Updated: July 9, 2020 (April 25, 2011)

Past Windows Client Versions

As managing vice president, Rob Helm covers Microsoft collaboration and content management. His 25-plus years of experience analyzing Microsoft’s technology... more

Mainstream support for Windows 7 will end in Jan. 2015. Windows Vista will leave Mainstream support in Apr. 2012, and Extended support for Windows XP SP3 ends in Apr. 2014.

OS service packs also have retirement dates. Once a service pack is retired, Microsoft will no longer make security patches available at that service pack level. In general, a Windows service pack is retired either 24 months after the next service pack is released or at the end of the Extended support phase, whichever comes first.

Since Oct. 2009, Windows 7 Ultimate and Professional shipping with new PCs have included the right to downgrade to both Vista and Windows XP Professional. Microsoft had planned to eliminate the XP downgrade right for PCs sold after a cutoff date of Apr. 22, 2011, or the ship date of Windows 7 SP1, whichever came first. A policy announced with the release of the Windows 7 SP1 beta in July 2010 eliminated the cutoff date, meaning organizations can deploy Windows XP on Windows 7 PCs regardless of when the PC is purchased.

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