I have heard a lot of questions about the need to install the pre-requisite XMLLite package on XP and Server 2003 prior to installing the Group Policy Preferences Client Side Extensions to those versions of Windows. The fact is that XMLLite is currently not deployable via WSUS, which has made it hard for folks to mass deploy Group Policy Preferences. What I’ve come to learn is that while this deployment challenge for XMLLite is true, there are some mitigating factors that might help certain shops. Namely:
- Windows Server 2003, SP2 and Windows XP SP3 already include XMLLite, and thus its not required as a separate install before you install Group Policy Preferences on those versions of the OS
- Windows Server 2003, SP1 and Windows XP, SP2 with Internet Explorer 7 installed also do not need XMLLite, as it is included with IE 7.
So, bottom line is that if you are running 2003, SP1 or XP, SP2 without IE7, you will still struggle to deploy XMLLite through means other than "sneaker-net" but the good news is that, with these above exceptions, the number of those machines should get smaller and smaller over time.
And just a note that XMLLite is not required at all for GP Preferences on Vista.
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