Windows 7, Server 2003, Office 2010 and more headed toward end of mainstream support

 

It may seem that we have said goodbye to decade old operating system, Windows XP, but Microsoft has already begun users notice the end of mainstream support for Windows 7. The company has reminded users deadline approaches for many of its software directed to the support area in the second half of 2014.

Readers should be aware that Microsoft refers to support for the mainstream, which is different from the "end of support". Standard Support provides free patches and solutions, but not limited to security patches. The media generally ends after five years, even if Microsoft will continue to provide security updates for 5 years.

Mainstream support for many Microsoft products, including Windows 7, 2010 Dynamics C5 Dynamics NAV 2009, Dynamics NAV 2009 R2, Exchange Server 2010 Enterprise, Exchange Server 2010 Standard, Handheld 6.5, Windows Server 2008 (several editions of Windows Embedded, including as base and embedded) ends in January 2015.

Whereas, the same support for Windows Phone 7.8 ends September 9, 2014. Additionally, Service Pack Forefront Unified Access Gateway 2010 Service Pack 3 and Visual Studio 2012 Remote Tools, Visual Studio Test Professional 2012, Visual Studio Express 2012 for web Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows 8 and Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows Desktop will end on January 13, 2015. Office 2010 Service Pack 1 and SharePoint Server 2010 Service Pack 1 will have its mainstream support ended on October 14, 2014.

If your company is still using Windows Server 2003, you need to be alarmed, since the full set will support traditional cut July 14, 2015. Microsoft expects these companies upgrade their computers to Windows Server 2012 R2 or Azure soon. Microsoft suggests these companies to start taking action soon, as it usually takes more than 200 days to complete the migration. In addition, changes in the 32-bit architecture to 64 bits could be a turning point for these companies.

As for Service Pack approaching maturity, Microsoft suggests that "customers should migrate to the next service pack to continue receiving security updates and to be eligible for other support options."

Windows 7 powers more than 50 percent of desktops and laptops in the world. If Microsoft can not convince people to switch to Windows 8, or the new threshold, we can see another round of panic among consumers.