Windows Vista SP1 Reaches End of Support

With the release of the July 12, 2011, Security Bulletin, Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) has reached its end of support life cycle.  In the case of a service pack, "End of Support" means that automatic fixes, updates and online technical assistance will no longer be provided by Microsoft.

Don't be a victim to malware.  Update to the latest service pack to stay up to date with security updates and reduce the chances for infection.

Windows Service Pack Lifecycle

As shown in the table below from the Windows lifecycle fact sheet - Microsoft Windows, the only services packs still supported are for Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista, SP2 and Windows 7 SP1. 

Desktop operating systems	Date of availability	Support retired
Windows XP SP1	August 30, 2002	October 10, 2006
Windows XP SP2	September 17, 2004	July 13, 2010
Windows XP SP3	April 21, 2008	Available now
Windows Vista SP1	February 4, 2008	July 12, 2011
Windows Vista SP2	May 26, 2009	Available now
Windows 7 SP1	February 22, 2011	Available now

Update to Windows Vista SP2

If you are not sure if you have installed the latest service pack, you can easily find out by clicking the Start button, right-click Computer and select Properties.  SP2 will be listed in the Windows edition section if it has already been installed.


In the event you discovered SP2 has not been installed yet, Microsoft has provided very complete instructions installing Windows Vista SP2, including recommendations to follow prior to updating to SP2.  Following the "Before You Begin" recommendations at Learn how to install Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) will help ensure a smooth upgrade to SP2.

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

End of Support: Vista SP1, XP SP2, Windows 2000

Windows Vista

Support for Windows Vista without any service packs installed ended on April 13, 2010. Even if you updated Windows Vista to SP1, it is time to install the SP2 update. Windows Vista SP2 includes support for new types of hardware and includes all of the updates that have been released since Windows Vista SP1. See How to Install Windows Vista SP2.

Windows XP

Support is ending for Windows XP SP2 and below on July 13th, 2010. There is, however, a solution for Windows XP users who are not in a position to upgrade to a new operating system. Windows XP SP3 includes all previously released updates and a small number of new updates. It won't significantly change the Windows XP experience. See How to Install Windows XP SP3.

Note:

There is no SP3 for the 64-bit version of Windows XP. If you are running the 64-bit version of Windows XP with SP2, you have the latest service pack and will continue to be eligible for support and receive updates until April 8, 2014.

Windows 2000

Support is also ending for Windows 2000 on July 13th, 2010. I seldom see many people in the forums with Windows 2000 installed on their computers. The few I see are on old computers that have been lovingly maintained by their owner. As they are painfully aware, end of support is rapidly approaching for all versions of Windows 2000. When their Windows 2000 computers are replaced, they are certainly going to have an adjustment to the newest Operating System!

Update: The following resource was recently published by Microsoft, Migrating User Files from Windows 2000 to Windows 7

, described as follows:

The Windows User State Migration Tool (USMT) version 4.0 does not support migrating user state from Windows 2000 to Windows 7—a challenge for organizations wanting to refresh many computers running Windows 2000 while moving users’ files. This white paper and its companion scripts help overcome this challenge by providing a solution that preserves users’ files during deployment.

Clubhouse Tags: Clubhouse, Microsoft, Windows, Security, Updates, Vulnerabilities, Information, Service Pack,

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Windows Vista RTM Support Ended

Mainstream support for all copies of Windows Vista (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate) ended on April 13, 2010, unless you have upgraded to Service Pack 1 or higher.

Following is a chart from the Microsoft Support Lifecycle website that helps explain what is lost when Mainstream support ends:

In order to access updates on Windows Update, it is important to update to Service Pack 1 (SP1) which extends Mainstream Support for Windows Vista to July, 2011. Following SP1 installation, upgrade to Service Pack 2 (SP2 requires SP1 installation first). SP2 support is currently supported until April 2012. After that date, Extended Support is only available to Windows Vista Business/Enterprise to 2017.

Clubhouse Tags: Clubhouse, Security, Microsoft, Windows Vista, Support, Information, Updates

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Microsoft Office 2007 SP2

The Microsoft Office Sustained Engineering blog announced that distribution of Service Pack 2 (SP2) for the Microsoft Office 2007 system will begin via Automatic Update during the week of September 21, 2009.

A description of the Microsoft Office 2007 SP2 and Microsoft Office Language Pack 2007 SP2 is available in Knowledge Base Article 953195. For a list of all 2007 Office system SP 2 as well as Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Service Pack 2 see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 968170.

Additional information regarding the service pack is available in the Microsoft PressPass interview of Jane Liles, group program manager, Office Sustained Engineering: Office Service Pack 2 Q&A.

Download Link: The 2007 Microsoft Office Suite Service Pack 2 (SP2)




Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta

Mike Nash, Corporate VP, Windows Product Management, provided an update regarding Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) Beta in the Windows Vista Blog. Windows Vista SP2will be available for evaluation next Wednesday, October 29, by a small group of "Technology Adoption Program" customers.

Of interest to current and potential Windows Vista users is what is planned for inclusion in the service pack. The following information was provided:

"In addition to previously released updates since the launch of Windows Vista SP1, Windows Vista SP2 contains changes focused on supporting new types of hardware and adding support for several emerging standards:

• Windows Vista SP2 adds Windows Search 4.0 for faster and improved relevancy in searches.
• Windows Vista SP2 contains the Bluetooth 2.1 Feature Pack supporting the most recent specification for Bluetooth Technology.
• Ability to record data on to Blu-Ray media natively in Windows Vista.
• Adds Windows Connect Now (WCN) to simplify Wi-Fi Configuration.
• Windows Vista SP2 enables the exFAT file system to support UTC timestamps, which allows correct file synchronization across time zones."

The complete report is available at Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta. Additional information is available for IT Professionals in the Springboard Blog at First Look: Windows Vista Service Pack 2.

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-030 Revised

For Windows XP SP2 and Windows XP SP3 only:

Microsoft identified quality issues with Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-030, which was originally released June 10, 2008. The original version of MS08-030 did not effectively address the vulnerability MS08-030 was intended to address. The intended fix is in the Bluetooth stack in Windows that could allow remote code execution.

Microsoft has provided updated versions of the affected security updates and re-issued MS08-030. This is a critical update and it is recommended that it be re-applied as soon as possible.

Note: All other versions of the security update provide protection against the issues discussed in the security bulletin.

Refererences:

MSRC: MS08-030 Re-released for Windows XP SP2 and SP3
TechNet: MS08-030

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...