End of Support Lifecycle for Windows XP SP2/2000
As already published in several blog postings all over the web since December 2009, still some customers are asking for the Microsoft Support Lifecycle of WIndows XP SP2 and Windows 2000.
To post again the information about this topic and to remind customers to plan upgrade/migration considerations from Windows XP and 2000 up to the newer editions like Windows Vista or Windows 7, here you may find all answers or resources for this important topic!
Upcoming end of support for Windows XP SP2 and Windows 2000
Coverage highlights:
- Microsoft has used blog postings and Twitter feeds over the past few days to remind users that support for Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows 2000 will expire in July 2010, perhaps encouraging users of those aging operating systems to upgrade to Windows 7 if they choose to stay with a Microsoft operating system. Microsoft has created an end-of-support solution center for Windows 2000, and posted materials online designed to help users migrate from Windows XP to Windows 7. --eWeek
- Windows 7 is, of course, the best choice for an upgrade, especially if the migration also implies a hardware upgrade, as is generally the case for corporate customers. Users that are intent on ridding XP for all it’s got can continue doing so, however, they too must also upgrade, at least to XP SP3. With the third service pack for XP customers will enjoy extended support from Microsoft until 2014.--SoftPedia
- Microsoft has issued a reminder this week that it will stop providing support for Windows 2000 and Windows XP Service Pack 2 on July 13, 2010… For Windows XP SP2, users are encouraged to move to Windows 7, Windows Vista, or simply Windows XP Service Pack 3, for which support will end two years after the next service pack (likely not happening) or at the end of the product's supported lifecycle, whichever comes first. --ARS Technica
- … the clock is ticking for Windows 2000 (server and client) and Windows XP Service Pack 2. Extended support for those products will end on July 13, 2010…Users of XP SP2 have the option to upgrade to SP3. Extended support for XP SP3 will end on April 8, 2014, according to Microsoft's XP lifecycle page.—Redmond Magazine
- For a more strategic approach to OS and application migrations, Microsoft provides a guide called "Choosing a Deployment Strategy."
If all else fails, there’s Microsoft Services, which offers consulting services to enterprises. Microsoft or its partners provide the support, which includes desktop planning, application compatibility testing, desktop imaging and desktop deployment. .—Redmond Magazine
Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy
The Microsoft Support Lifecycle policy took effect in October 2002, and applies to most products currently available through retail purchase or volume licensing and most future release products. Through the policy, Microsoft will offer a minimum of:
- 10 years of support (5 years Mainstream Support and 5 years Extended Support) at the supported service pack level for Business and Developer products
- 5 years Mainstream Support at the supported service pack level for Consumer/Hardware/Multimedia products
- 3 years of Mainstream Support for products that are annually released (for example, Money, Encarta, Picture It!, and Streets & Trips)
Additional links and resources:
Bug in extended support:
If you are facing a bug while your product is in extended support phase, please note that typically perspective is that a product in extended support has most bugs fixed or known bugs are documented and published on web, TechNet, kb Article or MSDN and many Blog posts of the community. Therefore Non-security hot fixes and bugs handling is fee based in extended support phase.
So my best advice for you: upgrade as fast as possible to either Windows 7 client OS or Server 2008 OS for no worries about lifecycle support ;-)
What does this mean for VMM?
This also touches VMM in that we no longer support Windows 2000 as a source in a conversion, whether P2V or V2V. What that means is that you cannot open a case with CSS to troubleshoot a failed conversion when the source computer is running Windows 2000. You however may continue to receive support from the community at large by posting your question to our TechNet forums.