[WinPartners] IS&T Plans to Retire Windows Vista, Recommends Upgrading to Windows 7

[Alexander Kozlov]

Good morning,
Microsoft ended Windows Vista Mainstream Support on 04/10/2012 and announced that they will terminate extended support for Windows Vista on 4/11/2017. To better allocate support and development resources (given the limited number of Vista users on campus), Information Services and Technology (IS&T) plans to phase out support for Vista by August 15, 2014. IS&T recommends that departments, labs and centers (DLCs) still using Vista machines upgrade to Windows 7 Enterprise by that date.
Phased Windows Vista De-support Plan
Phase I - Assessment and Planning (September 2013 - November 2013)
IS&T will assess the existing Vista user base and work with IT colleagues across campus to outline a phased Vista de-support strategy.
Phase II - Upgrade and Migration of Vista Machines to Windows 7 (November 2013 - June 31, 2014)
IS&T will work with DLCs to find suitable migration scenarios from Vista to Windows 7 based on their environment. IS&T will send periodic updates on the progress of Vista de-support.
January 15, 2014 - Windows Vista will be removed from the Software Download site. (Windows Vista media will be made available only on a per-request basis).
Phase III - Finalizing Termination of Vista Support (June 31, 2013 - August 15, 2014)
IS&T will no longer develop and test applications and services for Windows Vista. IS&T will continue to provide security patches released by Microsoft via the Windows Automatic Update Service (WAUS) until the end of extended support for Windows Vista by Microsoft, but will no longer test the patches in the MIT environment.
August 15, 2014 - IS&T will end support for Windows Vista.

How to Obtain Windows 7 Enterprise
MIT offers Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise through the Microsoft Campus Agreement at no direct cost to DLCs, for faculty and staff use. To learn more about MSCA policies, see the Microsoft Campus Agreement: Overview page<http://ist.mit.edu/services/software/msca/overview#students>.

You can download Windows 7 from the Windows 7 at MIT page<http://ist.mit.edu/windows/7/enterprise>.

Getting Help
If you need assistance installing or using Windows 7, contact the IS&T Help Desk at 617.253.1101 or helpdesk at mit.edu<mailto:computing-help at mit.edu>. You can also submit a request online<http://ist.mit.edu/support>.

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Alexander Kozlov
Windows Platform Coordinator
Software Release Team
Information Services and Technology
W92 - 229H
(617) 253-5103