Microsoft will drop Windows XP out of mainstream support today, with the ageing OS moving into extended support as previously announced.
Microsoft's mainstream support, which is usually offered for only five years, actually ran for seven-and-a-half years because of Windows Vista's long delay. Two years ago, Microsoft also extended mainstream support for XP Home and XP Media Center until 2009, and the deadline for the follow-up phase, dubbed 'extended support', until 2014, to match the dates that had been set earlier for the business-grade XP Professional.
According to Microsoft, the transition from mainstream to extended support for Windows XP means that it will only provide paid support - on a per-incident basis, or through its various pre-paid support programmes - and will only offer non-security hotfixes for a fee, and then only to customers who have purchased the Extended Hotfix Support plan.
Microsoft will continue to generate free security updates for Windows XP, and release them via Windows Update, until April 8, 2014.
Windows XP's shift into the first phase of support retirement comes at a time when the operating system remains extraordinarily popular, especially among business users. According to a recent survey by Dimensional Research, 97 percent of the more than 1,100 IT professionals surveyed said that their companies and organisations are still running XP.
The move out of mainstream and into extended support also comes just days after a leaked Microsoft memorandum spelled out a relaxation of the rules for computer makers that want to continue selling new PCs with the aged OS.
Ageing OS moves into extended support phase
OEMs will be allowed to advertise new systems as XP PCs, something that hasn't been allowed since June 2008, and can 'downgrade' a licence for Windows 7 - the operating system that hasn't yet been released - to XP for at least six months after the former's launch.
A Microsoft spokeswoman said that support for XP on a new machine is provided by the computer maker, not Microsoft. "Customers who purchased Windows XP pre-installed on their machines will receive support from their Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) per the OEM support policy at time of purchase," she said.
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Comments
Allan said: Long live Xp There are still many Xp copies in market and even the illegal ones in torrents lol so dont worry God saves Xp yeah Even my friends offline PC have been running Xp for years yeah without any updates only Xp SP3 once and no problem so far Wtf ill always keep Xp as my main OS
PeterL said: I am another 60-plusser and fully agree with ColinK I also chose Linux Ubuntu and it installed like a charm downloaded as a mirror from the web-site Loads of support on the forums and so much FREE software on all subjects The included Open Office systems are fully compatible and I dont recognise the difference between computers running MS or Linux on my network Im even looking at servers and Thin Client systems for fun Break away from the Bill Gates Benevolent Fund there is so much life after Microsoft Pete L
Jason said: I work as Microsoft CSR Most people who are angry about having to pay dont understand their License Agreement You have FREE support with MS only IF your version is retail If it came pre-installed you go to the OEM they modify the OS to work best on their computers so they take the warranty Its been almost 8 years since XP was released This date for the ending of warranty of retail XP was announced when XP came out so it should be no surprise
Jason said: I work as Microsoft CSR Most people who are angry about having to pay dont understand their License Agreement You have FREE support with MS only IF your version is retail If it came pre-installed you go to the OEM they modify the OS to work best on their computers so they take the warranty Its been almost 8 years since XP was released This date for the ending of warranty of retail XP was announced when XP came out so it should be no surprise
bob said: Lloyd - Well its up to the manufacturer what support they want to give but its up to them to provide it not microsoft
Skidz said: Its olny because Vista is so crap that MS are rushing out a new OS Not that i would want to change from XP after using both Vista and 7 Both are not for me
expee said: microoft need to learn to actually support their operating systems for alot longer-if windows 7 isnt a huge leap from vista everyone will just see it as a money making scam with software that could easily have been an update into their currently only just released vista operating system microsoft will no doubt state the new op system may be more of a visual and layout change from vista and too big to be included as an update- but it doesnt give great credability to them-in that theyve had to change so much that may have been wrong in vista theyve had to make it into an entirely new operating system adding extra support for xp just makes them look stupid if the majority of users that will only get the new op system may just be new pc buyers software developers may not know what to make their software most compatible with in the end causing confusion in the market Lol MS - focus on one op system but do not continue to release completely new ones every 2 years
bill rates said: vista is the most compatible os i have ever had i have very little xp era software that does not work on it i would have said to stick with xp a while back if you did not want to upgrade your system to a dual core machine or better but now thats probably a bad idea if the virus spreaders of today are taking note that people still wish to use xp which will now be a non microsoft supported os I dont really see what the next os will be able to do so much better than vista which was essentially a dual core capable xp with a makeover but only time will tell Im sticking with xp on the desktop and vista on the laptop only my vista machine is on the net P
ColinK said: If you are having difficulties with MS and XP do consider the Ubuntu Linux OS It and Open Office suite are free though you can give a donation are regularly updated and even I a 60 computer beginner end user have found Ubuntu easy to use and Open Office very similar to Word Excel and Power Point havent tried the Access equiv yetGood luck and God bless CK
Tony Benn said: How long will it be before they start to rip us off again with Windows 7 Im still waiting for the WOW in Vista
Kevin said: it is called Greed You know greed that thing that has put the world in the mess it is currently inNo one can blame any user installing illegal copies of Windows when it should never been allowed to become a commodity
Skidz said: Why are so many people posting their replies 3 times or more
Phill said: After using VISTA for over 1 year I had so many software and compatability issues I downgraded back to XP That was the best evenings work I ever did Long live XP - supported or not My business runs with XP - we have always found the answers through forums - never MICROSOFT
Phill said: After using VISTA for over 1 year I had so many software and compatability issues I downgraded back to XP That was the best evenings work I ever did Long live XP - supported or not My business runs with XP - we have always found the answers through forums - never MICROSOFT
Phill said: After using VISTA for over 1 year I had so many software and compatability issues I downgraded back to XP That was the best evenings work I ever did Long live XP - supported or not My business runs with XP - we have always found the answers through forums - never MICROSOFT
paulc said: Why a new os when the problems with upteen updates for Windows XP screw up a stable reliable oswhich dont go in the correct order with updates on this update and that update its never ending This new os better eliminate all these updates to just one of two and do away with the rest which should be build in to the os
Peter Upmanis said: Microsoft does not listen to its customersIf they listen to them maybe Windows XPwill stay on as the best OS of all timeMS does not like improving present OSsThey like creating new ones MONEYMONEY the cycle goes on
moggy5 said: I have put up with microsofts crap since win31win95win98 and never have I needed their support any problems and there have been many have been solved with the help of forums and useful sites that give clearer and better information than microsofts long and drawn out and invariably failed curesI now run a pirate XP pro on my main computer which has never given me a days trouble I feel they owe it to me after all the hours of my life wasted on fixing their problems on the previous operating sytems I have purchasedMy laptop has a legal winxp media edition and the onlr problems I have encountered have been from ms updatesSo I will carry on my own sweet wayand they can stick their non existant support where the sun dont shine moggy
LLoyd said: One of the reasons the OEM Windows is so cheap is that the pc manufacturer takes over the support responsibilities from Microsoft Re the above statement from Bob he obviously hasnt bought a pc from Dell If you have a problem their tech people will explain to you that they deal with any hardware problems but not the software
Skidz said: I havent ever needed and neither will need any MS support XP will be my OS for a very long time to come supportupdates or not If it aint broke