Microsoft has traditionally offered 10 years support for its operating systems, which is actually great value and not something you see with other vendors!
However, there are TWO types of support:
- Mainstream
Mainstream support delivers free fixes for security patches and other bug fixes to everyone.
- Extended
Extended support delivers free security updates to all users, however non-security hot fixes are only provided to companies that have signed support contracts with Microsoft.
With Windows 7 due out later this year, it is important to note when the very popular Windows XP software will reach the end of its support from Microsoft.
These are the important dates:
On April 14, 2009. The following Windows XP editions will come out of Mainstream Support and enter Extended Support:
- Windows XP Home
- Windows XP Pro 32-bit and 64-bit
- Windows XP Media Center Edition
- Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
On April 08, 2014. These Windows XP editions will come out of Extended Support.
Please note that “Self-help” online support will continue to be available for a minimum of 12 months after the product reaches the end of its support lifecycle.
I hope this information helps you in planning your next upgrade!
Regards
Marc Liron – Microsoft MVP
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Only thing to wonder is what operating system we will migrate to on April 08, 2014.
Just another bad idea from MS. Vista will not run many of the older but better software packages so lets do away with XP making everybody buy a new operating system AND much software.
How can XP be out of mainstream support when its still being sold? I saw it today on Netbooks at best buy.
Does not seem fair to those that just purchase these.
I Am really happy they extended to 2014 cause xp is a really good os and on top of that alot of people still got xp it’s to short to died it since xp came out and xp is also good cause there alot softwares out there that vista and Windows 7 can’t run yet and only xp can run it
“…which is actually great value and not something you see with other vendors!”
The guys fro the L system offer support from the community for like… forever? They aren’t quite a vendor, tho.
But yea, XP is the best system from Microsoft.
I am currently going flat out to get to grips with Linux. I already dual boot with Ubuntu and Mint seems to be a very satisfactory system for the average home user.
There are some great Linux distros around and they have become an increasing challenge to Microsoft’s monopoly. The next few years promise to be very interesting.
Once XP support finishes there will still be forum support and provided there is good antivirus software and antispywear installed most people will be able to run XP for a long time to come.
I run an IT business and neither Vista or Windows 7 are as straightforward to use as XP. Linux Mint bears some resemblance to the XP GUI.
I wish Microsoft would drop XP support today. Perhaps my employer would FINALLY update their 11 year old OS on company machines. I’m getting quite frustrated trying to get new components to work with this old clunker XP.
XP is the best so far. Not bad for a “toy” OS.
There is no beter os other tna XP Vista was a junk win7 is brother Vista and now win 8 is coming in 2012 all they want is to make money and people always want new WOW come on people stop buying and just be happy what you have. more you upgrade more you will be in trouble…
To clarrify for regular home users of Windows XP and what Microsoft call end of life for a Windows operating system I’m finding different dates. At the Microsoft web site it looks as if they are describing end of life for Windows XP SVC pack 3 will be 24 months after its release. (2008) What is the 2014 all about?
The reason I’m even inquiring is to recommend to other family home PC users to purchace Windows 7 to provide them the latest Microsoft OS technologies & security. I just wanted to make sure that Windows XP SVR pack 3 was “officially” end of life for regular users without any additial contracts such as a large company.
Curious on your thoughts. It seems to be hard to really nail this down for some reason!
my daughters Pentium M laptop now dual boots a fresh load of XP-sp3 and Ubuntu 10.10 She has used both and her current 7 laptop as needed, but the old hardware needed a fresh load of the XP to do more than crawl. the 10.10 is quite snappy, the win +AV less so.