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07 Apr 2009
Windows XP will pass another milestone on the road to retirement next week when Microsoft withdraws mainstream support for the operating system.
While the company said that it will continue to provide free security fixes for XP until 2014, any future bugs found in the platform will not be fixed unless customers pay for additional support.
Mainstream support for XP will end on 14 April 2009, over seven years after the operating system originally shipped.
However, the passing of the deadline will place Microsoft in the unusual position of no longer offering mainstream support for its most widely used product. Windows XP accounts for about 63 per cent of all internet connected computers, according to March 2009 statistics from Hitslink, while Windows Vista makes up about 24 per cent.
Windows XP also continues to be sold with low-cost mini laptops, otherwise known as netbooks, as Vista is too heavy on system resources for this level of hardware.
The key message, according to Microsoft, is that the company will continue to provide security support for XP users.
"We will provide critical security fixes via Windows Update for all editions of XP until 2014," said Laurence Painell, Windows marketing manager at Microsoft UK.
Microsoft's mainstream support includes problem resolution over the phone, and covers fixes for security and non-security related issues such as bugs and requests for changes.
Once Windows XP moves out of the mainstream support phase, customers will need an extended support contract with Microsoft or one of its channel partners to address any issues not related to security.
With a platform as mature as XP, this is unlikely to prove an issue, according to Microsoft.
"XP has been out a long time, so we would hope that there are not many issues that would require that level of support," said Painell.
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Do you agree?
This happened before
As I recall, MS said they were discontinuing support for Windows 98. They then decided to extend it when they found it was the most popular OS around! Of course, in today's penny pinching world, customer service counts for nought.
Posted by: JH 25 Jun 2009
Xp will always be fine! The best OS ever!
Thanks for this article. Lol don't worry MS will still support Xp for security update, and OEM manufacturer will still support you for both (security and optional updates). I think we may just need them only, even my friends offline PC havent got any update for years (except Xp SP3 offline install) without any problem at all, especially since Xp has been pretty stable after SP2 and SP3 and some latest optional updates. You'll still be able to get Xp for years forward i.e from ebay, some remaining stocks (believe me, there are many!), or use downgrade rights, netbook etc. It's the most popular OS ever! Even in illegal way if you really wanted it bcoz MS doesnt give us more options by selling it legally lol sorry kidding (but it's still a fact). There are still many 3rd party softwares and hardwares will support it for years forward while some people and companies will still keep it (as i've seen the same i.e for Windows 98 and 2000 nowadays), considering large Xp users. Btw if you want to enhance Windows Xp so it will serve you as well as Vista and Windows 7, just visit and read enntire here: "List of Vista and Windows 7 Applications Features for Xp or 2003": http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20480 and http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=21246 , very worthy article imo, hopefully useful for Xp or 2003 users even you can get some original Vista applications ported to Xp etc! Personally i'll keep Xp longer, even maybe 2014. Anyway good luck and long live Xp! - The best Microsoft operating system, again fact. Cheers!
Posted by: Jayax 24 Apr 2009
Progress (?)
Microsoft can safely tell the rest of the world that XP is dead, the US government (well, the Air Force and some other parts at least) have mandated that we WILL be all using Vista in another few months. I hope all you taxpayers out there like the waste of money occurring because those converting can either not do their job until someone figures out a workaround on some items or are wasting time trying to figure out what kook was doing the layout and renaming of things. It is odd that M$ gave us a common PC system in the maze of OSes (granted it was a shady deal then) and freed use from the main frame tyranny, and now we appear to be going back to the bad old days when you had to get permission to have a computing job done. I only have one Vista (3 XP, 1 2000, and 1 98) machine at home, and the daughter hates it, even after 4 months of using it. I would convert it but I used up all the XP licenses I had.
Posted by: RayW 12 Apr 2009
Hummm!
I understand many of the worries that people have about MS stopping their general support for XP... but if you think about inovation and the future of IT many would argue that having something new even if doesnt work immediatly isnt as bad as having something outdated... We all agree that Vista is extrely heavy OS but shouldnt we be buying and upgrading our systems every 3-4 years as well... In my opinion i didnt like vista and i mainly going to swap my Xp for win7 when it comes out and with a new machine... as the old one (current) will continue to have XP due too bvious reasons....
Posted by: LongShot 11 Apr 2009
Windows xp
Same old comments,when something works good change it for something else,when will they learn,will never go to vista,would rather try linux
Posted by: Edgar Mills 10 Apr 2009
Windows XP support runs out next week
Well, I have just bought a new tower and yes you have guessed it, I chose Xp for installation, I had the choice, My husband has Vista Premium & I HATE it. Could we please send a petition to Microsoft as the percentage is for XP and vastly higher.
