On Friday, Microsoft launched a toolkit to block Internet Explorer 11 (IE 11) from automatically installing on Windows 7 PCs. This suggests that the new browser will be released in the next few weeks.

The IE 11 Blocker toolkit is targeted at businesses that wish to keep employees on an earlier version of IE. Its tools include a script which can be run locally; alongside an administrative template that  IT administrators can use to prevent IE 11 from running through Group Policy settings.The toolkit prevents automatic upgrading of older versions to IE 11 on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 via the operating systems’ built in Automatic Update service.

This toolkit is not necessary for companies that are already dependent on System Center 2012 or Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) since they can already manage the deployment of IE 11 using those tools. As well as this, individuals can use the toolkit to prevent IE 11 from entering their Windows machines without disabling Automatic Updates for all other Microsoft software.

Microsoft has issued similar toolkits for IE 7, IE 8, IE 9 and IE 10 in advance to those browsers’ public releases. Previously this year, for instance, Microsoft offered a blocking toolkit for IE 10 roughly three weeks preceding the browser’s public release.

If Microsoft sticks to its guns regarding the time table then IE 11 will launch towards the end of this month or in early November. However Microsoft has refused to announce a ship date for IE 11 on Windows 7, stating previously only that it would be this fall.

On the other hand, IE 11 on Windows 8.1 will be released sooner. The browser, which is part of update to Windows 8, is to set foot within the Windows Store on the 17th of October. At this time, present users of Windows RT and Windows 8 can download and install the free Windows 8.1 update  as well as IE 11  during that time.

By the way, Windows 8.1 retail systems and upgrades including Windows 8.1 are to be unveiled on the 18th of October.

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