Tech: WinXP Support by Microsoft is Ended

Subject: Tech: WinXP Support by Microsoft is Ended
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 02:54 PM

Full Microsoft support for Windows XP has officially ended.

WinXP support is now available only as "extended phase support," requiring a "fee per incident" or subscription to a (very expensive) extended support contract.

The impact of this probably is minimal for most WinXP users, since Microsoft has NEVER provided support for those whose WinXP was installed by a computer builder. The OEM maker has always been responsible for any needed support. Availability of support from OEM builders will depend on policies of each individual OEM.

WinXP users will still receive Critical Security Patches. It is expected that if (when) a Critical Patch breaks something, the free support to fix the patch(es) will still be available from Microsoft as before, but I have not confirmed "official" policy for this.

There are a few "optional patches" that WinXP users will no longer be able to download (from Microsoft) without paying fees.

Notices should be widely splattered around the internet, or you can visit Microsoft's "life cycle" page(s) for full details. One "news report" on this non-event is at PC Advisor, if you need additional superficially authoritative information.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: WinXP Support by Microsoft is Ended
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 03:04 PM

In a press release of importance almost equal to the termination of Microsoft support for WinXP, PC Advisor also says that McAfee has officially announced that SPAM Email Causes Global Warming

"The McAfee report, which was written by consulting company ICF International, said the estimated 62 trillion spam emails that get sent each year consume 33 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, enough to power 2.4 million homes. In addition, spam email releases as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as 3.1 million cars consuming 2 billion gallons of gasoline."

The McAfee report (.pdf)

John

Subject: RE: Tech: WinXP Support by Microsoft is Ended
From: open mike
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 03:21 PM

i feel as if i have been set adrift in a sea of somalian pirates
without a sail

Subject: RE: Tech: WinXP Support by Microsoft is Ended
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 04:26 PM

"...spam email releases as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as 3.1 million cars ..."

Maybe it's a good thing they aren't printing it and sending it snail-mail.

Subject: RE: Tech: WinXP Support by Microsoft is Ended
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 05:18 PM

If Microsnot have stopped supporting XP, maybe they will stop requiring validation for it and picking up spy reports from it, so that, at last, I will actually be able to complete migration from Win 98SE (and my one remining Win 95+USB machine)

Subject: RE: Tech: WinXP Support by Microsoft is Ended
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 06:01 PM

Don't hold your breath Richard. That won't ever happen while there's still one PC out there using XP.

Pity that Microsoft haven't caught on to the fact that many PC Companies are selling Vista equipped machines with an "optional extra" downgrade to XP.

It's the best deal in town, but those who take it up are going to be royally pissed off if there's no support.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Tech: WinXP Support by Microsoft is Ended
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 06:27 PM

I can live with "no support" I did with Win98 for several years. I am actively looking at getting one of those 'downgrade' PCs, as this one is 6 years old.

Subject: RE: Tech: WinXP Support by Microsoft is Ended
From: John J
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 03:48 AM

The insidious and apparent couldn't-care-less manner in which Microsoft seem to treat their customers has left many looking for alternatives.

Ubuntu Linux works well for me.

JJ

Subject: RE: Tech: WinXP Support by Microsoft is Ended
From: Shimbo Darktree
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 09:05 AM

May I return to the report from JohnInKansas regarding the effect of spam email on global warming. What is the significance of 3.1 million cars, and the use of 2 billion gallons of gas? I mean, why those particular numbers? Why not 1.55 million cars using 4 billion gallons of gas? This has the odor of a manufactured statistic, and I'm not suggesting that JohnInKansas is the manufacturer. It wouldn't have been released on April 1st, by any chance?

On a more positive note, it would be interesting to know how much other computer activities contribute to global warming ... or even the actual use of computers ... but I have digressed from the primary topic of this thread.

Why is anyone concerned about lack of support from Microsoft for Windows XP? I have never known them to support anything, unless there is a fee at the end of it. Why they enjoy special privileges that other manufacturer/suppliers don't (i.e. lack of reasonable free support for their products)is beyond me. (Do these comments now mean my computer will suddenly self-destruct?)

