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Microsoft Kills Support For XP SP2

Posted by timothy on from the too-soon? dept.

Trailrunner7 writes "Microsoft's announcement this week that it is preparing to end support for machines running Windows XP SP2 not only represents a challenge for the thousands of businesses still running SP2, but also is the end of an era for both Microsoft and its customers. It wasn't until 2004 that the final release of XP SP2 hit the streets, but when it did, it represented a huge step forward in security for Windows users. It wasn't necessarily the feature set that mattered as much as the fact that the protections were enabled by default and taken out of the users' hands."

4 of 315 comments (clear)

  1. Re:So what? by Mashiki · · Score: 4, Interesting

    MS never released it for XP64, this kinda leaves XP64 w/sp2 users going wtf.

    --
    Om, nomnomnom...
  2. News? by toleraen · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Microsoft has had their end of life policy available on the web for ages now. Sp2 has been well known to be going EOL. If this threw any sysadmins off-guard...then wow.

    The only reason I can see sticking with SP2 is that SP3 hasn't gotten an EAL rating.

  3. So, does that make it Abandonware, Legal to Crack? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "..the Library of Congress yesterday approved six exemptions to US copyright. The one most pertinent to gamers is that, for archival purposes, copy protection on software no longer being sold or supported by its copyright holder can be cracked.."

    - http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/23/us-copyright-office-grants-abandonware-rights/

    if not, why not? Seriously, interested..

  4. Re:Rediculous by Dog-Cow · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Ford Motor is still running SP2.