Microsoft: Windows XP security updates provided until 2014

After the launch of Microsoft's new operating system, Vista, the previous generation operating system Windows XP will cease to be sold on June 30th this year. Many consumers are worried that Microsoft may also stop providing technical support services for Windows XP in the future. In response to this, Microsoft pointed out that free security updates for Windows XP will continue until 2014, and consumers do not need to worry about their operating system becoming orphaned.

After the release of Microsoft's new operating system Vista, the previous generation operating system Windows XP will stop being sold on June 30th this year. Many consumers are concerned that Microsoft will no longer provide technical support services for Windows XP in the future. In response to this, Microsoft stated that free security updates for Windows XP will continue until 2014, and consumers do not need to worry about their operating system becoming orphaned. (Reported by Zhang Dehou) Starting from June 30th this year, Microsoft will terminate the sale of the retail version of Windows XP and stop shipments to OEM manufacturers. After the announcement of this news, many consumers were worried that their currently used Windows XP operating system would become orphaned. Microsoft clarified that although the sales of XP have ceased, technical support services will continue, including: incident support (free incident support, paid incident support, pay-per-hour support, warranty statement support), free security update support, and free non-security product code patches, all of which will be provided until April 14, 2009. From then until April 8, 2014, Microsoft will still provide event support and free XP security updates. However, if enterprises require non-security product code patches, they will need to pay.

Deputy Manager of Microsoft Product Marketing Jianyu Lai said: "For example, within an enterprise, if a non-security product code patch is provided for a specific function of Windows XP, the enterprise must pay. However, we will still provide security updates."

In other words, the security update support most relevant to general users will be provided by Microsoft for Windows XP until 2014, so consumers do not need to worry.

Additionally, regarding reports on the next-generation Microsoft operating system Windows 7 after Vista, Microsoft stated that the beta testing and release date of Windows 7 have not yet been determined. Any reported release schedule mentioned in these reports are rumors circulating in the public domain.