This date is two years after the General Availability (GA) of Windows 7. Going forward all Windows products will follow a standardized End of Sales schedule which sets the End of Sales date for the previous Windows version at the start of the General Availability (GA) of the new Windows version. Once the new Windows Operating System (OS) reaches the set GA date, the previous version will remain available for two years after this date.
Microsoft support for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) has ended. Microsoft no longer provides support or free security updates for Windows Vista SP1.
To help you understand the technical impact of support ending for Windows Vista SP1 and get guidance about how to communicate with your customers about options, watch the on-demand webcast Your Customer Is on Windows Vista SP1: What Are Their Options and Its Technical Implications?
Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows Vista is an update to Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. It provides customer and partner feedback-driven fixes into a single service pack, minimizing deployment and testing complexity. In addition to all previously released updates since SP1, SP2 supports new types of hardware, and adds support for several emerging standards.
Small and midsize businesses should migrate to Windows 7 Professional. Use these End-of-Support resources to help you talk with customers about upgrading to the Windows 7 operating system.
- Windows Lifecycle Fact Sheet
Lists key dates in the lifecycle of Windows XP, Windows, Vista, and Windows 7. Also provides the rights and limits of the Windows lifecycle so that you can make informed decisions about when to upgrade or make other changes to your software.
- Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ
Describes the Microsoft Support Lifecycle policy in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) format. Topics covered include Security Update policy, extended support contracts, mainstream support, and the policy for service packs.
- Microsoft Support Product Lifecycle
Outlines the product support lifecycle dates for all Microsoft products. The support lifecycle policy applies to most products currently available through and most future release products.
