14 DAY TRIAL // There’s not all that much life left in Windows XP, and fact is that the pressure is mounting for those still on the aging operating system to migrate to a more recent iteration of the Windows client. Microsoft is providing constant reminders that time is running out for the platform that hit store shelves back in 2001, and this week, the Redmond company started offering a new one.
The Windows XP End Of Support Countdown Gadget is now available free of charge through the Microsoft Download Center.
The resource’s label is pretty much self-explanatory, but the software giant also noted in its official description:
“Looking to get off Windows XP? Use this handy gadget to count down the number of days until Windows XP End of Support (EOS) in 2014.”
That’s right, three more years until Windows XP expires, again, and this time around for good.
I say again, because, as additional Microsoft technologies, XP’s lifecycle is governed by two very distinct periods: Mainstream Support and Extended Support.
Users that followed the evolution of XP undoubtedly already know that the operating system reached the Mainstream Support End Date no less than two years ago, on April 14th, 2009.
At this point in time, there are less than three years left until XP will also reach the Extended Support End Date, on April 8th, 2014.
During the entire Extended Support phase, Microsoft still provides “paid support (per-incident, per hour, and others) and security update support.”
In addition, support resources are also offered through the Microsoft Knowledge Base and Microsoft Help and Support site.
Customers that purchased an extended hotfix agreement within the first three months after mainstream support ended can also still enjoy “non-security hotfix support; no-charge incident support; warranty claims; and design changes and feature requests.”
The Windows XP End Of Support Countdown Gadget is tailored to genuine copies of Windows 7.
Windows XP End Of Support Countdown Gadget is available for download here.