPatcher release weighs about 200-300MB, since it includes all the updates in one big package.
Tips: A core release is necessary with sequential updates to make a wholesome update.
Example: Core May must be installed & followed by June updates to the latest available updates.
Downloading
Since there are quite a few releases, your choice must be based on the following criteria:
- Version
Each release targets a specific version of Windows. Choose the right one for the system your updating. - Language
An equally important piece of information is the operating system's language. Unfortunately, international versions of Windows (such as Greek Windows) use different updates from the 'base' English version, so the English AutoPatcher releases cannot be used on Greek Windows. Note this is not so with Windows Vista! - Type
- Core releases, these are the main releases which contain the bulk of the patches.
- Update releases, these allow you to update a Core release with additional patches as new ones are created.
- Addon packs, these add additional patches and addons (such as 'sunjava') not distributed in the main Core release or Update releases
Installation
- The last step is the most important. AutoPatcher will now install the items you selected and, after a restart, your system will be up-to-date and ready to be used. This procedure is divided in 4 stages, though your presence is only needed during the item selection (it can be done 100% unattended):
- Loading
- Item selection
- Installation of the selected items
- System restart
Downloads - Under Construction
Notice: This page has been put under construction!
The old download page just wasn't cutting it anymore. We'll be working on a new one soon!
So, until it has been re-designed, here are some temporary links to forum topics where you can find download links...
Torrent downloads for all versions: autopatcher.m2ys4u.co.uk
Main releases
Our main releases:
- AutoPatcher for Windows 2000 SP4 - May 2007 Core | June 2007 Update | July 2007 Update
- AutoPatcher for Windows XP SP2 (32-bit) - May 2007 Core | June 2007 Update | July 2007 Update
- AutoPatcher for Windows Server 2003 SP1/R2/SP2 (32-bit) - May 2007 Core | June 2007 Update | July 2007 Update
- AutoPatcher for Windows XP/Server-2003 (64-bit) - July 2007 Core
- AutoPatcher for Windows Vista - July 2007 Core
Addon packs
Additionally we also have the following new addon packs:
- Extras - July 2007
- DirectX x86 - June 2007
- DirectX x64 - June 2007
- XP WMP10 (32-bit) - May 2007
- XP MCE 2005 (32-bit) - May 2007
Translations
There are no translations of the new releases based on the all new AutoPatcher version 5.6 yet, but there will be soon. In the mean time, there are still some available based on the older AutoPatcher version 5.1 which you can find in the archived copy of the old download page: here
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