End nears for XP, Office 2003 support

Correction, 10:05 a.m. PDT April 8: This story misstated the type of support available after mainstream support ends next week. Under extended support, available for XP and business versions of Office 2003, users can sign up to get paid support or pay for help on a per-incident or hourly basis.

Microsoft will drop mainstream support for Office 2003 on April 14--the same day that the retirement process begins for Windows XP.

Although mainstream support for the Office 2003 applications suite will come to an end, Microsoft has the product scheduled to remain in "extended support" until April 8, 2014.

Under extended support, Microsoft only plans to deliver patches and bug fixes. Any other maintenance will be available only to users who have signed support contracts with Microsoft.

The Windows XP operating system has similar contractual terms. As with Office 2003, mainstream support will end for XP on April 14. Under extended support, available for XP and business versions of Office 2003, users can sign up to get paid support or pay for help on a per-incident or hourly basis.

Butler Group analyst Richard Edwards said Monday that discontinuation of support for the two products is not expected to cause disruption to business users.

"These changes in support have been known about for some time, so most users will have already got their plans in place," he told ZDNet UK.

As far as XP is concerned, users will have decided long ago that they are either going to wait for Windows 7, or make the move to Vista, Edwards said.

"Some may have decided that they are going to keep up with XP for longer if there is a particular piece of software they use that is vital to their business," he said.

Similar decisions would have to be taken over Office 2003, he added. "The decision is to either make the move to Office 2007, or wait for the next version of Office, and in the meantime pay Microsoft if you think you will need support," Edwards said.

Colin Barker of ZDNet UK reported from London.

[Jonnygthedrummer]

booooo

[Keith Osgood]

Would you guys quit it with the headlines about XP support going away? Every time you publish one of those, I have to calm all my managers down saying that the hotifx support continues for another 5 years.

Thank you very much.

[gp2792]

Seriously, this is misleading...security hotfixes continue for 5 more years. You are losing the ability to request design changes and non-security hotfixes. The latter can be paid for. This isn't that big of a deal and should be called out properly in the article instead of saying things like "discontinuation of support".

[BlitzBoy1120]

Egh, I won't care as long as Windows 7 is better than Vista and XP. The end for Win98 came, so it's time for XP as well.

[JonB.]

Check this article. XP will be available as a downgrade option to Win 7.

http://email.techworld.com/go.asp?/bTW0001/m9CLG7/qILCG7/uKOQP4/xFJ6EE

[Commander_Spock]

"Chucky Is (Will Be) Back" like "The Inseparable Twins" - OS/2 and Windows (Code-Base OS/2). Same Ole Treatment, Same Ole Treatment from their owners (masters) - IBM and Microsoft.

eComStation anyone!

http://www.ecomstation.com/

[thatpcguy]

"The decision is to either make the move to Office 2007, or wait for the next version of Office, and in the meantime pay Microsoft if you think you will need support," Edwards said.

This seems to be just a little bit pompous. The vast majority of users, although the might be resistant to using something other than Microsoft, don't use even a tenth of the feature set in the product. So, although things like Google Docs, Apple's suite and Open Office are not complete replacements for the Office product, many might find them completely suitable. At work, I am sure that I am going to need to continue to use Office but I have no other compelling reason to use Office in my personal work.

[viper396]

Aren't you a little pompous yourself? You assume to know what a "vast majority of users" do then you follow that up with the same tired old anti-Microsoft rhetoric and hypocricy, Google this, Apple that, blah blah blah. You've said nothing original and nothing that really motivates anyone to change anything.

[Mr. Dee]

I don't see the big deal about this, you had Companies still running Windows NT 4 Workstation way after its life-cycle. Even if businesses decide to stick it out until 2014, no problem at all, as long as the latest hardware supports the operating system, I am sure they will continue using it. Whats interesting is that Windows XP Home will continue to be available until April 2010 on some Netbooks.

In the case of Office 2003, I can understand reasons for sticking with it. Its good enough, its getting the job done. I love Office 2007 and have it on all my systems. But, I think when its come to technology, we have plateaued. Microsoft needs to realize that, its going to be hard to sell future versions of these products, because they are so good enough already. I am sure some businesses could get by with Office 97 if they wanted.

[umbrae]

Geez, could the author please properly close their Italic tags please...

Who ever used MS support anyway? They are total idiots and have never done other than release installation limits. They better no charge for that kind of support since that is their own DRM restriction and have nothing to do with actually supporting the product.

[sanenazok]

I just installed that version of Word 2000 that required activation and it went through fine (on Vista). I don't think it costs them much to keep those servers running.

[iwish40]

I can't say I can complain about MS Support, they have helped me a few times, like getting rid of viruses that my Virus/Firewall/Antispam program let in.. They helped me for 4 days because my computer was so bad.
They have also helped me restore my computer from a complete recovery and showed me how to take my back-up from my external hd back to my computer. And they never charged me 1 cent.
They even called me back the next day to make sure everything was ok and that I wasn't seeing any new or reoccuring problems. And sent emails afterwards. I can honestly say I've never seen this type of COMPLETE CUSTOMER SUPPORT from ANY OTHER company.

