Windows XP & Office 2003 Mainstream Support Ends April 14, 2009

Here is an important news for Windows XP and Office 2003 users. On April 14, 2009, Microsoft plans to cut off mainstream support for Windows XP and Office 2003. As a consequence, both products will move in the Extended support phase, which will last for the next five years. Both products will continue to be supported until 2014, although the updates provided to customers running the two products will be less diversified.

This applies to the following Windows XP editions:

Windows XP Home
Windows XP Pro 32-bit and 64-bit
Windows XP Media Center Edition
Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

However, for ultra-low cost PCs like netbooks, Microsoft has set June 30, 2010 as the End-of-Sales date even though the general End-of-Sales date for Windows XP was February 28, 2009.

As per the Microsoft Support Lifecycle, Mainstream support delivers free fixes for security patches and other bug fixes to everyone. Extended support delivers security updates to all users, but non-security hot fixes are to be provided only to companies that have signed support contracts (purchase of Extended Hotfix Support Agreement and per-fix fees) with Microsoft. 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.

Thanks to Neowin & Softpedia for the news...

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This article was posted in Microsoft Office, Windows XP.

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18 Comments

Mark

I mean, based on what Vista costs now.
VG

^^ Not sure but most probably same as Vista.
Mark

Which is? Say, in US dollars?
VG

^^ Here is the complete price list for Vista editions:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/compare-editions/default.aspx
Gloryan

so, if that date has come, is my WinXP will be deleted or they are just END their sales of Windows XP ?
If Windows XP is deleted or terminated, i'll change to Vista/7
Jay

MS will still provide security update (and bug-security related), while OEM manufacturer will still provide both (security and non security/optional). The security update is the most important, btw even my friends offline XP PC haven't got any update for years (except SP3 - offline install), and it's still fine and stable now without any problem, installing new programs fine. And you can always get XP from ebay, downgrade rights, remaining stocks (many!), netbook, and even in illegal way such as...(you know, really free haha kidding but true). Anyway Long live XP!
frenze

i mean explanation
Snowyfox

My computer is pentium 3 so it cant run vista or windows 7...HELP ME...