[WinPartners] Microsoft Ends Support for Windows XP Service Pack 2

[Alexander Kozlov]

Microsoft Ends Support for Windows XP Service Pack 2

Microsoft announced the retirement of Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2<http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifean46>) on July 13, 2010. If you have machines still running Windows XP SP2, it is very important that you upgrade to Service Pack 3 (SP3) and apply all the latest patches from Microsoft to minimize security risks and comply with recent Massachusetts data regulations.

IS&T recommends that Windows users subscribe to the MIT Windows Automatic Update Service (MIT WAUS) in order to get the latest service packs and security patches. Visit the MIT WAUS web page<http://ist.mit.edu/services/os/windows/updates> for detailed instructions on how to subscribe.

Moving to Windows 7

Over time, Microsoft has been taking steps to retire Windows XP: It ended SP3 mainstream support in April 2009, retired SP2 this month, and has put XP on extended support until 2014.

With Windows XP at the end of its life and only a small number of Vista machines on campus, IS&T recommends Windows 7 as the preferred Windows operating system at MIT. Users with machines running Windows XP and Vista are encouraged to migrate to Windows 7.

For more information, see IS&T's Windows XP Professional page<http://ist.mit.edu/services/software/windows/xp>. If you have questions or need assistance, send email to the IS&T Help Desk<mailto:helpdesk at mit.edu> or call 617.253.1101. You can also submit a request online<http://ist.mit.edu/support>.