Shimbo

Subject: RE: Tech: WinXP Support by Microsoft is Ended
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 09:19 AM

They are like most suppliers...they offer support & warranties on products only for the time those products are unlikely to fail.

(I actually got a power supply for a PC replaced under warranty once!)

Subject: RE: Tech: WinXP Support by Microsoft is Ended
From: beardedbruce
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 09:42 AM

This is why I am using W2K in all my machines.

It still does everything it did 9 years ago.

Subject: RE: Tech: WinXP Support by Microsoft is Ended
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 12:49 PM

But it probably can't run some of the really new programs out there, and over time, it will reach fewer and fewer new bits of software.

The old stuff that has already been released free is still available for download free, correct? They're just not answering questions with live people or actively doing anything but fixing malicious bugs, right?

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: WinXP Support by Microsoft is Ended
From: pavane
Date: 18 Apr 09 - 05:55 AM

But Vista won't run some of the USEFUL programs out there at all.
Like Visual Basic 5 or 6, and the old Windows HELP program.

It just looks like a scheme to force everyone to buy new copies of programs which they already have and are perfectly adequate.

Programs I make under XP (or Win98) still run in Vista, though.

History Lesson:
I used to work for a mainframe manufacturer, ICL. They decided that their NEW RANGE of hardware (in the 1970's) would not be compatible with their previous hardware:

The result? Many existing customers said that if we are going to have to convert all our software to a new and untested system, we might as well convert it to the tried and proven IBM mainframe instead.

Result: ICL were eventually taken over by Fujitsu and ceased to exist.
Sad, because their new operating system was far superior to IBM's (1960's based)OS.

Subject: RE: Tech: WinXP Support by Microsoft is Ended
From: Gulliver
Date: 18 Apr 09 - 11:09 AM

I too have done without MS "support" for 10 years. I still use Windows ME on my home PC and can do all my sound and graphic editing, videos, email, downloading, etc., etc., on it. It's faster than most XP systems I've used anyway.

Subject: RE: Tech: WinXP Support by Microsoft is Ended
From: Folkiedave
Date: 18 Apr 09 - 11:42 AM

Get a Mac

Subject: RE: Tech: WinXP Support by Microsoft is Ended
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 18 Apr 09 - 12:09 PM

Microsoft has never provided much in the way of "free support" for any OEM installed software. If it came on the computer, the computer builder is required to provide any support you get (and can do it for free or can charge for it).

A few months ago, Microsoft changed their "WinXP termination" policy to permit OEM builders to continue selling WinXP machines "until current stock is exhausted" but with a set date after which sales would be prohibited. The OEM has to sign a contract and pay in advance for the license for a certain number of copies.

Later, the rule was that all machines had to ship with Vista, but OEMs could offer a "downgrade" for free conversion back to WinXP (up to the number of WinXP licenses they had bought).

The "downgrade" permission has been extended, at last report to something like year 2014, so an OEM who has purchased a stock of WinXP licenses will be able to offer it until then. They will not be able to purchase new licenses, so when they run out, they're done.

You can check out the details at the Microsoft Life Cycle page. (It has changed fairly frequently in recent months.)

You are, and will be, required to "authenticate" your Windows installation in order to get Critical Updates, regardless of whether your version is current or obsolete. Critical updates are still occasionally offered for Win98SE, although they come out fairly sparsely.

Win2K remains in fairly widespread use, but suffers from one "defect" that makes it something of a risk for Internet use, in that it requires an open and visible external port that can make it easily found by malware distributors. All later versions can be "fully cloaked." (There are still open(able) ports, but they're not as easily visible to intruders.) If you're using Win2K, it might be worthwhile to consider a full "Internet Suite" style of anti-malware rather than just a simple AntiVirus, although "good operating practices" and self-restraint (with at least excellent AV) are still the main things needed to avoid currently common infections.

John