Frequently Asked Questions

• Why is Microsoft decommissioning the Office Update service?
• What benefits do I receive by using the Microsoft Update service?
• What will happen if I attempt to access the Office Update website after August 1, 2009?
• I am running Windows Vista. Will my servicing experience be different?
• Will I still be able to use the Office Update Inventory Tool to deploy Office updates?
• I use SMS to deploy my Office updates. How does this affect me?
• I use Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) to determine the security state of my computer systems. How does this affect me?
• How will I maintain my existing Office administrative installation point after the Office Update service is decommissioned?

Why is Microsoft decommissioning the Office Update service?

Microsoft recommends that users use Microsoft Update, which provides a centralized and automated software update solution for many Microsoft products, including Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office. Updates for supported products that are currently offered on Office Update are also offered on Microsoft Update.

What benefits do I receive by using the Microsoft Update service?

Microsoft Update is a scalable, internet-based software distribution platform and service for consumer and corporate customers. Its benefits include:

• Seamless and automatic update experience: No manual work needed from customers to determine which updates are needed
• Single distribution service: One stop shop for customers to get all updates from Microsoft: thus extending the Windows Update experience
• Devices just work: Needed drivers are automatically installed
• Consumer: Automatic updating and interactive experience to stay secure and up-to-date
• IT Pro: All management solutions provided by Microsoft use MU (Windows Server Update Services, Microsoft Update Catalog, SMS, MBSA, and System Center Essentials).

What will happen if I attempt to access the Office Update website after August 1, 2009?

You will be automatically redirected to the Microsoft Update website when you attempt to download updates using Office Update.

I am running Windows Vista. Will my servicing experience be different?

Users that attempt to access the Microsoft Update website from Windows Vista will be automatically redirected to the Windows Update application that is included in Control Panel. To enable Office updates on Windows Vista, click the “Get updates for more products” link in the Windows Update dialog and follow the in-browser instructions.

If the language version of your Office product is not in the list above, you should download and install Office updates from the Microsoft Download Center. To find the correct download location, please select your language from the Office Worldwide page. The Office Worldwide page can be accessed from the link located at the bottom of this page.

Will I still be able to use the Office Update Inventory Tool to deploy Office updates?

The Office Update Inventory Tool will also be decommissioned. The tool will be available for download, but will no longer be updated as of July 14, 2009. Microsoft recommends that customers use Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) to administer and deploy Office updates within their corporate network. For information about WSUS, see Microsoft Windows Server Update Services 3.0 Overview and Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started with Microsoft Windows Server Update Services 3.0 on the Microsoft TechNet Web site.

I use SMS to deploy my Office updates. How does this affect me?

Customers who use SMS 2.0 in conjunction with the Software Update Services Feature Pack (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sms/bb676802.aspx) will be required to upgrade to SMS 2003 or greater in order to deploy Office updates with SMS. Customers who are using SMS 2003 and ConfigMgr 2007 in conjunction with the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates (ITMU) will not be affected.

I use Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) to determine the security state of my computer systems. How does this affect me?

MBSA 2.1 customers are not affected. MBSA 2.1 is compatible with Microsoft Update and Windows Server Update Services and the SMS Inventory Tool for Microsoft Update (ITMU). For more information about MBSA, see Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (http://www.microsoft.com/mbsa).

How will I maintain my existing Office administrative installation point after the Office Update service is decommissioned?

You may continue to manually apply updates to your administrative installation point. For more information about how to update Office XP installations by using a patched administrative installation point, visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/orkXP/HA011525721033.aspx. For more information about how to update Office 2003 installations by using a patched administrative installation point, visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ork2003/HA011525741033.aspx.

1. Apply updates only to the administrative installation point and re-cache/reinstall on each client after updating the AIP.
2. Distribute updates directly to the clients, but only after establishing all clients on the most recent baseline of Office (e.g. the current baseline for Office 2003 is Office 2003 Service Pack 2).
3. Do not apply the updates to the AIP. You can continue with this strategy until the next service pack is released, at which point you should update the AIP and re-cache/reinstall on each client.