[man_w_balls]

for iwish40:

M$ tech support is different from most other companies - they focus more on resolutions than getting you off the phone within 15 minutes. I worked for 2 major computer OEMs and Microsoft at a call center, and it was a big difference. 15-20 minute calls for the OEMs, and 1-2 hour calls for M$. This was during the initial release of XP Service Pack 2, and my job was to fix broken SP2 installs. You won't find me praising M$ much, but on the tech support I will give them a high-5. [from a tech who uses Macs at home]

[Michichael]

Yeah, author, close the italics. Geeze. </i> after your ZDNet disclaimer. -.-;

Anyway... Not news.

[stevemccallister]

Hmmm... MS traditionally supported the last two releases of software. And I know XP and Office 2003 have been out there a long while -- but is that my fault or Microsoft's? Certainly if you look at actual use statistics for XP v. Vista and Office 2003 v. 2007, there might be a different definition of which versions are currently "mainstream". This on the same day MS toots their horn about 96% of netbooks running Windows over Linux -- virtually ALL of those are running XP.

[SlimGem]

My company still uses Windows XP and Office 2003. They get the job done. Why switch unless you absolutely have to?

[man_w_balls]

Yep. Same with my company. It would cost us $thousands to upgrade our machines to decent specs for running Vista + Office 2007, or Windows 7. That ain't happenin' anytime soon.

[AndrewRich]

"As far as XP is concerned, users will have decided long ago that they are either going to wait for Windows 7, or make the move to Vista" -- or switch to Mac, like we did. XP still runs fine in VMWare Fusion on the rare occasions we need it.

[hollyallision]

Typical of Microsoft. How very planned obsolence (obsolescent ?) of them. I would not have expeceted anything more ,<or less >
This way, they can screw us one additional time by giving us no other option than force a full pay for 2007 which I had to uninstall it was so awful. And as they phase out XP (which far surpassed Vista ias a less horrible o/s) they can additionally force us to pay ****** but for a fullpriced Windows 7 in lieu of helping out those of us who got screwed with Vista. the rich get richer poor get poorer etc. Why not.
We keep buying, they keep planning (obsolesence). Sorry, can't spell. Am too angry to care.

[dirk100]

Honestly, who cares?

The support center was never of use for me. I remember a time when my outlook used to break down whenever I used the search integrated in outlook. Nobody was able or maybe willing to help me, they said well you could buy office 2007.. ***.... The solution was so easy I simply installed another search tool (lookeen, by the way it is much better) and it worked. I hope the support center is not always like that and my case is only an exception.

[Gombalez]

Thanks for this article. Lol don't worry MS will still support Xp for security update, and OEM manufacturer will still support you for both (security and optional updates). I think we may just need them only, even my friends offlince PC havent got any update for years (except Xp SP3 offline install) without any problem at all, especially since Xp has been pretty stable after SP2 and SP3 and some latest optional updates. You'll still be able to get Xp for years forward i.e from ebay, some remaining stocks (believe me, there are many!), or use downgrade rights, netbook etc. It's the most popular OS ever! Even in illegal way if you really wanted it bcoz MS doesnt give us more options by selling it legally lol sorry kidding (but it's still a fact). There are still many 3rd party softwares and hardwares which will support it for years forward while some people and companies will still keep it (as i've seen the same i.e for Windows 98 and 2000 nowadays), considering large Xp users.

Btw if you want to enhance Windows Xp so it will serve you as well as Vista and Windows 7, longer and better, alternatively just visit and read the entire article here:
"List of Vista and Windows 7 Applications Features for Xp or 2003":
http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20480 and
http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=21246

, very worthy article imo, hopefully useful for Xp or 2003 users even you can get some original Vista applications ported to Xp etc! Personally i'll keep Xp longer, even maybe 2014. Anyway good luck and long live Xp! - The best Microsoft operating system, again fact. Cheers!

[guest86]

Why? Why?!? Microsoft said Windows XP will expire on April 8, 2014???? What is your problem? WRONG! WRONG!!!!!

A lot of millions people will face against Microsoft. When will happen on April 8, 2014, People will come to Microsoft building and say PROTEST, PLEASE SUPPORT XP FOREVER and something like that! Time to war with Microsoft on year 2014 and wake up!


I believe Microsoft is in BIGGEST TROUBLE can hurt millions of people feelings! What a shame! Get XP back and running forever until year 2100!!!! Ride on XP and bring old thing back the future and BE HAPPY!!! Windows XP is very pretty one have BLUE color one!

I can able play BLU-RAY on my Windows XP without headache! Windows XP is very MINE, MINE one! Make me crying very

[guest86]

very --> I fix problem. Keep going on.

Make me crying very hardest! SOB! XP is our best favorite one! STOP That!