Microsoft’s Windows XP has finally reached to the end of support cycle after 12 years. The end of support means that Microsoft will no longer offer any kind of support (free or paid) and there will never be any other security update or hotfix.
There is no doubt that Windows XP will be missed. This was perhaps the most successful operating system ever released by Microsoft. Launched on October 25, 2001, Windows XP was a stable, very user-friendly operating system that rarely crashed — when well setup, of course.
Through the lifetime, Windows XP received three Service Packs. The last one was released in May 2008, mainstream support that ended back in April 14, 2009, with the end of extended support on April 8, 2014. And today is time to move on… For those still on Windows XP on a fairly new hardware, the best thing to do is to upgrade to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to avoid malware, other security risks, and compatibility issues with new hardware.
SEE ALSO: 7 Tips to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 8 or Windows 7
Also now is a good time to buy a new computer, for example, the Microsoft Store is currently offering $100 off on a trade-in program. Basically, you bring your old Windows XP computer to the store and you’ll get $100 credit to buy a new PC. (The promotional offer will end on March 20, 2014.)
Just as a reminder, the support of Office 2003 also ends on April 8, 2014, so it is time to move to Office 2013 or Office 365.
SEE ALSO: How to make Office Online apps feel more like full desktop apps
Windows XP: from October 25, 2001, to April 8, 2014.
This is Microsoft statement:
Microsoft provided support for Windows XP for the past 12 years. But the time came for us, along with our hardware and software partners, to invest our resources toward supporting more recent technologies so that we can continue to deliver great new experiences. — Complete statement here!
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].