End of Support for some versions of Windows

Again and again I encounter computers with Windows XP Service Pack 1 or Windows Vista Service Pack 1 or even Vista without any Service Pack installed.

Although this can have multiple reasons the ones I most commonly encounter are

• Automatic Update is not set to automatically download and install updates and the user ignores the warnings telling her/him that updates have to be downloaded and or installed;
• Some obnoxious software thinks they can do a better job of alerting the user of updates, turns Automatic Update off and then gets deactivated or un-installed and does not turn Automatic Updates back on;
• Some malicious software disabled Automatic Update altogether.

Here is a literal quote from Microsoft’s Exploring Windows newsletter March 23, 2010:

Support is ending for some versions of Windows

• Support for Windows Vista without any service packs will end on April 13, 2010.
  
  
• Support for Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) will end on July 13, 2010.
  

If you're running one of these versions after support ends, you will NOT get any security updates for Windows.

If your computer is still running Windows XP, Windows XP Service Pack 1 or Windows Vista with no Service Pack then you are in deep trouble; call or email me (see below).

Above mentioned newsletter then has a link to the article Which version and service pack am I running? This article is invalid for Windows XP users, great advice, Microsoft!

Easier and better information can be had by

• Windows XP: Right click My Computer, left click on Properties;
• Windows Vista/7: Right click Computer, left click on Properties.

Currently

• Windows XP ought to be on Service Pack 3,
• Windows Vista ought to be on Service Pack 2.

I don’t mean to scare you but if your system is not yet at it’s respective service pack level something is seriously wrong and you better call me or email me at ejheinze*at*gmail*dot*com.
 
By the way, not knowing what operating system and what Service Pack your computer is running is somewhat like not knowing whether your car needs gasoline or diesel fuel. Please be informed!

As usual I welcome comments and suggestions right here in the blog. Thank you in advance.

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