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(Msg. 1) Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 10:43 am
Post subject: How long will MS support XP?
Excerpted from Bold Fortune forums:

How long will Microsoft support XP?

A Good Reason To Be Sure You Update To SP2.

I've seen many posts on the Internet by users who still refuse to update to SP2, for whatever reasons--even at this late date of its release.
They should know about this...


How long will Microsoft support XP?

Windows XP has been extremely successful; market research firm IDC estimates that Windows XP (Home and Pro) had a worldwide installed base of 538 million copies at the end of 2006. (Wow!) As long as those XP computers are functional and perform well, users find it difficult to justify the purchase of Vista or a new Vista-based PC.

Microsoft Corp.'s support policies reflect this reality. The company's standard life-cycle policy provides bug fixes and security patches (known as mainstream support) for five years after initial release, and security-patch-only support (known as extended support) for an additional five years. Although Microsoft often doesn't provide extended support for its consumer products, the company says that XP Home and XP Pro will get identical support periods.

Microsoft's support road map currently says that extended support for Windows XP ends in April 2014. You need to be on the latest service pack within one year of its release for continued support, which at this point means you must be running XP Service Pack 2.

So the earliest date that XP SP2 support will end is 2014, but history has shown that Microsoft often gives customers a reprieve as these dates draw near. For example, support for Windows 98 was to be dropped in January 2004, but Microsoft extended it by two and a half years to July 2006.

XP's life would also be extended if Microsoft were to issue an XP service pack on or after 2013. Microsoft has a tentative date for XP Service Pack 3 in the first half of 2008. If SP3 is released anywhere near on schedule and turns out to be the last service pack for XP, it won't affect XP's 2014 end-of-support date.

http://www.computerworld.com/action/articl...9026940#support
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goretsky




Joined: Dec 07, 2002
Posts: 8586

Location: Southern California
(Msg. 2) Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 2:11 am
Post subject: Re: How long will MS support XP? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Hello,

I did a quick search of Microsoft's web site and found the support lifecycle information for Microsoft Windows XP here for U.S. customers. I would imagine there will not be too much variation in dates worldwide, though.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
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(Msg. 3) Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 10:40 am
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Just as millions of MS users are quite happy with their Windows 98 or ME, (without any updates at all) users of XP will be just as happy when M$ stops futzing with it. If it works today, it should work just fine tomorrow.

Keep it (your PC) backed up and keep the latest backup handy and forget the updates.
Because of all the problems some folks have had with M$ updates, many have just shut off automatic updates all together. I know I have. Wink

Cool
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zlim




Joined: Mar 11, 2005
Posts: 2356



(Msg. 4) Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:48 pm
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The problem for some users is that if you have Windows Defender or MS One Care installed, the settings you set to turn off automatic updates was changed by those two programs without your knowledge! You then got updates despite the fact that you had turned auto updates off. (I guess I'll advise any of my seniors to be sure to NOT USE windows defender nor One Care).

I read today in a paid newsletter about window server users getting something they did not want thru WSUS (windows software update service) last week. MS sent something to the desktops that should not have been sent and systems to a crawl.
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goretsky




Joined: Dec 07, 2002
Posts: 8586

Location: Southern California
(Msg. 5) Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 4:29 am
Post subject: Re: How long will MS support XP? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Hello,

One of the problems with using an unmaintained operating system is that as vulnerabilities are found, security updates are no longer issued for them and the attack surface (exposure to risk) increases. This can be mitigated somewhat by installing security software, but at some point that vendor might stop supporting the security software (or stop supporting it on the unsupported operating system).

Generally speaking, though, someone who does not upgrade any of their application software will be fine until they reach some sort of limitation om their application (number of records stored, directory or file size limitations and forth) and need to upgrade it, which, in turn, forces a whole chain of hardware and software upgrades.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
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(Msg. 6) Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:43 am
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I declared 'Windows Defender' a non-entity a long time ago. Getting its updates only via the Windows Update facility every two weeks or more, just isn't enough to keep it viable. It was just wasting my time and HD space and has since become a not so fond memory.

There is much better Anti-Spyware software available, also FREE, that updates every few days. I just refuse to trust M$ with the security of my PC.
Some of the problems they have created with their bad updates are worse than any spyware.
The less interaction I have with M$, the better I like it.

Get smart, tell M$ to "hit the road" !!!

Cheers Mates!
Shadow Cool
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goretsky




Joined: Dec 07, 2002
Posts: 8586

Location: Southern California
(Msg. 7) Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:05 am
Post subject: Re: How long will MS support XP? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Hello,

I think that by releasing Windows Defender, Microsoft has shown that they take the threat of spyware seriously and are making a good-faith effort to protect their customers. I took a quick look at the Microsoft Antimalware Engineering Team's blog and noticed they had released their Security Intelligence Report for for the first half of 2007, and while it mainly discussed OneCare and the Malicious Software Removal Tool, it does indicate they are doing some good--cleaning over 18 million computers of malware in six months is a major accomplishment, no matter who the vendor is that did the disinfecting.

I ahve not done a lot of testing with Windows Defender, but I have done a little and I have never encountered an incompatibility with another malware program or even any performance degradation--at least that I could attribute to it. Given that, I have always recommended leaving it in place as a free supplement to bolster other antimalware software.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
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