How XP support deadline affects you
Windows XP has taken one step closer to retirement with today marking the end of “mainstream support”. But users should not panic as help is still available.
Today’s change means that Microsoft no longer offers free support for XP or Office 2003. It also means the firm is no longer taking requests for design changes or new features.
The end of mainstream support also means XP is now technically out of warranty. That looks pretty strange considering it’s still possible to buy a new machine running XP through downgrade options.
Though XP is now in what’s dubbed the “extended support phase”, Microsoft will continue to offer advice for the system through its Support and Knowledge Base sites. It will also continue to issue security updates, both through the Patch Tuesday update and emergency patches where necessary. These security updates will be available until at least 4 August 2014.
Users now have two options for additional XP services from Microsoft. They can pay for support (on a per-hour, per-incident or other basis). They can also purchase an ‘extended hotfix agreement’, which means they’ll continue to get updates for the system which are purely for performance rather than security. However, such agreements must be purchased within the next 90 days.
For users outside the US, mainstream support may still be active if local laws require Microsoft to offer it for longer. Mainstream support is also still active for the ‘Embedded’ edition of XP, which is used on some devices such as arcade games and electronic cash registers.
It’s worth remembering that many users will still be able to get XP support from computer manufacturers rather than Microsoft. Business may also be covered by other Microsoft programs such as Software Assurance.
The end of mainstream support is hardly the end of the world as you should be able to find a solution to most XP problems somewhere online.
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April 15th, 2009
With SP-2, Vista is no worse an upgrade over XP than XP was over 2000. Maybe if the media and loggers would give it a chance and stop bashing it at every turn, users wouldn’t feel so hesitant to select what is really a solid and stable and supported OS.
April 15th, 2009
“Maybe if the media and loggers would give [Vista] a chance and stop bashing it [...]”
No one’s bashing Vista, David – just pointing out what a load of toxic rubbish it is.
April 15th, 2009
XP brought system restore, wireless support, system protection where important system files were automatically restored if they got overwritten, and a firewall.
Vista isn’t horrible but it isn’t noteworthy either. It failed to bring much to the dance if you compare it to XP. I have friends who run and like Vista and aren’t having problems any more.
It still blows compared to Linux, but so does OSX.