XP SP2 Dies Next Week, Look to XP SP3 or Windows 7

Time has almost run out for one flavor of Windows XP, which is scheduled to die next week. As previously announced, Microsoft will cut the lifeline for Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and all Windows 2000 releases on July 13th, 2010. Customers that are still running the Windows operating system versions mentioned above should upgrade as soon as possible. Essentially, come July 13th, Microsoft will stop offering support for XP SP2 and Windows 2000. Adrian Stone, Senior Security Program Manager Lead and Jerry Bryant, Group Manager, Response Communications underlined that users need to make the jump to supported variants of Windows, such as XP SP3 or Windows 7 in the Monthly Security Bulletin Webcast Q&A - June 2010.

“We remind all Windows 2000 and Windows XP SP2 customers that all support for these platforms will end after July 13, 2010. Customers should upgrade to either a supported operating system or the latest service pack in order to keep receiving necessary security updates. We will release appropriate bulletins for Windows 2000 and Windows XP SP2 next month,” Bryant said.

End of support is equivalent with the end of all support benefits from Microsoft for XP SP2 and Windows 2000. Customers that will not upgrade to a supported version of Windows, will no longer receive security updates, hotfixes or assisted support from the Redmond company. The software giant is recommending customers Windows 7 or XP SP3 as upgrade options for the platforms that will no longer be supported as of July 13th.

Even though Microsoft made clear its position to stop producing service packs for Windows XP, there are still questions related to the 64-bit (x64) version of Windows Vista’s successor. Well, just as there won’t be a Service Pack 4 for 32-bit (x86) XP, so the 64-bit (x64) flavor won’t get Service Pack 3 (SP3). “Windows XP x64 released to manufacturing (RTM) is out of support. We recommend upgrading to Windows XP x64 SP2,” Bryant added.

Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) Final is available for download here.

Windows 7 RTM Enterprise 90-Day Evaluation is available for download here.