Posted by: Alison Douneen 10 Apr 2009
Microsoft Greed Will Hurt Microsoft
Well with the exception of ONLY 2 versions of Microsoft Operating Systems (Windows ME and Vista) I have owned copies of every one since DOS 2.0. As of 18 months to 2 years ago I switched to Linux and initially dual booted XP and used it once or twice a week. I nowadays only fire up XP once a month and run MS Update and then shutdown again. What a sorry state of affairs, obviously Microsoft haven't learnt from the Vista (Windows ME 2) debacle and hopefully now people will leave in droves. Linux is becoming exceptionally stable these days and there are very few private individuals other than gamers who can not be very happy running Linux alternatives to existing Windows programs. Not only are they saving money but at the same time the aggravation is no longer there and it is a pleasure to turn the PC on and simply do what you have and do and that's it. The past 2 years have taught me this, nothing else. Microsoft it was nice knowing you!
Posted by: Phil 10 Apr 2009
Should Microsoft still be selling XP
You can sill buy laptops/net books with XP as their operating system. If Microsoft are still selling XP shouldn't they support it? We are a small business and like the compatability with our desktops. I presume other businesses are in the same boat. We like to send and receive attachments in Word otherwise we would definately be using Linux. I sincerely hope that all users like myself protest at what appears to be an arrogant stance from Microsoft.
Posted by: Lance 09 Apr 2009
Vista responsible for PC sales downturn
The entire NHS runs on XP because Vista won't support our legacy PC's, printers and the National software will not run on Vista. Personally - I hate the damn resource hungry monster and will stick with this PC and XP pro until the next version as will many, many friends. This means we don't buy new PCs even though it's that time - so Microsoft are responsible for holding up sales of new machines. We want reliability -not silly animations and redundant machines/software. Doh!!!!!
Posted by: archie 09 Apr 2009
Time to make the switch
As far as I am concerned, Microsoft have lost their way with Windows. I am still appalled that Vista was the best they could come up with after all those years of development following on from the release of XP. I now use Linux - mainly Ubuntu - and have a vastly better experience - better hardware support, better speed, new releases every six months. I can use Open Office instead of MS Office, Evolution in place of Outlook. It's difficult to think of any major reason to stick with Windows, other than those few dreaded legacy applications that we all have - mind you a lot of those work well under WINE on Linux. These days I just look for an Open Source alternative. Whereas Windows Vista make me snarl, I enjoy "Ubuntu-ing" immensely and, for those few occasions I really need Windows, I just fire up a virtual machine running XP and use that. Time to make the switch - Microsoft need to see people voting with their feet...
Posted by: John 09 Apr 2009
XP Support
Again greed is the problem having designed a good working platform why try to make another which is nowhere near as good and won't work with many other programs. They could have continued improving items to add to XP which they could have charged for in small lots which would have appealed to companies that would not have to pay for new training, also the many stand alone computers could also have benefitted. I know of quite a few people who duel boot both XP & Vista, now what dose that say about Vista?
Posted by: David Brierley 08 Apr 2009
Security Critiques Drove Microsoft Too
While the economics of releasing a new O/S with a new brand is what drives the marketing, the problem many people have with Vista is not necessarily just the price. There are very large technical differences in the way that software has to be installed and run on Vista versus XP which makes lots of good existing Windows programs that have run just fine on everything from Win98 through XP unusable on Vista. A large part of these changes come from "locking down" the operating system to avoid having every user run as an administrator by default. While this makes Vista/2008 more secure it breaks compatibility with lots of good, but old, software. This is the reason I still run XP on my home computers and will run it on my next one as well: compatibility with older programs.
Posted by: RalphDaly28 08 Apr 2009
arent they meant to give support for new products under Consumer rights?
I thought any new products have to be supported for a period of time (6 years i thought), so what does that mean if you buy a Netbook with XP installed? So wish Linux was more compatiple with other software. I know when I get a Netbook, it might as well be Linux. its cheaper for a start & gets a much better support. So arent Microsoft meant to give support by law?
Posted by: Graham Simpson 08 Apr 2009
XP Users are Microsoft abandoning them?
It would appear that Microsoft have little regard for their customers who have recently bought net books with XP as their operating system.
Posted by: Lance 08 Apr 2009
It seems to all be about the dollars
If Microsoft thinks it won't be that much of an issue, why stop support for more than half of the computers in the world? It's not like it's going to put them out that much. So, to answer the question, the obvious reason is money. Windows 7 isn't available yet, and pricing for Vista is considerably higher than XP, plus any bug issues will be costly to fix for the end user. Times like this makes me wish Linux was more universal than it is.
Posted by: Fatesrider 07 Apr 2009
Plan to stay with XP
I have 5 computers all running XP Professional - and doing so happily, I might add. Why is Microsoft bent on forcing new and inferior operating systems, like Vista, down our throats?
Posted by: Peter Johngren 07 Apr 2009
What about new netbooks?
Many (most?) new netbooks run XP/Home. At least some computer manufacturers (Dell & HP) continue to sell Vista Business or Ultimate with a "downgrade" to XP/Pro. Does this mean that mainstream support for them ends this month? This just does not make sense. Another reason I am glad I switched to Macs.
Posted by: Arce 07 Apr 2009