Windows support coming to an end !

[beamish]

.......for XP SP2 and Windows 2000. Hope the updates for XPSP3 continues for a good while tho as I don't fancy changing OS just yet

read..

"Vista support will end on April 13, 2010, while for XP SP2 and Windows 2000 maintenance and support will conclude on July 13, 2010. After that, people running the relevant editions will no longer be able to get monthly updates from Microsoft.

Without security updates, PCs are exceedingly vulnerable to security exploits (and hackers). Infecting a PC with malicious software is as easy as visiting an infected website or opening a malevolent email attachment.

If you are running Windows XP or Vista, Microsoft suggests upgrading to the latest service pack (XP SP3, and Vista SP1) to ensure your PC receives updates in the future - or consider moving onto Windows 7."

[robhal9000]

you'll have a few more years with XP SP3 before that ends

[beamish]

Phew !!

[Euan]

Not surprised they are dropping Vista like a hot potato. Biggest mistake they ever made. At least they made up for it with Win7

I hope XP SP3 lives on for a few years at least, there's a lot of observatories that rely on it!

[steppenwolf]

Thanks for the heads up - I am currently installing XP SP3 in the obs. as I write this!

[martin_h]

I've got XP Pro 64 bit, and QUOTE" continue to be eligible for support and receive updates until April 8, 2014"

[arad85]

It's not like they are stopping supporting the OS. They are just stopping supporting the older versions of it. And by stopping supporting, they mean they won't consider looking at hotfixes unless you are on the latest service pack which are XP-SP3, XP64-SP2, Vista-SP1. When they do stop supporting it, it doesn't mean your PCs will stop dead. Just that you won't get updates...

Some companies (mine included) run their total PC network on older SPs. We're currently on XP-SP2 at work. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the coming years when we are forced to move OS as our applications don't run..

[robhal9000]

Win 7 Pro and Ultimate have an XP virtual machine inbuilt for running older apps.

[Euan]

Win 7 Pro and Ultimate have an XP virtual machine inbuilt for running older apps.

It's a free download, the only difference with Pro & Ultimate is that they come with a free version of XP

If you have an old XP serial, you can download the Virtual Machine and Windows XP Mode

Get it here: Download Windows XP Mode

[robhal9000]

Yeah, I had used the free VM, hadn't realise that Win 7 Pro was just the free version with a registered XP image.